What We Do

Advocates from our Application Unit provide Information and Referral services over the phone, by email, and through letters.

I&R services can include:

• Information about your rights,

• Self-advocacy tips for your issue, and

• Referrals to other agencies or resources to help with your issue

An Advocate works with you to develop a goal that will help resolve your issue. Then they provide advocacy services to help you meet your goal.

Advocacy services may include:

• Limited or Short-term Advocacy: Explaining your rights and options, helping you prepare simple documents, etc.

• Negotiation: Discussions with you and the other party to talk about your differences and help you reach a compromise.

• Mediation: Using the services of an independent third party to help you and the other party settle your differences.

Mo P&A may open cases to provide direct advocacy services to an individual or on behalf of a group.

An Attorney works with you to resolve your issue. These services may include:

• Limited Scope Services: Limited or short-term advocacy to explain your rights and options. This may also include working with you and the other party resolve the issue. This does not involve going to a court of law.

• Administrative Hearings: Appealing your case within an agency or facility. This does not involve going to a court of law.

• Litigation: Filing lawsuits or taking other legal action through a court of law.

Mo P&A may open cases to provide direct legal services to an individual or on behalf of a group.

A Mo P&A Investigator gathers evidence about an allegation of abuse or neglect. They may look at records or interview witnesses. Then the Investigator writes a report about what they found.

Investigators recommend further action from Mo P&A if there is evidence of abuse or neglect. This may include reporting the issue to the licensing agency or other appropriate authority. They may also recommend direct advocacy or legal services from Mo P&A.

Mo P&A’s Monitoring Teams visit facilities to make sure the people with disabilities living or working in the facilities are safe. The Monitoring Team will interview the facility staff and the residents. They also look at records and the physical conditions of the facility.

The Monitoring Team writes a report about what they found. They may report issues to the State Agency in charge of the facility. If Mo P&A can help with any of the issues, the Monitoring Team will provide a referral to the Mo P&A Application Unit to request additional services.

Mo P&A engages in activities to change the policies and practices that stop people from having fulfilling lives in the community. We do this through our advocacy services every day. We also work with our partners and other agencies to advocate for state-wide changes.

We have staff on task forces, councils, and other work groups. These groups often include state agencies and other organizations that provide services to people with disabilities. This allows us to track changes in the state and explain how policies impact people with disabilities.

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) and the Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Network collaborate with the Social Security Administration to monitor representative payees throughout the country.

Through this collaboration, the P&As have expanded the protection of Social Security beneficiaries by educating representative payees on their responsibilities and identifying cases of misuse.

WIPA projects are staffed by Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs). CWICs provide in-depth counseling about working, earning more money, and how working may affect your benefits.

Working with WIPA can help you:

• Understand the potential benefits of employment and dispel the myths about working

• Understand specific Work Incentives and how they apply to you

• Understand the services provided by a State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency or an Employment Network and how they might best fit your needs

• Decide whether the Ticket program is the right path to achieve your employment goals and attain financial independence.

Once you begin working, WIPA can also provide information and support to help you successfully transition to work and financial independence.

If you receive Social Security disability benefits and need answers about work incentives, please call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY).

Information about our efforts to expand the public health workforce is coming soon. Please check back later.