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September 2026 HCBS County Partnership Licensor Link

Minnesota Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 09/03/2026 11:42 AM CDT

HCBS County Partnership Licensor Link

SEPTEMBER 2026

In this issue:

Team Update
Training
AFC/CRS/CFRS Webex Recap
County Partnership Licensor Library
Tips, Reminders and Updates
Unit Directory

Team Update

ELICI for AFC – Over the past year we had talked about launching ELICI for AFC at the end of this year (3^rd quarter). Due to capacity, we had to put ELICI on hold at this time. We have saved all the progress we made to get it ready for AFC to launch so if we are able to increase our capacity, we may revisit implementing it in the future.

Training

Upcoming Training

Available trainings through Devember 2026. See the details regarding if it is in person training or by WebEx. Register through TrainLink

September 24th - AFC/CRS/CFRS - Licensor 101 In person (24 open seats)
- This is a great introduction to the very basics of licensing for county licensors who will be licensing adult foster care, community residential setting, and child foster residence setting. This training includes:
  - Reviewing the structure of our organizations
  - Identifying our roles at DHS and at the county or private agency where you work
  - Identifying and reviewing the primary Rules and Statutes that govern our work in licensing
  - Introducing you to the tools we have created to assist you
  - Reviewing the licensing process
  - Discussing other licensing procedures such as variances and extensions.
- This course is intended for NEW licensing workers who have been in the role for at least 4 months. If you have been a licensing worker for more than two years, please contact Lindsay Norris at Lindsay.Norris@state.mn.us prior to licensing.
- This is in person training at the Lafeyette Building
Oct 14th &15th - Community Residential Setting - Basics Plus (27 open seats)
- This course is intended to provide an overview of community residential setting (CRS) requirements, as well as basic licensing practices. The overview will include background study processing, variances, certifications, checklists, and required program policies. This training will allow participants the opportunity to review their current practices of monitoring the compliance of community residential setting. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, both general and specific, for consultation and discussion.
- It is one 3 hour WebEx session each day (must attend both days)
Oct 29th - AFC/CRS Home Safety Checklist (23 open seats)
- This course is interactive and skill-building. The objectives of the course include:
  - In depth look at the home safety checklist
  - Review and discussion of common licensing scenarios
- This is in person 3 hour training at the Lafeyette Building
- Intended Audience: Licensing workers and supervisors who license Adult Foster Care and CRS.
Nov 3rd & 4^th - Child Foster Residence Setting - Basics Plus (29 open seats)
- This course is intended to provide an overview of child foster residence setting (CFRS) requirements, as well as basic licensing practices. The overview will include background study processing, variances, certifications, checklists, and required program policies. This training will allow participants the opportunity to review their current practices of monitoring the compliance of child foster residence setting programs. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, both general and specific, for consultation and discussion.
- It is one 3 hour WebEx session each day (must attend both days)
Nov 17th & 18th - Adult Foster Care - Basics Plus (32 open seats)
- This course is intended to provide an overview of adult foster care and requirements, as well as basic licensing practices. The overview will include background study processing, variances, certifications, checklists, and required program policies. This training will allow participants the opportunity to review their current practices of monitoring the compliance of adult foster care programs. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, both general and specific, for consultation and discussion.
- It is one 3 hour WebEx session each day (must attend both days)
Dec 15th & 16th - Licensing Complaint Investigations - AFC, CRS, CFRS (16 open seats)
- This course will introduce participants to the process of conducting a licensing investigation in adult foster care, community residential services, and child foster residence setting license types. Content will include how to document the complaint, how to organize the investigation, how to interview people, how to develop investigation interview questions, and how to judge credibility of persons interviewed. We will also discuss the role of adult foster care licensing and law enforcement in investigations.
- It is one 3 hour WebEx session each day (must attend both days)

AFC/CRS/CFRS Webex Recap

August Recap

On August 13, 2026, our Background Studies partners joined our Webex to share updates on Background Studies requirements. For all of the details, please reach out to our County Partnership team.

Legacy system background studies are no longer valid after March 1, 2027.

Between September 1, 2026, and March 1, 2027, all individuals subject to a background study in child foster care, family adult foster care, and family adult day services settings that do not have a completed background study in NETStudy 2.0 must have one submitted. This includes household members and staff.

While many providers have already initiated background studies in NETStudy 2.0, some existing individuals were allowed to continue using studies from the legacy system when counties transitioned to using NETStudy 2.0 in 2016. This exception will end, and all individuals with legacy background studies that were submitted in the original NETStudy system must have a new background study initiated and completed in NETStudy 2.0. These background studies will include completing the consent and disclosure, as well as the fingerprinting and photo service.

County licensors are strongly encouraged to work with license holders to begin the process as soon as possible, and no later than March 1, 2027.

As always, please send us any topics or questions you would like us to address in the future!

September WebEx Topics

Introduction of Lynn and DHS Org chart
PIF process if change of address for in-application- colocation
BGS process and reminder of immediate removal letter

WebEx Information:

The monthly WebEx will be on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 11:00 to 12:00. Please set up a recurring meeting on your calendar with the following login information. If you happen to miss the Webex, you can always request the PP and recording by sending us an email.

Join from the meeting link

https://minnesota.webex.com/minnesota/j.php?MTID=mcfca12b980cfdb6111d44a24d19d6043

Meeting number (access code): 2498 905 7586

Meeting password: dUhCUgmH258

Join by phone

+1-415-655-0003 United States Toll

Our next Webex will be on September 10, 2026.

County Partnership Licensor Library

The County Partnership Licensor Library is now up and running! When you go to the old family systems website, you will find links directing you to the new site. We have organized the site with shared forms listed first then forms that pertain to each license type listed next.

If you have any trouble at all opening forms or trouble with particular forms once they are opened, at the bottom of the Licensor Library there’s a “Report this Page” link. When you click it, you can choose the issue and enter information about what is going on. Please use this link or email triage so we can get started on the problem as soon as possible.

With that being said, we know there have been some issues with the CRS checklist. We believe we have resolved them but just in case here are a few tips: Make sure you are using the most current version – pull it directly from the licensor library each time you are using it. When using the form – open it from the licensor link, save it to your desktop, file, or wherever you save it, then use the Text Fill option to complete it. If you have issues, email triage with exactly what the issue is – let us know which version of Adobe you are using or which software you’re using as that can make a difference to the functionality of the form, take screenshots, etc.

Tips, Reminders and Updates

Notice of Immediate Background Study Form

This form was created to provide notification of actions that the license holder needs to take upon discovery of a background study issue that will require a fine recommendation. Since the license holder could already be getting a fine, we didn’t want the notification to be a correction order.

Correction on guidance for locks on a CRS bedroom door

Every bedroom door does not need a lock if the person does not want to lock their bedroom door. Any time the person wants to be able to lock their bedroom door, the license holder must install a new doorknob that includes a lock.

This guidance is different then AFC rule. AFC rule requires all bedroom doors to have a lock, whether someone wants to lock their bedroom door or not.

Triage email box reminder

EMAIL: Our team email box for AFC, CRS, CFRS, and FADS licenses is:

HCBSCountyPartnership.DHS@state.mn.us.

When you send an email, please provide the application or license number, the applicant or license holder name, and the license type that this involves. We will be addressing your questions as soon as we can, please allow up to 3 business days for a response. Do not use the previous CRS or Foster Care email boxes anymore.