Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS)

What is the Local Collaborative Time Study?

The Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS) is a random moment time study conducted by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). It helps generate federal funding for Family Services and Children's Mental Health Collaboratives. Participation is limited to Public Health, County or Community Corrections, and School Districts that are members of an approved Family Services or Children's Mental Health Collaborative, and eligible participants can earn federal funds for their collaborative.

The LCTS draws federal entitlement funds through Medicaid (MA) and Title IV-E state plans. It also claims MA administrative reimbursement for Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) on behalf of participating public health staff.

Some staff within your school district, corrections agency, or public health department perform activities that qualify for federal reimbursement. These activities are documented through a random moment time sampling process.

The LCTS Random Moment Sampling records how staff spend their time on various work activities at randomly selected dates and times. When a participant receives a Random Moment notification, they select the activity code that best represents what they were doing at that specific moment.

The results of the time study are compiled and used to calculate the federal funding claim for the local collaborative.

How does the LCTS money get used?

Federal funds received through LCTS activities must be used to expand early intervention and prevention services for children and families. These services aim to:

  • Prevent out-of-home placements

  • Enhance family support and children's physical and mental health services

  • Develop a seamless system of care

  • Strengthen community-based collaborative efforts at the local level


For questions regarding the LCTS, please contact Susan Piper at (507) 781-3763 or susan.piper@co.freeborn.mn.us.