The Minnesota Department of Human Services is doing two National Core Indicators (NCI) surveys this year. One is for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (NCI-IDD), and the other is for older adults and adults with physical disabilities (NCI-AD). Minnesota is one of more than 45 states participating in this initiative, and DHS is participating to gather opinions and experiences of people in Minnesota who receive home and community-based services and supports. People served and their families/guardians might be called and invited to participate in an in-person or paper interview. This initiative begins in February and continues through May 2020.
Providers might receive questions from people they support who receive a letter or phone call from Vital Research inviting them to participate. If an interviewer from Vital Research calls, encourage your person to consider meeting with them to share their feedback. Here are some things you and they should know about helping with this project:
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They can choose to take part, or they can say no. This is their decision, and their choice will not change their services.
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They can choose someone, such as a family member or friend, to help them during the survey.
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Only legal guardians may refuse on behalf of a person; case managers and staff members cannot refuse on behalf of a person.
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The interview takes 30 to 45 minutes.
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Their answers will be kept private in accordance with data security laws. No one who helps them will see their answers.
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The interviews are designed for adults of all ages and people with varying abilities. Interviewers are given training on how to interview people with different abilities and ways of communicating.
More information can be found at Vital Research’s page for Minnesota