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About the Task Force
The goal of this project is to plan and develop a life-enhancing consumer-directed system in Missouri that allows people with disabilities, and their families, choices and control over their supports and services.
The purpose of the task force is to design, create, implement and evaluate components of a Self-Directed approach that leads to Missourians with disabilities, and their families, having choices and control over their resources via individual budgets, fiscal intermediaries, and support brokerage.
The task force is comprised of 22 members. Thirteen of those members are self-advocates or parents, the remaining members represent Direct Support Professionals of Missouri, state agency staff from the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Medical Services, Department of Health and Senior Services, Independent Living Centers, Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities, Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services (MACDDS), Missouri American Network of Community Options and Resources (MoANCOR), and staff from the Institute for Human Development, University Center for Excellence, as well as other stakeholders.
Since December 2003 the task force has met monthly in Jefferson City to develop the components, guidelines and parameters to be tested in the pilot projects. The components developed include guidelines, competencies, and responsibilities of person-centered planning and facilitators, support brokers, and fiscal management services. In addition the task force has developed parameters for the development of individualized budgets, and quality assurance mechanisms.
The process to arrive at the pilot project design consisted of reviewing literature and evidence from states with experience in self-direction of supports and services. Through this review and consensus building the task force has designed an approach (model) to be implemented and evaluated that draws upon the best from all states to create a national self-direction standard of exemplary practice. In the coming year the task force will continue to meet bi-monthly to review progress of the pilots, provide input as it relates to lessons learned as well as corrective plans of action, if necessary.