New Families

3. Services in Missouri

First Steps

First Steps offers coordinated services and assistance to young children with special needs and their families. First Steps is designed for children, birth to age 3, who have delayed development or diagnosed conditions that are associated with developmental disabilities.

Regional Center

The Department of Mental Health has 11 regional centers serving as the the primary points of entry into the system. Regional Offices provide assessment and case management services, which include coordination of each individuals "person centered plan."

Autism Projects

Established to provide family supports for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing family caregiving that enables individuals with autism to reside within their family homes and remain integrated within their community.

SB40 boards

Senate Bill 40 is the term used to refer to local county boards for children and adults with developmental disabilities. SB40 allows individual counties to implement a tax which is collected and used to help children and adults with developmental disabilities. SB40 boards are not required. It is up to each individual county to determine if it wants to form an SB40 board and, if so, the final tax rate to levy on county residents.

SB40 board funds are a possible resource for children with autism. Many boards fund Family Directed and respite services as well as individual projects within each county. Some boards accept individual grant proposals on a yearly basis to decide how to spend funds, and some provide scholarships to conferences for parents. Each board is different. You will need to contact your local board to determine policy and funding options. For more information, visit the Missouri Association of County Developmental Disabilities Services website to find out if your county has an SB40 board.

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