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RSA-227 for FY-2024: Submission #58

Missouri
09/30/2024
General Information
Designated Agency Identification
Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services
925 South Country Club Drive, Suite B
Jefferson City
Missouri
65109-4510
http://www.moadvocacy.org
573-893-3333
800-735-2966
866-777-7199
800-735-2966
573-893-4231
Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)
Additional Information
Daniel Cayou, Director of Advocacy
Shawn Teofilo de Loyola
573-353-4811
shawnloyola@hotmail.com
Part I. Non-case Services
A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)
40
0
0
0
0
1
41
B. Training Activities
7
98
Summary of Training Sessions: Mo P&A advocacy and legal staff conducted seven (7) training sessions to CAP-related consumer groups and service providers this year. Total estimated attendance was ninety-eight (98). The audiences included Vocational Rehabilitation eligible individuals, Independent Living eligible, professionals, providers, family members of individuals with disabilities, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors. Presentations reported here described the Mo P&A services, employment-related legal rights, successful self-advocacy, WIOA, transition services, and CAP advocacy intervention. They included a description of the CAP program and clients’ rights to rehabilitation services. Presentations are solely about CAP services when the audience was appropriate, like New Counselor Orientations for Vocational Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.
C. Agency Outreach
Mo P&A has identified rural populations and inner-city minority populations in St. Louis and Kansas City as traditionally un-served/underserved populations. The agency maintained outreach home offices in two rural locations, Columbia and Fulton, and two physical offices, one each in Jefferson City and Springfield, to provide access to the underserved rural population. Our legal and advocacy staff in Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas are currently working from home offices. Mo P&A has the capacity to translate program brochures and documents into foreign languages and Braille using computer-based translating programs. The agency subscribes to Language Line Services, which provides foreign language interpretation for telephone conversations. Additionally, our agency maintains a toll-free telephone line for the Application Unit, Jefferson City office, and Springfield office. Every home office has Voice over Internet Protocol phones. We strive to maintain a competent and culturally diverse staff to serve clients in a sensitive manner.
D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency
0
0
0
4200
11
0
Not Applicable
E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage
Not Applicable
Part II. Individual Case Services
A. Individuals served
13
16
29
0
14
B. Problem areas
0
9
16
0
0
1
3
0
0
0
C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases
0
3
12
0
0
0
0
15
D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files
3
8
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Not Applicable
E. Results achieved for individuals
8
0
0
0
1
3
2
1
0
0
Not Applicable
Part III. Program Data
A. Age
0
1
7
13
8
29
B. Gender
17
12
0
0
29
C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served
0
1
0
10
0
18
0
0
D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served
1
2
0
0
0
4
2
1
7
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
29
E. Types of Individuals Served
5
0
21
3
0
0
Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation
A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities
1
Daniel Cayou, Director of Advocacy, meets with Vocational Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation for the Blind management approximately four times a year for each state agency. These two agencies are responsible for providing Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the state. Topics of conversation and issues raised include current case census, order of selection, application processing times, staff levels, agency leadership changes, staff training, staff service guide issues, transition services, job coaching availability, provider rates, summer work programs, client contribution costs, customized employment, and sheltered workshops.

Members of the Vocational Rehabilitation, State Rehabilitation Council have been directly involved in discussions with VR about the reintroduction of the Order of Selection and updates regarding case management and records systems. VR has also presented information about their summer work programs and discussed VR’s attainment on Federal measures of achievement and the negotiation process that entailed.

The Order of Selection has been invoked because the Missouri state legislature did not authorize the agencies to expend all of their available federal match funds for the state fiscal year July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
B. Litigation
0
0
0
Not Applicable
Part V. Agency Information
A. Designated Agency
External-Protection and Advocacy agency
Missouri Protection & Advocacy Services
No
B. Staff Employed
Number of Person-Years: During fiscal year 2024, Mo P&A had twenty-four (24) positions partially paid by Section 112 funds. All twenty-four positions (24) were full-time, accounting for 23.5 person-years. Three (3) Attorneys accounted for 3.0 person-years. Six (6) Advocacy Specialists accounted for 6.0 person-years. Attorneys and Advocacy Specialists split their time between the Client Assistance Program and other protection and advocacy programs. Five (5) Administrative positions, with two (2) Information Technology employees, accounted for 7.0 person-years. Eight (8) Application Unit positions accounted for 7.5 person years. Each received a share of Client Assistance Program funding based upon Mo P&A's approved Work Hours Basis Cost Allocation Plan.

