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Independence topics:

Community First Services and Supports

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Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) is a Minnesota health care program that offers flexible options to meet the unique needs of people. CFSS allows people greater independence in their homes and communities.

CFSS will replace personal care assistance (PCA) and the Consumer Support Grant (CSG). The CFSS information sheet can help you understand the new program and how it compares to the PCA program: English | Hmong | Karen | Somali | Spanish

Below find a video and answers to common questions about CFSS.

Learn more about CFSS in this 5 minute video:

Select this image to start the What is Community First Services and Supports (CFSS)? presentation

Note: Video will open in a new window.


If you use PCA or CSG services, CFSS will be an option after your next annual reassessment after CFSS launches in October 2024. If your next reassessment is before October 2024, you won't see a change in your service until your reassessment in 2025.

You do not need to do anything right now. Your lead agency will give you more information at your reassessment and a consultation services provider will help you learn more about your options with CFSS. When you have your annual reassessment, your assessor will give you a list of all consultation service providers that you can choose from.

You can learn more about this transition to CFSS under the "training" tab or the "learn more" tab on the Community First Services and Supports website. You can also follow the Minnesota Department of Human Services on Facebook for CFSS updates.

CFSS will give you more choice and control over how you use services.

You will need to choose between a budget model and an agency model for service delivery. Each model offers different levels of responsibility for people who receive services. Both models allow you the most control possible to select and receive services.

With CFSS you can:

  • Have a spouse or parent of a minor serve as workers
  • Have a person using CFSS as your worker
  • Buy goods and services to aid in independence
  • Buy a personal emergency response system (PERS) to provide backup support
  • Use a consultation services provider for help planning services

Many things will stay the same with CFSS for you if you're currently using PCA. This includes the services PCAs provide, like support with:

  • Activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, grooming and transferring
  • Health-related tasks
  • Instrumental activities of daily living, such as shopping, cooking, laundry and assistance with self-administered medications
  • Observation and redirection of behavior

CFSS will give you more choice and control over how you use services.

You will need to choose between a budget model and an agency model for service delivery. Each model offers different levels of responsibility for people who receive services. Both models allow you the most control possible to select and receive services.

With CFSS you can use a consultation services provider to help you plan services.

Many things will stay the same with CFSS if you are using CSG. This includes options to:

  • Buy goods and services to aid in independence (some changes may apply)
  • Have a spouse or parent of a minor serve as workers
  • Buy a personal emergency response system (PERS) to provide backup support
  • Have a person using CFSS act as your worker
  • Have a budget and serve as the employer to your workers

Note: If you use CSG in place of Home Care Nursing, your lead agency will offer a MnCHOICES assessment to you at your annual reassessment.

Yes. You can choose any provider that offers the services you need.