Woodhaven

Woodhaven has received the Jackie Devenport-Orton Outstanding Provider Award from the Central Missouri Regional Office of the Department of Mental Health. This award is presented annually to a provider of services for people with disabilities.

“Central Missouri Regional Office is very pleased to present Woodhaven with our annual Outstanding Provider of the Year Award,” said Lisa Turner, Executive Director of CMRO. “Woodhaven demonstrates an extremely high level of quality in the services they provide to individuals with disabilities.”

CMRO is a part of the Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, covering 13 counties in Mid-Missouri by working with numerous small and large service providers. Woodhaven provides supported living services and day programs to adults with developmental disabilities.

“We are honored to receive this award,” said Mark Palmer, Woodhaven’s Chief Executive Officer. “CMRO closely monitors all the providers in their region, so an award from them says a great deal about Woodhaven.”

Woodhaven received two nominations from CMRO staff for the award, which is in memory of Jackie Devenport-Orton, the Training Director for CMRO from 1992 to 1996.

“I see them offer each and every consumer respect, dignity and deep compassion,” one nomination stated. “The staff at Woodhaven has always made the consumer first in regard to seeing their needs are met and at the same time listening to their personal goals and wishes.”

Palmer credits the dedication of Woodhaven’s direct care professionals with its success, as well as the private support it receives from community friends and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Christian Church founded Woodhaven in 1964.

“Woodhaven continuously strives to better our services so that those we serve may have more independence and choices in their lives,” Palmer said. “We’re also looking at ways to serve new individuals who have broader needs so that they may achieve a level of independence as well.”

To that end, Woodhaven started and expanded a Positive Support Program in 2007 to help some of these previously unassisted individuals who have intellectual disabilities that lead to behavioral problems. With the addition of this program, Woodhaven has grown its residential support services by 10% in 2007.

Woodhaven has been serving people with developmental disabilities since 1964 and is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It currently serves 108 men and women with its community-based supported living services, providing living skills training and help with daily needs. Woodhaven also offers a day program to promote community integration for individuals who do not work during the day.