Minn. Stat. Ch. 245D

Minnesota State-Operated Community Services (MSOCS) is a program of the DHS Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) Division's Community-Based Services (CBS). MSOCS includes both residential and vocational/life enrichment services.

MSOCS, as well as all other CBS programs, cannot provide hospital level of care for medical conditions or psychiatric illnesses.

People served

MSOCS residential services provide support to people with complex behavioral needs that cannot be met by private community-based providers and who have been denied alternative support through private community-based providers.

Settings

MSOCS provides residential services in approximately 100 foster care homes throughout Minnesota. Each home has up to four beds. The homes are not secured facilities.

Referral

MSOCS residential services and other CBS crisis and residential services use a unified, online referral process. For more information, refer to CBSM – Referral process for CBS crisis and residential service lines.

People served

MSOCS vocational and life enrichment services provide support to people whose needs exceed the level available from a private service provider in their local geographic area. The intensity of services provided requires significant review of the person’s individual needs.

Services

MSOCS vocational and life enrichment services include:

Customized employment

MSOCS uses customized employment, an approach that helps identify the person's naturally occurring strengths, skills and abilities. In this approach, the support team and the person:

Success is measured by enhancement of the person’s quality of life. This can be a direct-hire position, volunteer service, internship or activities in the community where the person can benefit in a recognized social role. Customized employment is a useful tool that can be used with all people, including those with the most complex behavioral needs.

Prevocational services

MSOCS is a licensed provider for prevocational services throughout the state to help people develop skills to achieve greater independence, productivity and community inclusion. Vocational and life enrichment services help people find and retain paid employment in community businesses where people without disabilities are employed.

VRS

MSOCS contracts with DEED to provide employment development and placement services for people referred to MSOCS programs through DEED's VRS program. Services include:

Settings

MSOCS programs are located in 17 communities throughout the state. They are not secured facilities.

Referral

To refer a person for MSOCS vocational and life enrichment services, contact the service site for referral information (refer to DHS – MSOCS vocational and life enrichment services). The referring agency will receive a referral packet of preadmission forms to complete and return to the program supervisor for review.

Referrals also may come to CBS directly from DEED's VRS program. CBS also can help people who currently receive CBS services to access supports through VRS.

A person may be eligible for MSOCS if they meet each of the following three sets of criteria:

1. The person has been diagnosed with one of the following:

2. The person does not require emergency hospital level of care for a medical condition or psychiatric illness and has at least one of the following:

3. The county of financial responsibility (CFR) or referring agent and DHS Disability Services Division staff have determined there are no willing or able private service providers available to support the person for one of the following reasons: