Applied Research
research
needs assessments
surveys
evaluation
Community Services & Supports
demonstration
program development
technical assistance
training
Information Dissemination
resource centers
web sites
reports & publications
Interdisciplinary Personnel Preparation
LEND program
Training Centers
Certificate Programs
Community Services and Supports
Goal: To provide community services and supports through demonstration, training, and technical assistance activities that enhance attitudes, knowledge, and promote the inclusion and participation of people in their local communities.
Demonstration
The primary strategy of the
Institute is to design demonstration services
and supports that are quickly vested in community agencies. Community
demonstration projects have addressed unserved and under-served populations,
including older people with DD, African Americans, Latinos, and youth in the
urban core.
The following programs are representative of the Institute's community services and supports demonstration projects. The links following each will take you to a complete profile of that project:
Alianzas
The goal of Alianzas is to develop a
strategic plan to enhance the ability of communities to collaborate with the
growing Latino population through a Latino, university, and community
partnership. Institute staff are
identifying resources within
state and local government agencies that can partner with University Outreach
and Extension, resources within the Latino/Hispanic community that can assist in
strategic planning and program implementation, and other community agency
partners that can bring resources to bear on a Latino program.
More information is available on their
web site. This is a collaborative effort of University of
Missouri Outreach and Extension and the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
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Sharing Our Strengths
The purpose of this project is to build a
statewide network of people with disabilities, parents, siblings, extended
family members, and professionals who are interested in connecting with others.
SOS will match individuals based on their needs, interests and challenges to
provide an opportunity for individuals to become a mentor to others.
Interested individuals may enroll through the SOS
web site. This program will provide
information, emotional support, and networking opportunities for partners to
build natural supports, as well as encourage empowerment, promote inclusion, and
create partnerships with local service networks.
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StartRight (formerly TeenMOMs)
In response to increases in the numbers of pregnant adolescents and their
recurrent pregnancies, Truman Medical Center developed a multi-faceted program
for pregnant and postpartum adolescents. Key features include a mentoring
program, life skills training, and a teen center with computer access to
parenting and other information. The Institute assisted with model development
and securing funding, and conducts ongoing evaluation activities.
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Vision cón Esperanza 360° (Visions with Hope) Implementation
The purpose of this demonstration
project is to enhance the capacity of an existing community based one-stop
center for Latino families with children with developmental disabilities in
Northeast Kansas City to provide a family-centered and family-directed supports
that preserve, strengthen and maintain the family.
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Training
Since the early years of the Institute, emphasis has been placed on responding to the personnel development needs of community agencies statewide. Field-based training activities have emphasized on-site, hands-on, skill-based approaches with extensive follow up support.
The Institute's UCE serves as the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of MR/DD's training and research unit. The UCE developed a statewide case management system in 1983, which was mandated for statewide implementation in 1984. Several other states have adapted or replicated aspects of the UCE model (e.g., New Jersey, Minnesota, West Virginia and Kentucky).
The following programs are representative of the Institute's community services and supports training projects. The links following each will take you to a complete profile of that project:
Adult Continuing Education
for People with Developmental Disabilities
ACED offers adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to attend
non-credit classes in an integrated educational and social environment. The
program teaches independent living skills and provides life-enhancing
experiences. Class and registration information is available on the
web site. Community members serve as ACED staff, volunteers, and advisory
committee members.
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People First of Missouri
People First is a self-advocacy training
group for people with developmental disabilities. Self-advocacy means that the
members learn how to make decisions about their lives and speak for themselves.
Members learn from other members how to solve problems and practice
self-direction and self-advocacy skills. The Institute assists members by
providing technical assistance as needed (e.g., conduct surveys, writing mission
statement, designing and maintaining
web site etc.). The Institute also serves as a contact and disseminates
information on behalf of People First.
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Medicaid Infrastructure
Grant (Ticket to Work)
Many people with disabilities are reluctant to return to work for fear of
losing their Medicaid safety net.
This Medicaid Infrastructure
Systems Change Grant focuses on the state funded assistance program that allows
individuals with disabilities to earn a higher income and keep their Medicaid.
The Institute is assessing the needs of people with disabilities and employers
from around the state regarding employment. Institute staff will also provide
support and education to a cadre of community facilitators around the state who
disseminate information about the program. go to project profile
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance has proven to be one of the most effective tools for systems change that the Institute has used. Technical assistance is provided to local and state agencies in program development, grant development, strategic planning, and program evaluation. Continued support for ADD Site and Technical Assistance Reviews and support for the development of the National Alliance of Veterans' Family Support Organizations have had national impacts.
The following programs are representative of the Institute's community services and supports training projects. The links following each will take you to a complete profile of that project:
MicroBoards
A microboard is an organization
composed of people who know and care about a person with a disability and is
established to assist that person to plan for and obtain needed supports in
their lives. The Institute works with individuals with DD, their family,
friends, and service providers to develop microboards to support that individual
in the self-determination of the care, housing, employment, retirement, and
activities in the community and has written a
manual for anyone interested in
developing a microboard.
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Kansas City Healthy Start
The Kansas City Healthy Start project
addresses the issue of infant mortality in Wyandotte County, Kansas and eleven
counties in Jackson County, Missouri. Teams of a Family Advocate and Family
Support Work located at local community settings assist the women with case
management, referral/information, and education. The case managers work with
the women until the child is two years of age. The Maternal and Child Health
Coalition of Greater Kansas City provides the consortium for the project and
also extensive training for consumers, providers, and professionals. Institute
faculty serve on the management team and provide input into changes in the
design and program development. The evaluation of the project has been under
the direction of Institute faculty.
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Missouri Career Networks
The mission of this project is to create
career and self-employment opportunities with people with disabilities that are
consistent with their gifts, talents, and interests. This project supports the
development of personal, community, and statewide networks to create career and
self-employment opportunities for people with disabilities, including personal
support networks, community leadership networks, and a statewide career
development network to support information sharing and the dissemination of best
practices between communities across Missouri.
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Urban Mission
Building Bridges and Joining Forces will address issues related to the urban
area of Kansas City, Missouri and the priorities of strengthening individuals,
families and communities and enhancing economic viability. The project links
UMKC faculty, University Outreach and Extension faculty, and community agency
staff. The activities conducted include strategic planning, conduct of needs
assessments, program development, training, and needs assessments. The UO/E
Urban Mission project seeks to collaborate with the university’s urban mission
and the Center on the City.
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