The Department of Human Services (DHS) will not be implementing Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) in November 2021 as planned. Instead, DHS plans to implement this service at earliest, June 1, 2022.
What is CFSS?
DHS is implementing a transition from Personal Care Assistance (PCA) to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS). CFSS will expand people’s options on how they prefer to receive their services. People will have more choice in who provides their services as well as additional support for writing plans, more self-direction options, and the ability to purchase goods to aid a person’s independence. The eligibility requirements for CFSS will be the same as PCA. CFSS will also replace the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) program.
CFSS will cover the same main services as PCA:
- 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 medications
- Observation and redirection of behavior.
People who use CFSS will have more options and supports:
- Unlike PCA, in CFSS a person’s spouse or the parent of a minor may serve as that person’s support worker.
- People may choose to purchase goods to aid in their independence.
- The CFSS budget model allows people to choose to be the employer of their support workers.
- The state provides a budget that the provider agency or the person may use to train workers on the individual needs of the person.
- The consultation services provider will provide education and support in writing the person’s plan.
Recent updates on the delay:
DHS is delayed in transitioning due to delayed federal approval on waiver and state plan amendments. The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded attention of state and federal staff elsewhere. However, DHS plans to gradually transition people from PCA to CFSS in the year to avoid a disruption of services.
What does this mean for people using PCA services?
DHS assures that this delay will not affect the ability to continue receiving services or access assessments to start services. DHS hopes that with the start date delay, they will have a better opportunity to transition seamlessly to ensure that people have equitable access to CFSS services.
Want to learn more about CFSS?
DHS has put together a video with information about the transition to CFSS, find it here.
Written by Grace Seifert, State and Federal Policy Intern