Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities and IntellectAbility Team up to Leverage Technology for People with IDD

Collaborating to Leverage Health Risk Technology and Person-Centered Planning Approaches to Improve the Lives of Missourians with IDD.

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, July 31, 2023

According to an analysis conducted by researchers at the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI),[i] “…an overall person-centered orientation of state DD systems as well as Person-Centered Planning training for people who support planning for and delivery of direct supports will substantially improve the lives of adults with IDD.”

The Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities, is committed to empowering individuals and families to experience quality and meaningful lives and become valued members of their communities where they live, work, play, learn, and pursue their life goals. In support of this mission, the Division is leveraging the power of Person-Centered Planning with the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST), a valid, reliable, HIPAA-compliant, interoperable web-based health risk screening instrument that provides 24/7 access to the person’s health risk profile, monitors for health risks and detects early indicators of health destabilization.

This innovative approach by Missouri’s Developmental Disabilities Division consists of custom-developed Health Risk Support Plans that are built into the HRST that identify risks as well as specific person-centered skills to ensure that responding to those risks is done so in a way that is meaningful to the person—providing a strong balance of support that is grounded in what is Important TO and Important FOR the person.

“We recognize that the people we support are at risk for life-limiting health disparities and poor health outcomes. It’s extremely important for the individual and all members of their care team and support network to have access to personalized, actionable information rooted in best practices in order to improve health outcomes. This initiative allows us to leverage the technology available to us to create a digital form tied to the person’s Health Risk Support Plan and, ultimately, to the person-centered plan developed by the individual and their team,” said Jessica Bax, Director of the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities.

“There are many aspects of this that are groundbreaking,” said Johnathon Crumley, IntellectAbility Chief Operations Officer and certified Person-Centered Thinking Trainer. “Namely, a data system facilitating the identification of health risks and generating a plan to respond to those risks using a person-centered approach grounded in what is Important TO the person. The process built within the application helps supporters ensure a response balanced in ‘Important To’ and ‘Important For.’ The outcome is an actionable plan designed to improve overall health and well-being directly influenced and built around those things the person values.”

For more information about this unique partnership and approach, contact Lorene Reagan at Lorene (at) ReplacingRisk.com.

About DMH

The Department of Mental Health (DMH) serves Missourians with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders through state-operated facilities and contracts with private organizations. Its mission is to serve, empower, and support citizens to live their best lives.

Sources

[i] İsvan, N., Bonardi, A., & Hiersteiner, D. (2023). Effects of person-centered planning and practices on the health and well‐being of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a multilevel analysis of linked administrative and survey data. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.