Aventra Care — Making Family Caregiving Possible

Health First Colorado — Approved Provider

Colorado CFC & IHSS: Paid Family Caregiving Explained

Community First Choice (CFC) and In-Home Support Services (IHSS) help Coloradans get daily support at home. Families often ask whether a relative may be paid to provide that care. Below we explain the programs in plain language, what may qualify, and how enrollment generally works.

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Based in Aurora, serving families across the Denver metro area.

Family caregiver supporting an older loved one at home in Colorado.

What is Community First Choice (CFC)?

CFC is a Health First Colorado (Colorado Medicaid) State Plan benefit that covers attendant support with everyday activities — things like bathing, dressing, meals, and keeping a home safe. It is a benefit framework: once a member is determined eligible, they choose how the authorized services are delivered.

Eligibility and the amount of authorized care are decided by the State and the member’s case management agency after an assessment. Aventra Care does not determine eligibility.

What is In-Home Support Services (IHSS)?

IHSS is a service-delivery model rather than a separate benefit. Under IHSS, an approved agency employs the caregiver — who may be a family member where program rules allow — and handles training, supervision, payroll, and compliance, while the member helps direct day-to-day care.

Aventra Care is a Health First Colorado–approved provider offering agency-based Homemaking (HMK), Personal Care (PCP), and Health Maintenance Activities (HMA) once services are authorized.

CFC, IHSS, CDASS and the services they cover

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same kind of thing. CFC is a Medicaid benefit/program framework. IHSS and CDASS are service-delivery options within Colorado’s long-term services. HMK, PCP, and HMA are service types that may be authorized in a care plan.

Comparison of Colorado Medicaid programs, service-delivery options, and service types, and how Aventra Care supports each.
Program or serviceWhat it isWho it may fitFamily caregiversAventra Care role
Community First Choice (CFC)Medicaid State Plan benefitHealth First Colorado members with an assessed functional needFamily caregivers may be hired, subject to program rulesWe provide authorized attendant services under agency delivery
IHSSService-delivery optionMembers who want agency support with some day-to-day directionFamily members may be employed by the agency, subject to rulesYes — Aventra Care is the employer, trainer, and payroll agency
CDASSService-delivery option (self-directed)Members able to act as employer with an authorized representativeMember hires caregivers directly within an allocated budgetNot agency-directed; we can explain the difference
Homemaking (HMK)Service typeMembers authorized for household supportCan be delivered by an approved family caregiverYes — light housekeeping, laundry, meal prep, errands
Personal Care (PCP)Service typeMembers needing hands-on daily living assistanceCan be delivered by an approved family caregiverYes — bathing, dressing, mobility, toileting, reminders
Health Maintenance Activities (HMA)Service typeMembers whose plan authorizes routine health-related tasksRequires program-specific training and authorizationYes, when authorized and training requirements are met

Want a deeper comparison of the two delivery models? Read our IHSS vs. CDASS guide or our paid family caregiver guide for Colorado.

How enrollment works

Every family’s path is a little different, and timelines depend on eligibility determination and authorization. In general, the steps look like this.

  1. 1

    Contact Aventra Care

    Call or send a message and tell us about your family's situation and the care that is needed.

  2. 2

    Confirm Health First Colorado coverage

    Eligibility is confirmed with the appropriate case management agency or Health First Colorado contact, not by us.

  3. 3

    Complete a needs assessment

    An assessment identifies which supports — HMK, PCP, or HMA — may be authorized in the care plan.

  4. 4

    Choose a service-delivery option

    Decide between an agency-based option such as IHSS or a self-directed option such as CDASS.

  5. 5

    Caregiver onboarding, if applicable

    A family member or other caregiver completes an application, background check, and required training.

  6. 6

    Begin authorized services

    Once services are authorized, care begins according to the approved plan and documentation requirements.

Colorado CFC & IHSS questions families ask

Official Colorado resources (external)

These links go to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF), the state agency that administers Health First Colorado. They are external sites not operated by Aventra Care.

Talk with a Colorado care advisor

We’ll help you understand CFC and IHSS, point you to the right Health First Colorado contact for eligibility, and explain how agency-based care could work for your family.

  • Health First Colorado–approved provider
  • Aurora & Denver metro
  • Family caregivers welcome
Request a Free Consultation Call 720-605-6999