[nursie]

Has anyone qualified for a Family Support Grant ?
If so how much over what time period ?
We are looking into our eligibility right now w/a county DD social worker.
Just wondering if anyone has used it & what they used it for & if they were granted it for one time only or year after year.

[jbee]

i am just curious what that is? like in home care?

[nursie]

This is taken from MN DHS website:

Consumer Support Grant Program

The Consumer Support Grant (CSG) program is a state-funded alternative to the Medicaid home care services
of home health aide, personal care assistant and private duty nursing. The Consumer Support Grant Program
allows an eligible person to convert a portion of payments for specific home care services into a cash grant.
Eligible participants receive monthly cash grants to replace fee-for-service home care services payments. With
county assistance, consumers can manage and pay for a variety of home and community-based services.
The CSG Program provides consumers with greater flexibility and freedom of choice in service planning,
payment rates, provider qualifications and choice of service providers. Parents, spouses, family members,
trusted neighbors or friends can be paid for service, as well as employees of traditional home care provider
agencies. In fiscal year 2004, 407 people used Consumer Support Grants at a total cost of $6 million in state
funds.
Who is eligible for the Consumer Support Grant?
To be eligible for the CSG, a person must meet all these criteria:
�� Be recipients of or eligible for Medical Assistance
�� Be eligible to receive home care services from the Medical Assistance Home Care Program
�� Demonstrate limitations in everyday functioning, such as self-care, language, learning, mobility, selfdirection,
capacity for independent living and economic self-sufficiency
�� Require ongoing supports to live in the community
�� Live in a natural home setting.
Consumers cannot receive the Consumer Support Grant at the same time they receive services from the state
managed care program, a home and community-based waiver, Alternative Care or private duty nursing,
personal care assistant or home health aide services through the Medical Assistance Home Care Program.
How do consumers receive the Consumer Support Grant?
Eligible consumers who convert their eligible MA-funded home care services to the CSG partner with their
case manager to develop a service plan. The CSG plan identifies the supports they need, and a method to
document their expenses. Then the county approves the CSG plan. Grants may be distributed as cash,
vouchers for services or direct payments to vendors. The administering agency determines the method and
schedule for grant distribution.
How much can a consumer receive?
Grants are based on home care assessments and ratings for the home health aide, private duty nursing and/or
personal care assistant services. Consumers can obtain an estimate of their grant from their county
coordinator.

How can the grant be used?
Once the consumer enrolls in the program, the grant can be used to purchase a variety of supports beyond
those services. Services and goods included in a CSG plan must be related to the consumer’s functional
limitation and must be over and above the costs of supporting a person without a disability.
Examples of allowable expense categories include:
�� Companionship services
�� Home or vehicle modifications
�� Nutrition services
�� Respite care
�� Specialized equipment
�� Transportation
All other available sources of payment should be exhausted before use of the Consumer Support Grant.
How can consumers apply for the Consumer Support Grant?
Application for the CSG Program can be made at local county social service agencies. Currently not all
counties offer CSG. Consumers should contact their local county social service agency with questions about
the CSG.
This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by contacting us at
(651) 582-1998. TTY/TDD users can call the Minnesota Relay at 711 or (800) 747-5484. For
the Speech-to-Speech Relay, call (877) 627-3848.

[nursie]

Family Support Grant Program
The Family Support Grant program provides state cash grants to families of children with disabilities. The
goal of the program is to prevent or delay the out-of-home placement of children and promote family health
and social well-being by facilitating access to family-centered services and supports.
In calendar year 2003 about 1,700 families were receiving grants at a total cost to the state of $3.8 million.
Who is eligible for the Family Support Grant?
�� Families of children with a certified disability, under age 21 years, living in their biological or
adoptive home
�� Children currently residing in an Intermediate Care Facility for Persons with Mental Retardation or
Related Condition (ICF/MR) or other licensed residential service or facility who would return to their
family home if a grant were awarded are also eligible.
Families with an annual adjusted gross income of $78,228 or more are not eligible for the Family Support
Grant Program except in cases where extreme hardship is demonstrated. Considerations may include size of
the family, presence of a disability in other family members and substantial debt due to the child's disability.
Currently, families receiving services under the Mental Retardation or Related Conditions Waiver are not
eligible for the Family Support Grant. A family with a child receiving services under the MR/RC Waiver may
apply for a Family Support Grant. However, if a grant becomes available to the family and they choose to
participate in the program, they must discontinue receiving services under the MR/RC Waiver.
Children who are on a Community Alternative Care, Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals or
Traumatic Brain Injury waivers can receive a Family Support Grant if they meet the eligibility criteria for the
grant.
How do families receive the Family Support Grant?
Family Support Grant funds may be issued to families by counties in the form of cash, voucher or direct
county payment to a vendor. Grants may be awarded on a one-time or on an ongoing basis.
How much can a family receive?
The amount of the Family Support Grant award is based on individual needs. Grants may not exceed $3,000
per calendar year for each child with a disability.
Grants may be awarded on a one-time or on an ongoing basis.
444 Lafayette Road North • Saint Paul, Minnesota • 55155 • March 2005
How can the grant be used?
The grant must be spent on services and items that are directly related to caring for the child with a disability.
Only expenses that are over and above the normal costs of caring for the child if the child did not have a
disability may be covered.
Examples of allowable expense categories include:
�� Computers
�� Day care
�� Educational services
�� Medical services
�� Medications
�� Respite care
�� Specialized clothing
�� Specialized dietary needs
�� Specialized equipment (may include home or vehicle modifications)
�� Transportation
The Family Support Grant may not be used for purchases covered by other funding sources, such as private
insurance and Medical Assistance.
How can families apply for the Family Support Grant?
Applications for the Family Support Grant program can be made at the local county social service agency.
The administration of the program is through the county. Families should contact their county case manager
with any questions about the Family Support Grant.
This information is available in other forms to people with disabilities by contacting us at
(651) 582-1998. TTY/TDD users can call the Minnesota Relay at 711 or (800) 747-5484. For
the Speech-to-Speech Relay, call (877) 627-3848.

[scandi]

i believe it is a MN thing. I am a CP worker in MN. I have some familiarity with this but haven't used it for my kids. I am able to get more PCA hours that is paid for by MA then thru the CSG. It does have some flexibility in it and I know that others that have used it prefer going that route because they are in charge of the money and utilize more of a respite service. Do you get PCA services?

I haven't really looked at it much because my clients wouldn't qualify and I haven't been interested for my kids. THough now that you have posted all of the info I might look into it to see if I can get an alarm system paid for to keep my 2 runaways in the house. They both would meet criteria and are vulnerable. PM me if you have any other questions and I can see what I can find out from my "connections" where I work. what county are you in?