ABOUT MHC
Philosophy | Mission
| Certification Principles | Meet the Staff
History | Location | Community Connections
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PHILOSOPHY
The Marshall Habilitation Center (MHC) focuses on meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities by providing full residential habilitation services
for people of all ages. Each person, regardless of age or severity of disability, should
be given the opportunity to live their life to the fullest measure, and MHC works to
provide the assistance needed to obtain this goal.
To the staff of the Marshall Habilitation Center, "lives beyond limitations" is not a vision statement in words only, but is a goal to actively pursue, an objective to strive for, and one that is fulfilled in the lives of the people served.
Lives beyond limitation, empowerment, and independence are important for people with developmental disabilities, and each and every activity at the Marshall Habilitation Center is designed to provide quality treatment and habilitation to promote this empowerment and independence. All programs are planned within a framework that values freedom of choice and offers a full array of meaningful enhancing options. This is the focus of every program and activity at MHC.
MISSION
MHC seeks to adapt an environment and develop programming to maximize the
advancement of each individual and his/her level of independence. Habilitative services
are delivered through treatment units that promote home-like living situations.
Additionally, community homes are administered under the Medicaid Home and Community-Based
Waiver program and the Independent Support Living programs.
All
persons served by MHC leave their homes during the day and attend vocational/skill enhancement classes, go to work, or participate in habilitative programs.
The types of programs and services provided through treatment plans vary from
one individual to another based on each person’s unique abilities and needs.
Some programs might involve training to allow individuals increasingly greater
control over a physical environment. Other programs may incorporate such things
as development of communication skills, self-help skills, social skills, behavioral
skills, and vocational skills.
Comprehensive assessment and evaluation for people committed to the Department of Mental Health as a result of offenses against society for which they have been found NGRI (Not Guilty by Reason of Mental Defect, Incompetent to Proceed, or for Pre-Trial Evaluation) are also provided by the Marshall Habilitation Center. The ultimate goal of these forensic services is to develop understanding of individual behavior and provide training that will enhance each person’s independence in order to safely and successfully return them to the community with the necessary supports.
Vocational skills constitute an important part of many training experiences at MHC. The vocational skills program centers on the development of job skills, work habits, and attitudes. This is accomplished through contract work for industrial and commercial businesses, recycling services for MHC and the community, crafts, horticultural therapy, and a community mobile crew that provides lawn care and other services in the community.
Whether it be the psychologist who counsels, the nurse who comforts, a foster grandparent providing companionship and love, or a developmental assistant implementing a training program, the ongoing effort shared by all of the staff insures a continued quality of service.
With community support, staff committed to standards of excellence, and an innovative and progressive environment, the people served by the Marshall Habilitation Center will continue to acquire skills leading them to a higher level of independence.
For further information on the services provided, visit the Services and Supports section or the Specialized Services and Programs section.
CERTIFICATION
PRINCIPLES
A partnership of self-advocates, families, providers, and staff of the
Department of Mental Health developed a set of principles for delivery of supports and
services to individuals who have developmental disabilities. These are called the
certification principles and are the guiding philosophy for all of the programs, services,
and activities at the Marshall Habilitation Center.
The principles are outcome statements describing the quality of life valued for all people, including those who have developmental disabilities. The principles emphasize community membership, inclusion, choice, contribution, self-determination, rights, dignity, respect, health, safety, comfort, and security. The principles are clustered under four broad headings: community membership, self-determination, rights, and meeting basic needs. A list of major outcomes for the principles in these four areas are listed below.
Community Membership Outcomes
Self-determination Outcomes
Rights Outcomes
Meeting Basic Needs Outcomes
What is the approach to implementing the principles?
Quality enhancement is the approach used to achieve the outcomes. This approach emphasizes partnership of self-advocates, families, providers, and DMH. This is a major shift from a traditional compliance model. The two are compared in the following table.
Traditional Compliance Model |
Enhancement Model |
| system-centered | person-centered |
| focus in on buildings and process | focus is on quality of lives |
| intervention is regulatory | intervention is assistive |
| meeting standards | listening to people |
| meet minimal requirements | achieve optimal goals |
On-going training programs and inservices keep staff informed of the latest developments in the field of developmental disabilities. This insures the continuation of top-notch services for the people served.
Employees manifest creative thinking and innovation, and the people served by MHC reap the benefits. For example, the maintenance staff and adaptive services work with occupational therapy to provide the necessary specialized equipment and apparatus needed for many individuals.
Day after day, the successes and achievements of the people served by MHC are testimony to the skills and commitment of dedicated employees.
For more information on employment opportunities, contact Marshall Habilitation Center at (660) 886-2202. Individuals are responsible for attaining status on merit system registers. Recruitment may not necessarily be deferred to allow employees to attain status on the registers.
The Marshall Habilitation Center does not deny employment or services because of race, sex, creed, marital status, national origin, disability or age of applicants or employees.
For more information on Department of Mental Health employment opportunities, visit DMH Employment Opportunities
In an effort to find a suitable location, the Governor appointed a board to review all possible sites that included Hannibal, Monroe City, Mexico, Springfield, Glasgow, Lexington, as well as Marshall. After considerable deliberation, the Board selected a 388-acre plot located on the old fairground property on the northeast edge of Marshall.
MHC opened its doors on April 1, 1901 with one building and the foundation of another. It was the first facility opened in the state to serve people with mental retardation. During the first year, there were 60 males and 60 females admitted for a total population of 120. Throughout the years, this population has varied between 1850 to the present 294 capacity. Today, it is one of several habilitation centers supervised by the Division of Developmental Disabilities under the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
Currently, MHC consists of 62 on-campus buildings within the complex consisting of an administration building, Spainhower Program Center, 38 homes, maintenance shops and the dietary facility, just to name a few.
In the early 1970s, MHC was designated as an intermediate care facility (ICF) and continues to provide habilitative services to individuals who are developmentally disabled with orthopedic limitations, visual and hearing impairments as well as the medically fragile and behaviorally challenged. The center is designed to help improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities through programs and services that enable them to live independently and productively.
To view a map of the Marshall Habilitation Center, click here.
To view a map of the Marshall Habilitation Center, click here.
Missouri Tourism Link, click here.
Neighbors – By Location
Partners – By Choice
The well being of anyone - whether it is an individual, a business, or a community - is not possible without positive, two-way relationships. The Marshall Habilitation Center and the City of Marshall are not only located near each other, but share common interests and have a joint ownership in the progress of the community and each other. Through many positive and productive ventures, MHC and Marshall have become partners by choice and are investing in the future of the community.
Joint endeavors provide hours of fun and entertainment for everyone. Educational partnerships provide learning opportunities for all. The business community benefits from the vocational skills training program. Free access to several areas on campus provides needed meeting rooms and conference facilities.
By working together with the community, MHC can positively affect the future of both the community and the people served by MHC.
MHC acknowledges and recognizes the surrounding community for not only being our neighbor, but for also being our partner in building the future. Together, much has been achieved for all of us, and together, much more will be achieved.
Tudor House
MHC has become extensively involved in the community, not only in going out into the
community, but in bringing the community to MHC. The large Tudor-style residence located
on campus has been renovated and now provides a meeting location and mini convention
center that is utilized by both MHC and the community. The three-story brick and frame
Tudor-style house was built in 1910 according to available records. It was one of the
early structures built on the campus of what is now the Marshall Habilitation Center.
Originally the house served as a guest residence for the Board of Governors of the
State Commission who oversaw state facilities. It later served as the superintendent's
residence and was occupied until 1987.
In 1996 a concentrated restoration effort was begun to return the house to its former dignity and elegance. Since the house had not been occupied for several years, it had deteriorated both inside and out. Renovations were made to both the exterior and the interior of the house. Community and civic groups as well as MHC and various state agencies now hold a number of meetings at the house. Map Link
Guest House
In its effort to continually meet the needs of individuals and
their families, MHC began providing lodging in October 1995 for visiting family members by
utilizing an existing residence as a "guest house." The two-story white frame
house was built in 1928 to provide housing for the business manager and later the
assistant superintendent of administration. As the house is no longer used as a staff
residence, the opportunity presented itself whereby it could be utilized as a "guest
house" for family members, guardians, and friends while visiting their sons or
daughters. This home-like setting makes possible a more meaningful visit for the family
members and provides a private area for them to spend time together. Current renovations
include exterior and interior painting, new carpeting, and vinyl siding. Some of the
furnishings were acquired while others were donated by a number of people and local
businesses.
The community or MHC may also use the house for small group meetings. Arrangements for
meetings or for staying at the "guest house" can be made by contacting the
superintendent’s office at 1-660-886-2202, ext. 112.
Map Link
Speakers Network
The Marshall Habilitation Center’s Speakers network was organized in the fall of
1995 and features new ideas for programs for organizations or groups and is available for
use. The network provides presentations on topics ranging from occupational therapy to
archaeology; from model rocketry to square dance. The speakers can also address areas of
professional expertise such as medical, dental, nutrition, psychology, or social work.
Other topics include special interests, pastimes, hobbies, experiences, abilities, as well
as trips to foreign countries that would be of interest to community, civic, church, 4-H,
or social groups. For further information on topics available or to arrange for a speaker,
contact the superintendent's office at (660) 886-2202, ext. 112.
Job Shadowing and Internships
MHC offers students in the surrounding area the opportunity to observe and inquire
about various career choices through a job-shadowing program that began in November 1995.
The MHC staff represent a variety of careers. Through the program, a student who is at
least in their junior year at the high school level may observe a particular discipline,
visit with people working in that discipline, and increase their knowledge and
understanding of that area. MHC also participates in internships in the accounting,
dietary, and the social science areas.
Marshall Habilitation Center Lake
A
12-acre lake on the north edge of the habilitation center campus has long been
a favorite fishing hole for not only the people served by the center, but also
for the local fishermen. A joint endeavor in 1995 between the Missouri Department
of Mental Health and the Missouri Department of Conservation provided for development
of barrier-free recreational facilities at the lake. These facilities include
a boat ramp, parking facilities, a covered floating fishing dock, shelter houses
and fishing platforms –all of which are handicap accessible. The public
is provided free access and full use of the lake for fishing. Those who use
the lake for fishing purposes are asked to follow the rules of the Wildlife
Code of Missouri. Map Link
Other recent endeavors of MHC provide hours of fun and entertainment for everyone. Take time to picnic under the shelter houses built at the lake or walk across the old-fashioned covered bridge. Watch the annual Independence Day fireworks display that was re-instated in 1995. Travel through the "Winter Wonderland" that appears on the MHC campus during the Christmas season. And don’t miss the opportunity to watch friends or family members playing on the softball or baseball fields that are serving both MHC and the community. Additionally, the Marshall Community Theater has held its annual dinner theater productions in the Spainhower Building on the MHC campus since 1996.
