C&C States
Self-Direction Handbook
Data &The CDCS Queen
One rural county case manager in Minnesota calls herself “the CDCS Queen” as people interested in the state’s Cash & Counseling program, CDCS, seem to find her. She humbly insists that she is just a case manager with the ability to see things a little differently for her clients and especially with this option. She is happy to talk about this service with clients and their families as she believes it can help where traditional services fall short.
She works with a 92 year-old frail male on the Elderly Waiver living alone in his home in rural Minnesota. While barely able to care for himself, she had concerns because he repeatedly declined help from the local home care agency in the past as he did not feel comfortable with strangers in his home. When his daughter learned about CDCS, things changed. He was very willing to hire his daughter to help him with light housekeeping, meals, medications, and rides, and his son-in-law to mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks. Under his budget, he also bought a telephone programmed with emergency and critical numbers. At a six month visit, the case manager found her client looking much better and very happy with the services. He says he loves seeing his family more often and is eating much better. She says that CDCS is a “win/win situation” for him.