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Press release: Missouri named a Top 10 state for Developmental Disability Services, Gov. Nixon announces

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 9, 2014

Missouri named a Top 10 state for Developmental Disability Services, Gov. Nixon announces

Governor Nixon’s mental health priorities continue to help individuals with disabilities live healthier more productive lives

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – United Cerebral Palsy has named Missouri as a Top 10 state for providing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the services and community supports they need to reach their full potential, Gov. Jay Nixon announced today.

“We have made it a priority to ensure that Missourians with disabilities are able to live more independent, fuller lives through efforts like our Partnership for Hope,” Gov. Nixon said. “Moving forward, we must continue providing individuals with disabilities the services they need to improve their quality of life, contribute to their community and have every opportunity to find a job they enjoy. This new report demonstrates that our efforts are having a real, and meaningful, impact on people’s lives.”

United Cerebral Palsy’s analysis of disability services factored each state’s approach to promoting independence and productivity, ensuring quality and safety, keeping families together and reaching people in need. Nationally, almost 317,000 people remain on waiting lists for home and community-based services, according to the report.

Gov. Nixon launched the Partnership for Hope in 2010 to provide home- and community-based services to Missourians with developmental disabilities to help them lead fuller lives. Currently, the Partnership for Hope is helping more than 2,700 people with developmental disabilities in 99 counties and the City of St. Louis.

The Fiscal Year 2015 budget passed by the General Assembly this week includes the Governor’s proposal to continue expanding the Partnership for Hope and to eliminate the waiting list for hundreds of people with developmental disabilities seeking Medicaid in-home care services.

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