WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. — For individuals with disabilities who want to live in their own homes while receiving the support they need to thrive, Individualized Home Supports represent a flexible, person-centered option designed to build skills and promote independence. As Minnesota navigates recent policy changes affecting disability services, understanding IHS options and eligibility can help families make informed decisions about care and support.
What Are Individualized Home Supports?
Individualized Home Supports are services for people who live in their own home or family home that provide support and training in areas of community living. These services help individuals develop skills and receive assistance in four key categories:
Community Participation: Getting around safely, accessing community resources, building social networks, and engaging meaningfully with their neighborhoods and broader communities.
Health, Safety, and Wellness: Healthcare coordination, self-care support, health services assistance, and developing strategies to reach wellness goals.
Household Management: Budgeting, meal planning, household chores, home safety, and maintaining living spaces.
Adaptive Skills: Crisis prevention, positive behavior support, problem-solving, and developing capabilities for greater self-sufficiency.
IHS can be provided in the person's own home, their family's home, or in community spaces used by the general public. Services may be delivered in person or remotely, depending on individual needs and circumstances.
The Research Behind Independent Living
The preference for home and community-based services reflects more than personal choice—research suggests that independent and semi-independent settings may be associated with positive outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
A study examining barriers to independent living found that independent and semi-independent settings are associated with better outcomes, lower costs, and greater choice compared to institutional care. The research identified that adults living in their own homes typically enjoy greater choice relative to individuals in congregate care or group home settings.
Understanding what enables successful independent living is crucial. Recent qualitative research with young adults with disabilities explored how they define and experience independent living. The study found that home features, community features, programs and services, general health, and finances all contribute to successful transitions to independent living. Participants emphasized the importance of accessible home layouts, community resources like Centers for Independent Living, and gathering comprehensive information before making decisions about living arrangements.
However, it's important to note that research on independent living outcomes remains limited in some areas, and individual experiences vary widely based on disability type, support needs, personal preferences, and available resources.
Who Qualifies for IHS in Minnesota?
Eligibility for Individualized Home Supports depends on meeting specific criteria established by Minnesota's disability waiver programs.
An individual qualifies for IHS if they meet both of the following requirements:
Living Situation: They live in their own home or their family's home (not in a licensed residential facility)
Waiver Enrollment: They receive services through a Minnesota disability waiver, including Brain Injury (BI), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), or Developmental Disabilities (DD) waivers
Understanding the 245D Service Framework
IHS services in Minnesota are provided by 245D-licensed agencies. The 245D license represents Minnesota's regulatory framework for home and community-based services, establishing standards for quality, safety, and person-centered care delivery.
BrightPath's IHS Options: With Training and Without Training
The specific IHS services available depend on age, living arrangement, and whether the individual needs support alone or support combined with active skill training.
IHS Without Training
This option is available to adults or children who need support in at least one community living category but don't require formal skill training. Examples might include:
Accompaniment to community activities
Assistance with daily routines
Support with household tasks
Help accessing community resources
Without Training focuses on providing assistance that enables individuals to participate in activities and maintain their homes, with staff offering hands-on support as needed.
IHS With Training
Available to adults, this option provides both support and active skill instruction in at least one community living category. This might include:
Teaching budgeting and financial management skills
Training in meal preparation and cooking
Instruction in household maintenance tasks
Developing problem-solving strategies
Building self-advocacy capabilities
With Training emphasizes skill development and increased independence over time, with staff working alongside individuals to teach new capabilities they can eventually perform with less support.
Recent Minnesota Policy Changes Affecting IHS
Minnesota's disability services landscape is evolving, with recent policy changes affecting how IHS services are delivered and funded.
2026 Service Limitations
Starting January 1, 2026, people who qualify for IHS with training may receive up to six hours per day, but can bill no more than three consecutive hours at a time. This change reflects budget constraints affecting Minnesota's disability waiver programs.
The 2025 legislative session resulted in several adjustments to disability services:
Provider rates will increase by 4% (instead of the usual 6%) to slow overall spending growth
Limits will apply to rate exceptions for residential service providers beginning July 1, 2026
A Long-Term Services and Supports Advisory Council was created to identify potential cost savings
Waiver Reimagine Delayed
Minnesota's planned "Waiver Reimagine" initiative, which would have restructured disability waiver services, has been delayed until January 1, 2027, providing current service models more time before potential changes.
Federal Approvals
CMS approved Minnesota's disability waiver amendment package on December 31, 2024, though implementation timelines for various changes vary as the state updates policy manuals and systems.
These policy shifts reflect the ongoing tension between meeting growing service needs and managing state budget constraints—a challenge affecting many states' disability service systems.
