Independence Plus Initiative
MISSOURI
Grant
Information
Name of Grantee
Missouri
Department of Mental Health, Division of Mental Retardation/Developmental
Disabilities
Title of Grant
Missouri Partnership for Self-Directed Support
Type of Grant
Independence Plus Initiative
Amount of Grant
$427,461
Year Original Funding
Received
2003
Contact
Information
Kay Green
Director of Federal Programs
Division of MRDD
1706 East Elm Street
Jefferson, MO 65102
573-751-8213
kay.green@dmh.mo.gov
Subcontractor(s)
Vim Horn
Project Coordinator
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCE)
816-235-1756
hornW@umkc.edu
Additional consultants or small contracts may be needed.
Target
Population(s)
Individuals with mental retardation and
other developmental disabilities.
Goals
- Establish a statewide
Self-Directed Planning Task Force that will plan for implementation of the
Independence Plus Initiative activities.
- Plan and develop Missouri's
self-directed choice system.
- Implement and evaluate a
Missouri
consumer-directed (CD) support program pilot.
- Assure a Missouri
self-direction system through continuance of successful, fiscally neutral
activities and obtaining additional funding.
Activities
- Establish the
Self-Direction Task Force and decide the final details of the CD model
(e.g., how individual budgeting will be done; who will do person-centered
planning).
- Develop a curriculum and
resources about the CD model for person-centered planners and individuals
with disabilities and their families.
- Recruit participants and
conduct the Missouri CD support program pilot, and include ways to
integrate the CD model into the current regional center backup system.
- Conduct training of
consumers/families, trainers, and support brokers.
- Initiate evaluation
(pilot) and conduct initial evaluation of the CD model.
- Develop a report on the
full evaluation and decide what strategies will be adapted to the current
system.
- Incorporate features of
the independence plus model into existing waivers.
Abstract
The Missouri Division of Mental Retardation/Developmental
Disabilities is seeking to enhance the choice and control individuals with
disabilities and their families have over their lives. This project will allow
the Division to make changes in its system so that it is prepared to implement
self-directed support options associated with the Independence Plus Initiative model. The grant project will
- Implement a
participant-directed person-centered planning system. Planning will be
facilitated by persons outside the system, or by service coordinators with
no gatekeeping responsibilities.
- Use MoCAN
volunteers to train consumers and families to manage and self-direct
supports.
- Explore how individual
budgets can be controlled by service participants and be used to combine
funding from different agencies in a more efficient manner.
- Examine the use of a
more flexible fiscal intermediary system, the possible use of debit cards,
and a mechanism whereby individuals can check their account balances.
- Develop and implement a
participant-directed support brokering system.
- Review the current
statewide emergency backup system and incident management system and
adjust it to interface with the self-directed system.
A pilot incorporating the various aspects associated with
self-directed support systems will be conducted with individuals with
disabilities and/or their families. The pilot will be evaluated using several
measures, including cost effectiveness, quality of life, incidence of
abuse/neglect, and retention of personal care assistants. Successful components
that are fiscally neutral will be implemented throughout the State under
current laws. Documentation will be prepared for those that require legislative
change. Pending state approval of funding through the appropriation process,
features of the Independence Plus Initiative model,
will be incorporated into existing waivers.