Employment First Missouri

About Us

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) at the University of Massachusetts Boston. 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.

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.

For more information about training and technical assistance opportunities, or to submit a success story contact:

David Hoff
Program Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 617-287-4308

Nicholas Holz
Training Associate II
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 417-437-4155

Jessica Keenoy
Training Associate II
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 573-303-8770

For more information about the Division of Developmental Disabilities’ Employment First Policy and inititives contact:

Duane Shumate
Director of Youth Transition/Employment

Missouri Department of Mental Health – Division of Developmental Disabilities
1706 E. Elm Street

Jefferson City, MO
Phone: 573-526-8214
Email: [email protected]

For more information about the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, visit our website at https://www.communityinclusion.org