Please note: Legal, Advocacy, Application Unit, and Administrative staff are required to participate in NDRN CAP-related training modules during the NDRN Annual TASC Conference.
Part VI. Case Examples
Case Examples
CAP Advocacy Case 23-003: Vocational Rehabilitation
A CAP eligible 47 year-old black female diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel, neuropathy, sciatica, high blood pressure, and asthma contacted CAP for assistance due to a breakdown in communication about services from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested and reviewed records from VR. Advocate discussed self-advocacy strategies with Client, including communication strategies. Advocate assisted Client in contacting VR and obtained a new VR counselor and an employment specialist. Advocate assisted Client in several meeting until a new Individualized Plan for Employment was completed and mapped out steps for completion of employment goals.


CAP Advocacy Case 24-002: Rehabilitation Services for the Blind Services
A CAP eligible 27 year-old white male diagnosed with blindness and diabetes contacted CAP for assistance due to lack of progress in her services from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB). The Client had requested that RSB services include obtaining a computer and JAWS software program, but had not made progress. Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested records from RSB. Over several exchanges, Advocate finally received all the case records pertaining to RSB activities for obtaining a computer and JAWS program with training. RSB confirmed a lapse in services and soon rectified the issue by providing Client a computer, the JAWS program and scheduling training.


CAP Advocacy Case 24-007: Vocational Rehabilitation Services
A CAP eligible 38 year-old white female diagnosed with autism, ADHD, depression, and bipolar disorder contacted CAP for assistance due to a breakdown in communication about services from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Client had found employment through VR but circumstances changed with the employer, and the client was unemployed, when VR sought to close her case. Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested and reviewed records from VR. Advocate assisted Client in contacting VR to attempt to restart services. While VR was willing to restart services the service provider contracted by VR did not have an open service slot for Client with the same caseworker. Advocate communicated with VR the need to provide services through a new caseworker. A new caseworker assigned, and began working with Client. Advocate continued to follow up with Client and VR to ensure Client’s satisfaction with services and the new caseworker before closing the case. Client’s parents expressed gratitude stating, “Thank you very much! We appreciate all your help! We don't think we would have been able to get [Client] back on track with Vocational Rehabilitation without your help.”


CAP Advocacy Case 23-007: Vocational Rehabilitation
A CAP eligible 44 year-old black female diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mood disorder, arthritis, and fibromyalgia contacted CAP for assistance in communicating with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and pursuing her education to become a social worker or probation officer. Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested and reviewed his records. Advocate discussed self-advocacy strategies with the Client, including insisting on meetings and communicating with providers. Advocate assisted Client in discussing the issues with her Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, the District Supervisor, and the Regional Manager. Advocate was able to get Client’s case reopened with VR and an employment specialist selected, but VR challenged the goal of social worker based upon her mental health records. Due to additional medical issues involving a broken leg, surgery, and the need for physical therapy, Client paused her vocational rehabilitation pursuit to heal. Client thanks Advocate for his assistance.


CAP Advocacy Case 23-010: Independent Living Services
A CAP eligible 64 year-old white male diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy and lymphedema contacted CAP for assistance in communicating with the independent living center for services (ILC) as they had closed his case. Client sought to have his attendant coordination through the ILC. Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested and reviewed his records. Advocate discussed with the Client self-advocacy strategies including record gathering and comparing them to program requirements. Advocate assisted Client in discussing the issues with the ILC Director of Services and Services Liaison. Advocate provided the Client information and advice regarding the closure of ILC services due to Client not identifying an attendant to provide direct services. The ILC agreed to provide attendant services. Client thanked advocate for getting him the answers that he felt he did not get from the ILC.


CAP Advocacy Case 23-015: Rehabilitation Services for the Blind
A CAP eligible 66 year-old black female diagnosed with blindness, diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and hypertension contacted CAP for assistance due to a denial of services from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB). Client sought a mobile magnifier from RSB. Advocate discussed the case issues with Client and then requested and reviewed records from RSB. Advocate discussed self-advocacy strategies with Client, including the important of creating a paper trail. Advocate assisted Client in communicating with RSB and determined RSB denied approval of the device due to exhaustion of independent living program funds and the cost. Advocate assisted Client with referrals to other agencies that may be able to assist in providing the mobile magnifier.
Certification
Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.
Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official
I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.
Shawn Teofilo de Loyola
Executive Director
Yes
2025-01-14
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