The Four Categories of Community Living Services
Understanding how IHS addresses different life areas helps families identify which supports might benefit their loved ones most.
Community Participation: Connecting Beyond Home
Community participation encompasses the skills and supports needed to engage fully in community life. This includes:
Transportation and Mobility: Learning to use public transportation, understanding traffic safety, or coordinating accessible transportation options
Community Resource Access: Connecting with libraries, recreation centers, religious organizations, or other community spaces
Social Network Development: Building friendships, maintaining relationships, and developing social skills that facilitate meaningful connections
Community Engagement: Participating in volunteer activities, classes, clubs, or other community organizations
Research on independent living consistently identifies community integration as crucial for wellbeing and quality of life, though the specific definition of meaningful community participation varies by individual.
Health, Safety, and Wellness: Foundation for Thriving
This category addresses the physical and mental health supports that enable individuals to live safely and healthily:
Healthcare Coordination: Scheduling appointments, communicating with medical providers, understanding treatment plans, and following through on health recommendations
Self-Care Support: Assistance with personal hygiene, grooming, medication management, and other daily health-related tasks
Health Services Support: Help accessing and utilizing medical equipment, therapies, or specialized health services
Wellness Strategies: Developing and implementing approaches to physical fitness, nutrition, stress management, and overall wellbeing
Supporting health and wellness requires individualized approaches that respect personal preferences while addressing medical and safety needs.
Household Management: Creating Stable Living Environments
Managing a household involves numerous skills that many people learn gradually throughout childhood and young adulthood. For individuals with disabilities, targeted support can build these capabilities:
Financial Management: Budgeting, paying bills, understanding expenses, making purchasing decisions, and managing money responsibly
Meal Planning and Preparation: Planning nutritious meals, grocery shopping, cooking safely, and maintaining food safety
Household Chores: Cleaning, laundry, organizing living spaces, and maintaining home environments
Home Safety: Understanding fire safety, responding to emergencies, maintaining functioning smoke detectors, and creating safe living conditions
Recent research on teaching independent living skills to youth with intellectual disabilities or autism found that cooking and cleaning were the most common types of ILS taught, though researchers emphasize the need to expand skill instruction beyond these basics.
Adaptive Skills: Problem-Solving and Self-Management
Adaptive skills address the cognitive and behavioral capabilities that support independence:
Crisis Prevention: Recognizing warning signs, implementing coping strategies, and preventing situations from escalating
Positive Behavior Support: Understanding triggers, developing alternative responses, and building self-regulation capabilities
Problem-Solving: Identifying issues, considering options, making decisions, and evaluating outcomes
Self-Sufficiency Skills: Developing the judgment, planning, and execution capabilities needed to handle daily challenges independently
These skills often require ongoing development and practice, with support tailored to individual cognitive abilities and behavioral needs.
Why Choose In-Home Supports Over Other Options?
Families considering care options often weigh various factors when deciding whether IHS aligns with their needs and preferences.
Remaining in Familiar Environments
Living in one's own home or family home maintains connection to familiar spaces, routines, and communities. This familiarity can be especially important for individuals with cognitive disabilities or those who find transitions challenging.
Maintaining Family Connections
When individuals with disabilities live in family homes, IHS enables them to remain with their families while receiving professional support. This arrangement can benefit both the individual and family members, providing expert assistance while preserving family relationships.
Control and Choice
Home-based services typically offer more flexibility around schedules, routines, and daily decisions compared to residential facilities with structured programming. This autonomy supports self-determination principles central to person-centered care.
Skill Development in Natural Settings
Learning and practicing skills in the environment where they'll actually be used may facilitate better learning outcomes. Cooking in your own kitchen, managing your own budget, or navigating your actual neighborhood provides real-world practice rather than simulated training.
How BrightPath Delivers IHS Services
Full Transparency: As an IHS provider, BrightPath's services represent one option among many available to Minnesota families. We encourage families to carefully evaluate which services and providers best match their specific needs, preferences, and circumstances.
At BrightPath, our IHS delivery emphasizes person-centered approaches aligned with each individual's goals, strengths, and aspirations.
