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:
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. Then, you'll be eligible to work with Consultation Services.
Assessments completed on or after October 1, 2024, will be for CFSS services. Assessments completed before October 1 will continue with PCA and CSG services until the next reassessment.
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 need an authorized service agreement before consultation services can start.
First, you should contact your assessor and tell them which consultation services provider you want to work with. Let your assessor know that you need an authorized service agreement for consultation services to begin.
The assessor should work with your county to ensure the service agreement gets entered so you can start working with the consultation service provider you chose. You and the provider will receive a Notice/Letter once the service authorization is entered and approved.
If your assessor is unable to help you, or you cannot reach your assessor, contact your county or tribal office.
If you use PCA or CSG services, you will receive up to six months of continued services while you transition to CFSS.
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.
