Decisions on
Consumer Directed Community Supports
(CDCS) Appeals

Advocates of local chapters of The Arc in Minnesota have been working closely with families who have seen their services cut or changed in the past year for the CDCS option under the Mental Retardation and Related Conditions (MR/RC) Waiver. A number of these service cuts and changes have been appealed by the families affected and heard by Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) appeals referees. Below are rulings in five of those appeals hearings.
  1. Appeal Decision in the Case of Z.A., 11/19/04
  2. Appeal Decision in the Case of T.U., 11/30/04
  3. Appeal Decision in the Case of K.J., 1/31/05
  4. Appeal Decision in the Case of a Ramsey County family, 2/23/05
  5. Appeal Decision in the Case of T.R., 3/2/05
The rulings in the majority of these cases were not in favor of the families involved. The appeals were not done with the assistance of an advocate or attorney, except in the 2/23/05 hearing, in which some of the initial rulings against the family were overturned by the DHS appeals referee. The Arc of Minnesota does not want to discourage families from appealing their CDCS service cuts. If you have questions about your CDCS services, contact an attorney or an advocate at your local chapter of The Arc (click here for a list of local chapters in Minnesota).