Qualified, Trained Staff
Our IHS professionals receive training to work with individuals needing varying levels of support across different disability types. We prioritize:
Understanding person-centered care principles
Implementing positive behavior support approaches
Teaching effectively while respecting individual learning styles
Maintaining safety while promoting maximum independence
Communicating effectively with individuals, families, and other professionals
Individualized Service Plans
No two individuals have identical needs, preferences, or goals. Our IHS services adapt to each person's unique situation, focusing on:
Identified priority areas where support or training would be most beneficial
Teaching methods that match individual learning styles
Pacing that respects current capabilities while encouraging growth
Integration with other services and supports the individual receives
Nurturing Growth and Uniqueness
BrightPath's mission—enabling the freedom to pursue joy—guides our IHS delivery. We recognize that independence looks different for each person, and meaningful progress might involve:
Learning a new skill that increases autonomy
Becoming more comfortable with a previously challenging activity
Expanding social connections or community participation
Gaining confidence in decision-making
Achieving a personally meaningful goal
Progress isn't always linear, and setbacks are normal parts of learning processes. Our role is to provide consistent, patient support throughout each individual's journey.
Practical Considerations for Families
Families exploring IHS services often have questions about logistics, costs, and how services actually work in practice.
How to Access IHS
Accessing IHS requires several steps:
Waiver Enrollment: Individuals must be enrolled in an eligible Minnesota disability waiver (BI, CADI, CAC, or DD). Lead agencies or county social services can assist with waiver applications and eligibility determinations.
Assessment: A comprehensive assessment (typically MnCHOICES) evaluates needs, preferences, and goals to determine appropriate service levels.
Service Authorization: Based on assessment results, lead agencies authorize specific services and service amounts.
Provider Selection: Families choose from available IHS providers, considering factors like provider philosophy, staff qualifications, service approach, and compatibility.
Service Planning: Providers work with individuals and families to develop detailed service plans outlining specific goals, activities, and schedules.
Financial Aspects
IHS services are funded through Minnesota's disability waivers, which are Medicaid programs. Eligible individuals receive services at no cost beyond any Medicaid cost-sharing requirements that may apply based on income.
Minnesota's Disability Waiver Rate System establishes uniform rate-determination methods for all disability services, with January 2025 rate-setting frameworks posted based on current legislation and federal approval of Minnesota's waiver plans.
Coordinating with Other Services
Many individuals receiving IHS also access other disability services, such as:
Employment services
Day programs or day training services
Residential supports (if transitioning from family home to own home)
Behavioral health services
Medical or therapeutic services
Effective coordination among all service providers ensures comprehensive, non-duplicative support aligned with individual goals.
Looking Ahead: The Future of IHS in Minnesota
Minnesota's disability services system continues evolving in response to changing needs, budget realities, and policy priorities.
Balancing Access and Sustainability
State budget constraints create ongoing challenges for disability services. The tension between meeting growing demand and managing costs affects service availability, provider rates, and program design. These pressures will likely continue influencing Minnesota's disability services landscape.
Technology and Remote Services
The option to deliver some IHS remotely expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and remains available. Technology may offer opportunities for increased flexibility, though in-person support remains essential for many activities and skill-building efforts.
Person-Centered Approaches
Minnesota's commitment to person-centered care continues strengthening, with policies increasingly emphasizing individual choice, self-determination, and community integration. This philosophical direction aligns with research suggesting these approaches may support positive outcomes.
Taking the Next Step
If you or a loved one might benefit from Individualized Home Supports, consider:
What goals matter most? Greater independence in daily activities? Skill development in specific areas? More community participation? Identifying priorities helps focus service planning.
What living arrangement works best? Remaining in a family home? Living independently with support? Transitioning gradually toward greater independence? Different IHS options support different living situations.
What level of support is needed? Occasional assistance with specific tasks? Regular training in multiple skill areas? Ongoing support throughout daily activities? Honest assessment of support needs helps match individuals with appropriate services.
Connect With BrightPath
BrightPath offers both IHS With Training and IHS Without Training to eligible individuals throughout West St. Paul and the surrounding areas. Our person-centered, data-driven approach aims to maximize each individual's independence and quality of life while respecting their unique journey.
Location: 149 Thompson Ave E #206, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Website: www.brightpath-mn.com
Services: Individualized Home Supports (With and Without Training), 24-Hour Emergency Assistance, Community Residential Services, Basic Support Services including Adult Companion Services, Crisis Respite
Sources Cited:
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Disability Services Division, January 2025 Disability Waiver Rate System Frameworks
Minnesota Department of Human Services, CMS Waiver Amendment Approval, December 31, 2024
Minnesota Council on Disability, Legislative Updates, 2025 Session
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Waiver Reimagine Timeline Update
Research on barriers to independent living (Burchard et al. 1991; Stancliffe et al. 2011)
Qualitative study on successful transitions to independent living, University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living, 2022
Systematic literature review on independent living skills interventions for youth with intellectual disability or autism, 2024
Administration for Community Living, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Long-Range Plan 2024-2028