A Guide to Support Planning for CDCS in Minnesota

CDCS Key Takeaways

CDCS is a self-directed program that puts the person receiving services (or their representative) in control
People who use CDCS can hire people they know to provide support–such as friends or family
With CDCS, you can buy goods and services that help you live independently
Support Planners help you write the required community support plan and get it approved

What is CDCS, and how does it work?

Consumer-Directed Community Supports (CDCS) gives you and your family more choices in your care and how much it costs. With CDCS, you can choose the services and supports that work best for you. You decide when you want to receive them and who you want to provide them. This also means you have more control over how your budget is used.

Creating a Community Support Plan for CSG

If you select CDCS, you’ll be required to create your person-centered Community Support Plan (CSP). (Learn about person-centered planning.) Your CSP should include the following components:

Costs of each support or service
Plans to monitor your services or supports
Qualifications of the people who will provide your services or supports
Supports and services you need and plan to use
Training you would like the people who will provide your support to have

A daughter sits at the table with her elderly father, helping him with his meal. The daughter has dark skin with short curly hair. She wears a yellow sweater. The elderly man has dark skin and a dark blue sweater. — *People who use CDCS can hire people they know to provide support–such as friends or family*.

Can someone help you create your Community Support Plan for CDCS?

Your CSP is important. It’s crucial that you (the person receiving services) or your representative create a plan to fit your unique needs. This can take a lot of work. If you want assistance, that’s where support planners come in.

A support planner is someone certified by DHS. They understand consumer-directed community supports (CDCS), person-centered planning, and how to create a support plan. Choosing a support planner is optional, but the cost of the support planner is included in your budget.

What do support planners do for you?

As the person receiving services, you’re the boss. This means you or your representative decide how much the support planner does for you. Support planners can:

Provide information about CDCS and provider options
Help you develop and monitor the CSP, including progress toward goals, budget, and health/safety
Assist with revisions to the CSP throughout the service year
Find and connect you to both licensed and non-licensed support providers

Why Choose Harry Meyering Center as Your Support Planner for CDCS

An older couple sit outside on a weathered wood deck. The man wears wellies and the women has a yellow shirt. They both wear jeans. Two black dogs sit in front of them. One dog is eating a treat from the man's hand.

Get a Plan That Meets Your Unique Needs

Our team’s extensive background in financial management and human services means that we know how to help you handle your plan. We’ll help you create a plan that gets immediate DHS approval.

Grow Alongside People Who Get You

We’re staffed by people that use the services. We understand in a way that other people don’t, because we’re walking through the process ourselves.

We’re People Who Value People

As a non-profit, we’re not here to sell anything–we’re here to support you. We want to get to know you, from your CSP to your pet’s name.

Get Started With a Support Provider

For more information, please email or call. One of our Support Planners will reach out to you.