AASD and DSD eList announcement

Date: Oct. 27, 2026
To: Home and community-based services (HCBS) providers, lead agencies
From: DHS Grants, Equity, Access and Research (GEAR) Division, in partnership with Aging and Adult Services and Disability Services divisions
Purpose: To announce a grant opportunity to support continuity of care and expand provider capacity for people at risk of losing HCBS services
Application deadline: Nov. 13, 2026
Contact: mn.gear.dhs@state.mn.us

HCBS continuity of care, transition and provider capacity building grant

DHS is offering a new grant opportunity to provide small, flexible, time-limited grants to qualified organizations and HCBS providers to help people who are at risk of losing HCBS services because of:

· Provider closures.

· Revalidation concerns.

· Other circumstances that prevent their current provider from continuing to deliver services.

Application information

Use the following information to apply:

· How to apply: To review the request for proposals (RFP) and submission details, refer to DHS – Open grants, RFPs and RFIs – DHS is seeking HCBS, continuity of care, transition and provider capacity building.

· Application review: DHS will review applications on a rolling basis as we receive them.

· Application deadline: Nov. 13, 2026

· Grant amounts: Grants are up to $25,000.

· Qualified applicants: Qualified applicants are HCBS providers that can assist people who do not receive appropriate support in the community or who are at risk of not receiving appropriate support in the community.

Application instructions

Applicants must:

· Demonstrate how their proposed activities will support successful transitions or ensure continuity of care over time.

· Demonstrate their ability to build or expand HCBS service capacity.

· Be able to use the funds to directly support people who are not currently living in community or at risk of institutionalization.

· Describe how they will use funds to directly improve capacity for people to receive or transition to qualified HCBS services and supports.

· Meet applicable licensing, certification and enrollment requirements and be in good standing.

Use of funds

Grantees must use grant funds to:

· Support activities that help people maintain or achieve access to services.

· Increase qualified HCBS providers’ capacity to serve new people.

· Supplement (and not replace or duplicate) services, activities or costs already funded through other sources (e.g., Medicaid, 1915[c] waivers, Alternative Care, Essential Community Supports, health plans, lead agency funding).

Examples of potential uses include:

· Service transitions: Help people receiving services when their current provider can no longer deliver services.

· Provider capacity building: Support qualified providers in expanding specialized training, assistive technology, home modifications, additional support or other resources needed to safely serve people.

· Continuity of care: Reduce service gaps and support timely access to services that meet people’s needs.

More information

Applicants may ask questions via email to mn.gear.dhs@state.mn.us or at the applicant information session. Use the following information to attend the session:

· Date: Nov. 2, 2026

· Time: 2 p.m.

· Platform: Microsoft Teams

· How to join: To join the information session, refer to Microsoft Teams – Mini-grant information session.

· Meeting ID: 210 874 955 394 581

· Passcode: d44Dd3mP

Background information

DHS is committed to maintaining a safe, accessible and person-centered HCBS system. DHS designed this grant opportunity to help protect people’s health, safety, choice and independence by supporting timely transitions and strengthening the capacity of qualified providers to deliver services in their communities.

Previous eList announcements

AASD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD LEAD AGENCY ARCHIVE | DSD STAKEHOLDER ARCHIVE