Who is eligible for Integrated Community Support?
Any company possessing an approved 245D/Waiver/HCBS license has the opportunity to seek approval for an unlimited number of locations offering Integrated Community Supports (“ICS”).
The ICS service is designed for adults residing in an ICS setting. The provider is required to have ownership, operational control, or a leasing arrangement for the living unit(s), or hold a direct or indirect financial interest in the property or housing where services are provided.
ICS is accessible to adults covered under the following waivers:
- Brain Injury (BI)
- Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI)
- Community Alternative Care (CAC)
- Developmental Disabilities (DD)
- Additionally, Integrated Community Supports fulfills the habilitation requirement for the DD waiver.
What do integrated community supports entail?
Integrated Community Supports (ICS) refer to a licensed service (245D) designed for individuals aged 18 and above who are on the BI, CAC, CAID, or DD waivers. Providers offer assistance, supervision, and training to adults within a provider-controlled, multifamily housing setting known as an ICS setting. These providers can provide support for up to 24 hours per day. Essentially, ICS shares similarities with other programs like “group home” initiatives.
However, it’s important to note that ICS is not applicable if delivered in a setting licensed or registered under Minn. Stat. Chapter 144D or Minn. Stat. Chapter 144G for customized living or assisted living services. Additionally, it is not covered if the setting is licensed under Minn. Stat. Chapter 245A or Minn. Stat. Chapter 245D for adult foster care, child foster care, community residential services, or family residential services.
ICS focuses on support training in four key areas related to community living: (1) community participation, (2) health and safety
and wellness, (3) household management, and (4) adaptive skills.
What constitutes an Integrated Community Supports setting?
An Integrated Community Supports setting refers to a residential structure, such as a tri-plex, four-plex, or apartment building, where the service provider exercises either direct or indirect control over the individual’s living space and possesses an approved setting capacity report.
This type of setting falls under the category of a provider-controlled 245D/Waiver/HCBS setting, requiring compliance with all stipulations for HCBS settings outlined in 42 CFR 441.301(c). It does not align with the criteria for an individual’s personal home, community residential program, or family residential program.
A living unit in this context is a self-contained residential space encompassing living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and bathroom areas. The unit is not intended for shared occupancy unless the recipient voluntarily opts for a roommate.
In the case of a multifamily housing building, which comprises multiple living units, a single provider with ownership or leasing rights to more than one living setting on the same or adjacent property is restricted by the lead agency to authorize services in only one of those settings.