CFSS and workers FAQ

DHS will begin to move people who receive services through personal care assistance (PCA) and Consumer Support Grant (CSG) programs to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) on Oct. 1, 2024. The new federally approved program covers the same personal care services that were provided through PCA and CSG.

Below are the answers to frequently asked questions related to workers who provide services under these programs.

More information

For more information about the CFSS transition for people who receive services, visit the CFSS frequently asked questions webpage.
For answers to questions about CFSS from counties, tribal nations and managed care organizations, see the CFSS and lead agencies FAQ.

When will this change happen?
How does this affect me as a PCA worker?
This transition will not change:
- The supports you provide.
- The skills and experience you need.
- The people you support. You may continue to support the same people if they currently use PCA services and will transition to CFSS.
This transition might change:
- Your provider agency. The person to whom you provide services might choose a new provider. If they choose a new provider, you will need to move to their new provider to continue providing the person with services.
- Your need to complete a new background study.
- Your employment relationship with the person you support.
  - If the person you support chooses the budget model, they will be your employer.
  - If they choose the agency model, the agency will be your employer.
- Whether you are in the bargaining unit represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa (SEIU).
  - If the person chooses the budget model, you will be represented by SEIU.
  - If the person chooses the agency model, you will not be represented by SEIU.
How does this affect me as a CSG personal care worker?
If the person you support uses CSG, the transition will not change:
- The supports you provide.
- The skills and experience you need.
- The people you support. You may continue to support the same people if they currently use CSG services and will transition to CFSS.
- Spouses and parents of minors may continue to serve as personal care workers in either CFSS model.
This transition might change:
- Your provider. The person to whom you provide services might choose a new provider. If they choose a new provider, you will need to move to their new provider to continue providing the person with services.
- Your need to complete a new background study.
- Your need to complete the PCA/CFSS support workers training and test.
- Your employment relationship with the person you support:
  - If the person you support chooses the budget model, they will be your employer.
  - If they choose the agency model, the agency will be your employer.
- Whether you are in the bargaining unit represented by Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota & Iowa (SEIU):
  - If the person chooses the budget model, you will be represented by SEIU.
  - If the person chooses the agency model, you will not be represented by SEIU.
What do I need to do now?
- Continue to support the people you currently work with.
- Take the PCA/CFSS support workers test found on Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) Training and Tests, if you haven’t already.
- Review the bargaining unit information in the SEIU question and answer below.
What do I do after the person I support has moved from PCA/CSG to CFSS?
- Ask the person which model they selected.
- Ask the person which provider they will work with.
- Work with the provider agency or FMS provider to complete necessary paperwork, which may include a background study.
- Ask the provider agency and/or the person you support any other questions you have.
What do I need to know about CFSS and SEIU bargaining unit?
- Workers who will support people who choose the budget model will be in the bargaining unit represented by SEIU.
- Workers who support people who choose the agency model will not be in the bargaining unit represented by SEIU.
- If you are going to leave the bargaining unit represented by SEIU, ask for up to 80 hours of your accrued paid time off to be paid to you by the provider agency you were working with.
- If you will enter the SEIU bargaining unit, visit the SEIU website for more information.