Last year, a task force was organized by the Missouri Mental Health Commission to examine the service to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in the Northwest Region. In the 21st Senatorial District, this included the Marshall Habilitation Center (MHC) and the Higginsville Habilitation Center (HHC). The Northwest Habilitation Services Task Force was comprised of various professionals, local officials, family members of patients and citizens from the area to take a hard look at the services available to the clients of both Marshall and Higginsville to see what options could best provide for these locations.
The report showed that only 30 percent of the Marshall campus was currently in use, while all of the buildings on the Higginsville campus are still utilized, though some need significant repair. A total of 274 direct care and support employees work on the Higginsville campus and 198 work exclusively in its community waiver homes. Marshall carries 310 direct care and support employees on its campus and 213 exclusively in its community waiver homes. These campuses each consist of many buildings sitting on 190 acres in Higginsville and 253 acres in Marshall. The task force presented its report the Mental Health Commission and it was approved at the August meeting in Higginsville. Public comment was taken at both Marshall and Higginsville. The Mental Health Commission toured both facilities during its August meeting and voted to accept the task force recommendations.
When the task force was named, 113 individuals resided on the campuses of Marshall and Higginsville combined. After careful consideration, a number of changes were suggested by the panel. The recommendation of the task force is to have the Higginsville Habilitation Center be the one habilitation center to serve the Northwest Region. The clients from Marshall would be moved to available space on the Higginsville Campus. In addition, an eight-person intensive behavior support crisis program was recommended for development in Marshall. This program will provide support for those community clients in the region who need short term residential care so that they can return to the community. Also, the Marshall off-campus waiver program and the Higginsville off-campus waiver program will become one entity, known as Northwest Community Services and will be operated under one administrator.
Another suggestion by the task force is to utilize funds and resources to better provide developmental disability services in the area, directing funds into the areas of the program that would assist the highest number of clients specific to the area, instead of unrelated needs across the state. And the goal is to have all employees who would be affected by these changes to be offered a position within state government to continue employment.
The men and women working in these facilities do a wonderful job caring for and supporting their clients. And the suggestions of the task force are not intended to take away services or jobs, but to make sure that these facilities continue to deliver the same dedicated, quality care that they have been known for. Also important is to retain these trained, Missouri Department of Mental Health employees. The findings and suggestions of the task force are definitely an important step toward making our state’s future as bright as possible.
As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.
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