JEFFERSON CITY – Rankings by United Cerebral Palsy shows Missouri is third in the nation and second most improved since 2007 for providing services to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Gov. Jay Nixon said the report demonstrates the continued success of efforts to expand community-based services and improve quality of life for Missourians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“When I took office in 2009, many Missourians had spent years waiting to get the community-based services they needed to live fuller, more productive lives,” said Gov. Nixon. “Working together, we changed all that, creating the Partnership for Hope and eliminating the waiting list for in-home Medicaid services for Missourians with developmental disabilities. This national ranking is a great testament to the efforts of our Department of Mental Health, provider agencies and local Senate Bill 40 boards, which continue to make a real, life-changing difference for thousands of Missourians and their families.”

The Case for Inclusion is an annual ranking of how well state Medicaid programs serve individuals and families to ensure the same opportunities and quality of life for everyone. The report by United Cerebral Palsy shows Missouri only behind Arizona and Maryland in the inclusion rankings.

The analysis also indicates Missouri’s as the second most improved state since 2007. Missouri dramatically increased the portion of resources dedicated to individuals living in the community (from 59 percent to 86 percent) as well as had a 57 percent reduction in the number of individuals living in state habilitation centers. Also since 2007, Missouri began participating in reporting outcomes for the National Core Indicators (NCI).