A person-specific residential development inquiry is different from asking whether a provider has an open bed. The first conversation should help the person, their team, and the potential provider understand what would need to be true for a suitable setting to become possible.
Start with the person’s preferred life
Lead with the person’s goals, routines, communication, and preferred community—not just a list of risks. Ask whom they want involved in decisions and what a good home would feel like to them.
Describe meaningful connections that a move could affect: family visits, work, familiar activities, transportation, and cultural or language preferences. Identify what is essential and what the person is willing to explore. Do not assume every preference has already been settled.
Organize the information needed for feasibility review
Gather the current assessment and plan along with a concise explanation of the requested support. Distinguish documented needs from questions that still need assessment. Ask how to share sensitive records securely.
- Lead agency, case manager, waiver, and funding status
- Preferred geography and accessibility requirements
- Daily and overnight staffing needs and relevant staff competencies
- Communication and positive support information
- Shared-living preferences and compatibility considerations, if applicable
- Current setting, requested timeline, and interim arrangements
Clarify the county and licensing pathway early
Minnesota maintains a moratorium on CRS capacity growth with defined approval pathways. County moratorium liaisons help coordinate capacity requests. Capacity approval does not itself guarantee licensing or a rate; current 245D licensing restrictions may also matter.
Ask the lead agency which pathway could apply, who is responsible for the next submission, and which questions require DHS clarification. Buying or identifying a house does not resolve those requirements. Avoid making a move-in commitment while these questions are still open.
Track unresolved decisions and interim support
Use a shared list with a responsible contact and next action for each unresolved item. Housing, staffing, authorization, and transition planning may proceed at different speeds. A single optimistic target date can hide important dependencies.
At each check-in, explain what changed and what has not. If development is not feasible, say so clearly and discuss alternatives with the person and lead agency. Interim support should not depend on a proposal being treated as a confirmed placement.
Truwell is open to exploring person-specific referrals in any Minnesota county when the requirements can align. Include the actual preferred county in the inquiry, even if it is outside the Twin Cities metro.
Common questions
Is this checklist for an existing CRS vacancy?
No. It is for exploring person-specific new development. Truwell is not advertising an existing opening or immediate placement through this process.
Can the referral name a county outside the metro?
Yes. Truwell is open to exploring all Minnesota counties, subject to person-specific fit, lead-agency collaboration, housing, staffing, licensing, and authorization.
Explore related Truwell services
Availability depends on authorization, location, schedule, and staffing. Share your requested service through our referral form, or contact our team to discuss a possible fit.
Continue reading
Official sources
These sources support the program descriptions above. Planning questions and examples are general suggestions, not determinations of eligibility or coverage. Confirm current requirements with your lead agency.