The disabilities and aging fields vary in philosophy, language, best practices, and state of knowledge. Using a life course approach, the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Institute for Human Development’s Health and Aging team bridges the gap between the aging and disabilities fields through community-based research and evaluation, training, education, and community capacity building.
Health and Aging Focus Areas
- Disability
- Healthy Aging
- Behavioral Health
- Brain Injury
- Dementia Resources and Support
- Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
- Policy and Systems Change
Key Activities
- Conducting regional and statewide needs assessments
- Policy and program evaluation
- Facilitating strategic planning and data-driven decision making
- Serving as subject matter experts on policy, program, and product development
Project Highlights
- Responsive Practice: Training for Health Care Providers on Caring for Patients with Disabilities – This two-part training, developed by the New Hampshire Disability and Health State Program, aims to improve the capacity of healthcare providers to better care for people with disabilities. This online self-paced training, developed by the New Hampshire Disability and Health State Program, aims to enhance healthcare providers’ ability to provide disability-competent, responsive care. Healthcare providers will learn the best approaches to develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide quality care to individuals with disabilities. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- After Abuse: Resources for Missourians with Disabilities – This online resource can help people with disabilities learn about abuse and what happens when it is reported. The After Abuse map focuses on four phases – each with a toolkit that includes a printable guide, video, and Easy Reader to help survivors understand their rights, their choices, and where they can go for help and support. Each tool uses accessible language and is available in Spanish and American Sign Language. Funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.
- Traumatic Brain Injury Education – In this self-paced training, you will learn basic information about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), as well as the implications for specific populations. Led by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and funded by the Administration on Community Living.
- Enhancing the System Response to Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in Missouri – The project focuses on developing a state strategic plan to improve the response to abuse of older adults and adults with disabilities through a multidisciplinary approach. This project convenes a network of statewide stakeholders committed to improving and streamlining the system as well as identifying strategies on how to improve the system to be more responsive to survivors. Led by VOYCE and funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health.
- Systems Change for Aging and Behavioral Health Care (Systems ABC) – This project aims to improve the system of care for older adults with behavioral health needs in the St. Louis region. It focuses on creating a model that better serves clients presenting to community-based aging or behavioral health services. To inform this model, the UMKC-IHD Health and Aging team is conducting a network analysis that supports data-driven systems change. Led by Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (BHN) and funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health.
- WE♥CARE Curriculum for Individuals with Development Disabilities – The aim of this project is to develop and pilot a curriculum to be offered to individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) living at home in a mutual caregiving arrangement with an aging loved one. The long-term goal is to increase the ability of both family members to support each other and prolong the mutual caregivers’ abilities to age in place in the family home. Led by the Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities (AADD) and funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council.