MARF in Action

In the 2010-2011 Legislative Session the Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities:

• Guided the General Assembly in obtaining Caseload Growth funding for the Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DMH/DD).  This funding provides in-home and residential services to 1,300 consumers awaiting service on the DMH Waiting List.

• Assisted in the passage of legislation (HB 300) that establishes the "Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act."  This act requires the Department of Health and Senior Services to promulgate rules which develop guidelines, forms, and to provide education on the nature and risk of concussion and brain.

• Advocated for no provider rate cut for the Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities contract community-based providers. 

• Advocated for no funding cut to services for the developmentally disabled.

• Guided the Missouri State budget crafters involved on the Missouri House Budget Committee and Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee to obtain a restoration for the 2010 community-based provider rate cut of 1.9%.

• Assisted the Arc of Missouri in passing legislation (HB631) that authorizes a state individual and corporate income tax check-off for the newly created developmental disabilities waiting list equity trust fund. 

• Guided the General Assembly in obtaining state-match funding to capture available federal funding to assist in providing Division of Vocational Rehabilitation services such as education, training, career counseling and job placement assistance that Missourians with disabilities require to get to work.

• Hosted a legislative dinner for members of the Missouri General Assembly to raise awareness of how MARF members’ services can positively affect their communities. 

• Maintained a Legislative Action Center utilizing the Internet for rapid information dissemination and response to the state and nation’s Capitols.