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Consumer Directed Community Supports
What is Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS)?
The Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) is program gives individuals more control over their care and support services. It is available to people enrolled in the following home and community-based services (HCBS) programs:
- Alternative Care Program
- Brain Injury Waiver
- Community Alternative Care Waiver
- Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver
- Developmental Disabilities Waiver
- Elderly Waiver
How CDCS work?
CDCS allows individuals to manage their own services, giving them the ability to:
- Choose or design services that meet their specific needs.
- Decide when and how to receive services.
- Hire the people they want to provide those services, including family members like parents or spouses.
This program is person-centered, offering flexibility and more control over how a participant’s waiver allocation budget is spent.
Who can participate
To participate in CDCS, individuals must:
- Be able to direct and purchase their own care, or have someone designated to manage it on their behalf.
- Live in a natural home setting (not in a licensed or registered setting, such as foster care or licensed residential services).
CDCS helps individuals make decisions about their care while ensuring that they live in a safe and appropriate setting.
Before starting the CDCS program, the person or their managing party must complete an orientation. There are two options for completing the orientation:
Meet with the CDCS Coordinator in Washington County
Orientations are held virtually once a month. Contact your assigned Case Manager to sign up for an orientation session.Complete an online learning module
The Minnesota Department of Human Services offers a CDCS online learning module for individuals receiving services and their families who are interested in the program.
Be sure to complete the orientation before starting CDCS to understand how the program works.
For the Community Alternative Care, Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals, Traumatic Brain Injury, Elder Waiver or Alternative Care waiver, the amount of support is based on the most recent long-term care consultation or reassessment.
For Developmental Disability, the budget is based on the most recent full team screening.
To be approved for use in the CDCS program, the goods and services must meet the following criteria:
- Be for the direct benefit of the person.
- Be included in the person’s CDCS Community Support Plan.
- Be necessary to meet one of the person’s assessed needs.
- Be related to the person’s disability or condition. (This applies to Brain Injury, Community Alternative Care, Community Access for Disability Inclusion, and Development Disabilities only).
These guidelines ensure that funds are used appropriately to support the individual’s needs.
Helpful documents
- CDCS Community Support Plan (DHS-6532) (PDF).
- CDCS Consumer Handbook (PDF).
- Sign up to receive the quarterly AA & D Connect newsletter.
CDCS program updates are included in this newsletter.
For more detailed information about the program, go to the Minnesota Department of Human Services website on CDCS.
For questions regarding this program, please send an email to CSAAD-CDCSprogram@washingtoncountymn.gov or call 651-430-6422 and ask for the CDCS Coordinator. Interpreters are available.