From 2005 - 2010 The Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities (D-DD) participated in a 5-year grant from the U.S. Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). The grant was, written through the support of the University of Missouri Kansas City Institute for Human Development and the input received from numerous individuals and organizations and its ultimate goal was to "support people with developmental disabilities of any age or payer source to live in their communities through maximized independence, dignity, choice, and flexibility." The project was implemented through the support and collaboration of multiple stakeholders, other state agencies, and people with developmental disabilities and their families.
The following areas were selected as the focus for systems transformation in Missouri because they address the major barriers to the development of a more coherent system of long-term care supports. This project focused on creating the infrastructure needed to:
- Develop an integrated comprehensive Quality Management system that includes improved measures of outcomes for both consumers and providers,
- Develop advanced Information Technology systems that fully integrate Quality Management databases and provide ready access to information and resources, and
- Rebalance the long-term community support system through facilitating the transitions of individuals in state operated institutions to community services and supports.
Although the System Transformation Grant period ended August 31, 2010 much of the work began under the project will continue into the future.