The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved an expansion of the state's Partnership for Hope program to include Dallas, Cedar, Dade, Lawrence, Vernon, Barton, Newton, McDonald, Stone, Ozark and Howell counties, according to a news release from the governor's office.
Gov. Jay Nixon visited Springfield Feb. 22 at Abilities First, 1370 E. Primrose St., and Rolla at Future Care to announce the addition to the program.
With the expansion, the program - which provides home- and community-based services for people with developmental disabilities - will provide aid to 500 additional individuals.
Partnership for Hope will now serve nearly 1,000 people in 73 Missouri counties and the city of St. Louis. Greene, Jasper and Taney counties were original members of the program, according to the release.
“The Partnership for Hope is changing hundreds of lives across Missouri and helping individuals with developmental disabilities live up to their fullest potential,” Nixon said in the release. "By doing so, we’ll help open doors to new opportunities and keep families together.”
Through the partnership, 970 individuals will receive up to $12,000 in services annually.
Funding for the program comes from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, county developmental disability boards and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The county boards are contributing $2.1 million annually for the program, which is matched by state funds. The federal government provides $7.4 million for the program.
The partnership, which began in Missouri on Oct. 1, has enrolled 378 individuals, which are now receiving aid.
“I commend the leaders with our county developmental disability boards for their innovation and dedication that made the Partnership for Hope possible,” Nixon said in the release. “I look forward to continuing to work together to bring support, encouragement and hope to families in every corner of our state.”[[In-content Ad]]
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