Missouri's Employment First policy states that community integrated employment services and supports are the first service option and primary outcome for people with disabilities, and that individual integrated employment is the preferred option for everyone.

Employment First Missouri is available to provide training and technical assistance to service providers and staff to make this Employment First vision a reality, and advance community employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Missouri. Funding for this initiative is provided by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DD) to the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI). In-state training and technical assistance staff work throughout the entire state of Missouri, providing services which have areas of focus such as: service flow and structure, business engagement, building of staff competencies, engaging participants and their families and systems of support, diversifying funding sources, and the development of community partners. All services from Employment First Missouri are provided at no charge to service providers and targeted case management providers.

As a leading training, TA, research, and direct service organization focused on the full inclusion of people with disabilities in mainstream society, ICI has extensive and long-term experience on a national basis working with service providers and public systems on advancing employment.

Employment First Missouri Staff

David Hoff, Project Director

David Hoff is a Sr. Associate: Training and Technical Assistance at the Institute for Community Inclusion. He serves at the Project Director for Employment First Missouri. In this role, he oversees day-to-day project activities in partnership with the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities.

[email protected]

Jessica Keenoy, Project Staff

Jessi Keenoy is a Training Associate II at the Institute for Community Inclusion working as staff for Employment First Missouri. In this role, she provides training and technical assistance to employment service providers throughout Missouri to expand capacity to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to succeed in employment.

[email protected]

Leslie Quarles, Project Staff

Leslie Quarles is a Training Associate II at the Institute for Community Inclusion. As part of the Missouri Employment First team, she provides training and technical assistance to service providers in Missouri to improve employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

[email protected]

Nicholas Holz, Project Staff

Nick Holz is a Training Associate II at the Institute for Community Inclusion working as staff to Employment First Missouri initiative. In this role, he provides training and technical assistance to employment providers throughout Missouri to expand capacity to support individuals with disabilities in employment.

[email protected]