IHS with Training vs. Without Training
A plain-language guide to Individualized Home Supports in Minnesota: what each option includes, who it’s for and how to choose.
If you or someone you support uses a Minnesota disability waiver, you may hear a case manager mention Individualized Home Supports (IHS). There are different versions of the service, and the names sound almost the same. This guide explains what IHS is, how IHS with training differs from IHS without training, and how to decide which one fits.
What is Individualized Home Supports (IHS)?
Individualized Home Supports is a Minnesota home and community-based waiver service. It helps a person live in their own home and take part in community life, with support that is planned around their goals and preferences. IHS replaced the older service called Independent Living Skills (ILS) training in 2022.
IHS is available through Minnesota’s disability waivers: Brain Injury (BI), Community Alternative Care (CAC), Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) and Developmental Disabilities (DD). Providers must be licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245D.
IHS with training vs. without training at a glance
| IHS without training | IHS with training | |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Support to keep up current skills and stay safe day to day | Teaching new skills so the person becomes more independent |
| Who can receive it | Adults and children | Adults only |
| What staff do | Cueing, guidance, assistance, supervision, help with community activities | Planned instruction and practice toward goals written in the support plan |
| How progress is measured | Support needs are met consistently | Progress toward specific, measurable goals |
IHS without training
IHS without training focuses on support. Staff help the person with daily living and community activities by giving reminders, guidance, hands-on assistance or supervision. The aim is to keep the person safe, maintain the skills they already have and help them take part in the activities they enjoy.
It can be a good fit when someone needs regular help to manage daily life but is not working on building new skills right now, or when the person is a child.
IHS with training
IHS with training focuses on learning. It is a more intensive service for adults, built around goals the person sets with their team and their guardian, if they have one. Staff teach, model and practice skills with the person until they can do more on their own. Common goals include:
- Budgeting, paying bills and managing money
- Planning meals, grocery shopping and cooking
- Cleaning, laundry and keeping a home in good shape
- Using public transportation and getting around the community
- Keeping appointments and managing health routines
- Building social skills and relationships
It can be a good fit for an adult who wants to move into their own apartment, or who already lives on their own and wants to rely less on others.
What about IHS with family training?
There is also a version of IHS that includes family training. Along with support for the person, it gives family members who help them guidance on how to support the person’s independence at home. Ask your case manager whether this option is available under your waiver.
How to decide which one is right
Start with the person’s goals. If the main need is dependable day-to-day help, IHS without training may be enough. If the person wants to learn skills and become more independent over time, IHS with training is usually the better choice. Some people move from one to the other as their needs change.
How to get started with IHS with training
- Talk to your case manager and ask about Individualized Home Supports with training.
- Agree on goals and add the service to your support plan.
- Choose a licensed provider. MySkye Care provides Individualized Home Supports with Training in Minnesota.
- Call 612-472-1001 or have your case manager send us a referral.
This guide is general information, not legal or benefits advice. Program rules can change; your case manager and lead agency have the final say. More information: Disability Hub MN.
Talk to our team
Have a question about your situation? We’re happy to help individuals, families and case managers.
