The Community Living Support Plan (CLSP): One of the Most Overlooked LMH Requirements in Florida ALFs

If your facility has a Limited Mental Health (LMH) license, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with the documentation that comes with mental health residents.

But one requirement continues to trip up ALFs over and over again:

👉 The Community Living Support Plan (CLSP)

required under 59A-36.020.

This document is not optional.

It is not “something the case manager handles.”

And it is not something AHCA overlooks.

In fact, the CLSP is one of the top reasons LMH programs get cited during surveys.

Let’s break down what the regulation actually requires and how to make sure your facility stays compliant.

What Exactly Is the Community Living Support Plan?

The CLSP is a written, individualized plan created for every mental health resident.

It must be developed:

Within 30 days of admission, or
Within 30 days of receiving the placement assessment, whichever is later

And — this part matters — it must be completed by the mental health resident AND the resident’s mental health case manager, in consultation with the facility administrator.

This is a three-party document.

If the facility is not involved, it’s not compliant.

What the CLSP Must Include (Many ALFs Miss These Details)

To meet the requirements of 59A-36.020, the CLSP must include all of the following:

1. The resident’s specific needs

Not generic needs — their actual, individualized needs that must be met for them to live safely in the ALF and community.

2. Mental health services to be provided

This section must specify:

What clinical services will be provided
Who is providing them
How often
For how long

Surveyors check for detail, not vague statements.

3. Other services or activities arranged by the mental health provider

Examples:

Counseling
Medication management
Support groups
Life-skills training
Transportation assistance

Again, frequency and duration must be listed.

4. The ALF’s obligations

This is the section most facilities fail to include.

The plan must outline what the facility is responsible for, such as:

Helping the resident attend appointments
Coordinating transportation
Monitoring behavior changes
Communicating with the case manager

If the ALF’s responsibilities are missing, the plan is incomplete.

5. Additional services provided by the facility

This can include:

Social activities
Supervision
Assistance with ADLs
Medication assistance

6. Signs and symptoms that require immediate mental health intervention

This must be specific to the resident, not a general list.

Examples:

Escalating paranoia
Increase in hallucinations
Not taking medications
Withdrawal or isolation
Verbal aggression

Surveyors look for resident-specific details here.

7. Required signatures

The CLSP must be signed by:

The resident
The case manager
The ALF administrator or manager

If the resident refuses, the case manager must document the refusal.

8. Annual updates or updates after behavior changes

Not “as needed.”

Not “when convenient.”

At least once a year or when the resident’s behavioral health changes significantly.

9. Cooperative Agreement (optional but allowed)

If included, the mental health provider must also sign.

10. Plan must be available for inspection

Any person with legal authority to review it (including AHCA) must be able to access it immediately.

Where Facilities Get Cited

Here are the most common issues that lead to LMH citations:

❌ CLSP missing from the file

❌ CLSP not completed within 30 days

❌ No administrator signature

❌ Resident refused to sign, but no refusal statement

❌ Plan not individualized

❌ No behavioral warning signs listed

❌ Plan never updated annually

❌ Case manager completed the plan without ALF involvement

❌ No documentation of the ALF’s responsibilities

Surveyors can spot a “copy-paste” CLSP instantly.

Generic plans get cited every time.

The ALF’s Responsibility (Not Just the Case Manager’s)

Many facilities make the mistake of expecting the case manager to:

Create the plan
Bring it to the ALF
Update it annually
Include the ALF’s responsibilities
Collect signatures

But the regulation is clear:

👉 The facility administrator must be part of developing and signing the plan.

If the case manager doesn’t provide it, the ALF is still responsible for following up and ensuring compliance.

“You didn’t give it to us”

“We were waiting on the case manager”

will not prevent a citation.

How to Make Sure You’re Always Compliant

✔️ Create a tracking system for all LMH residents

Use a spreadsheet or your software to track:

Admission date
CLSP due date
Annual update date
Behavioral updates
Signatures completed

✔️ Set calendar reminders

Never rely on memory for CLSP deadlines.

✔️ Communicate clearly with case managers

Ask early. Ask often. Document everything.

✔️ Review plans for completeness

Check every required section before filing the CLSP.

✔️ Train your staff

They should know:

What a CLSP is
Why it matters
Where it’s stored
How to report behavioral changes

Final Thought

The Community Living Support Plan is one of the most important documents in the entire LMH regulatory framework — yet it’s also one of the most overlooked.

A strong, accurate CLSP keeps your residents safer…

supports your staff…

and protects your facility from preventable citations.

Take the time to ensure every LMH resident has a complete, up-to-date plan in place.

Your compliance — and your residents’ wellbeing — depend on it.

The Community Living Support Plan (CLSP)