Title: Residential Treatment Programs for Mentally Ill Adults (Rule 36)
Alternate Title:
Description: Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)
Subject: Adult Day Centers
Developmental Disabilities Services
Disabilities
Mental Health Professionals
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:16:58 PM
Modification Date: 8/7/2026 4:40:05 PM
Agency Name: Human Services (DHS), Minnesota Department of
Agency URL: https://mn.gov/dhs/
Agency Description:
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) offers programs for health care, child support, food support, general assistance, nursing home care, seniors, people who are deaf, people who have developmental disabilities, foster care, child protection and adult and children's mental health services.
Agency Phone: 651-431-2000
Agency Fax: Agency URL: https://mn.gov/dhs/
Agency Address:
St. Paul
MN
55164
Division Name: Division of Licensing
Division URL:
Division Description:
Division Phone: 651-431-6500
Division Fax: Division URL:
Audience: Hold
Application URL:
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Review Residential adult mental health programs
Residential adult mental health programs provide mental health treatment and services to adults while they live at the program. There are three types of residential mental health programs that provide different levels of services under different sets of requirements. The sections below describe each program type, the level of service, and the specific requirements.
- Intensive Residential Treatment Services/Residential Crisis Stabilization (IRTS/RCS) programs
Intensive residential treatment services (IRTS) programs provide rehabilitative and other mental health services to adults in a community-based setting. These services assist in a person’s recovery and help them achieve psychiatric stability, personal and emotional adjustment, self-sufficiency, and other skills to transition to a more independent setting.
Residential crisis stabilization (RCS) programs provide structure and support to adults in a community-based setting. These services are for people after they experience a mental health crisis and who need short-term services to ensure they can safely return home, or to another living environment, with additional services and supports according to a crisis assessment.
Programs with this type of license typically provide both IRTS and RCS services, but programs may choose to only provide one of these services.
Note: IRTS/RCS applicants who plan to enroll as a Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP) provider must also contact the Behavioral Health Administration at dhs.adultmhact_irts@state.mn.us. Receiving an IRTS/RCS license does not guarantee rate approval and does not expedite the MHCP rate setting process.
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- Additional resources
Residential mental health programs (Rule 36)
These programs provide services to people with mental illness in a residential setting according to the requirements of Minn. Rules, sect. 9520.0500- 9520.0670 (Rule 36) as either a Category I or Category II program. Category I programs are residential settings that focus on providing services at the program while encouraging the use of community resources. Category II programs are transitional semi-independent or supervised group supportive living settings that offer a combination of services at the program and in the community and emphasize community resources for most daily programming and employment.
Rule 36 revision
Under the direction of the Minnesota Legislature, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is currently in the process of updating Rule 36. The goal of this revision is to modernize what is currently identified as Category I to reflect best practices, support person-centered care, and align with modern residential mental health treatment standards. The revision will also remove Category II, which is obsolete, and codify the forensic mental health program variance into Minnesota Rule.
Apply for a license
Requirements
Forms and documents
Contact a licensor
Self-monitoring checklist
Additional resources
Forensic mental health program
This program provides residential mental health treatment in a secure or supervised residential setting to adults who have been committed to the care of the Department of Human Services as mentally ill and dangerous. This program is operated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Requirements
Rules: 9520.0500 - .0690
Statutes: 245A
245C
Forms:
Fees:
Initial License Application Fee: The initial license application fee is $500. It is not prorated, is nonrefundable, and is in lieu of the annual license fee that expires on December 31. No application will be processed until the application fee is paid.
Annual License Fee: See Minn. Stat. § 245A.10
Period of Issuance:
Except for the initial license which is 12 months or less and expires on December 31, licenses are issued for one year on a calendar year basis.
Length of Determination:
Minn. Stat. 245A.04, subd. 1 requires that the Commissioner shall act on the application within 90 working days after a complete application and any required reports have been received from other state agencies or departments, counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions.
Other Info:
Activity: Residential Services Programs
Mental Health Services
License Detail URL:
Residential adult mental health programs
Licensing
Online Services
DHS Licensing Information Lookup
