UMKC Institute for Human Development

10/27/2026

Hear from IHD's Brain Injury Program Coordinator, Beth Dauber and Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence's Ashlea Whaley, as they highlight Missouri's work in the intersection of brain injury and domestic violence on a national stage!

As we recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, please join us for a free webinar co-hosted by the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators - NASHIA and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in continuing the important conversation about the intersection of intimate partner violence and brain injury.

Together, we can move beyond awareness toward better recognition, understanding, and support for survivors experiencing the often-hidden impacts of brain injury.

🔗 Register for this no-cost webinar: https://lnkd.in/ggZRQgGG

When a survivor of intimate partner violence enters a domestic violence shelter, a courtroom, or a diversion program, cognitive challenges from unrecognized brain injury can be misinterpreted as non-compliance, uncooperativeness, or behavioral issues.

To build truly responsive state systems, an approach must be cross-functional.

This upcoming FREE webinar, co-hosted by NASHIA and the National Academies, is specifically designed to bring together state agency leads, victim advocates, criminal justice personnel, and healthcare providers to establish a unified, trauma-informed response.

When systems communicate, survivors get the comprehensive support they deserve.

🔗 Register your team for this free training: https://www.nashia.org/trainings/hidden-harms

10/23/2026

We are proud to partner with Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to bring awareness to the prevalence of brain injury in survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence and help educate advocates on screening tools.

To learn more about this partnership, visit the project page: https://linktr.ee/mobirf

10/08/2026

💻What Does the Data Tell Us?

This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, join university researchers for a look at preliminary findings from a fiscal analysis of employment services and outcomes for Missourians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

- October 29
- 4–5 p.m.
- Zoom

Featuring Magen Rooney-Kron, PhD; April Regester, PhD (UMSL Office of Inclusive Postsecondary Education); Candace Cunningham, MS; Jeff Traiger, PhD and George Gotto, PhD (UMKC-IHD)

Sponsored by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council

Register to join the conversation: https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/S46NSyqrRn2ZT5TgQXzTrg #/registration

10/06/2026

A job can be more than a paycheck. It can be connection, purpose, independence and a place to contribute.

In the latest episode of Candace’s Corner, Candace talks with Cassidi Jobe, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Summit Future Foundation, about what it takes to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

They dig into:
• What Employment First means
• Why competitive, integrated employment matters
• The work of Summit Future Foundation
• The Kansas City Model Employer Initiative

Check out the latest episode to hear more about disability employment, advocacy and building communities where people with disabilities have meaningful opportunities to work, contribute and belong.

📲 Watch the new episode: https://youtu.be/e3I3PF9oV_k
📌 Full episode description: https://ihd.umkc.edu/candaces-corner/

10/02/2026

📣FOUR CITIES LEFT! No Wrong Door Link & Learn is coming to St. Charles, St. Louis, Springfield and Cape Girardeau — and registration is still open!

Join us for Enhancing Person-Centered Supports Across the Lifespan, featuring the LifeCourse Nexus Charting the LifeCourse Framework.

Spend a day learning practical tools, connecting with partners in your region, and exploring ways to bring person-centered approaches into your work and community.

- St. Charles — Oct. 13
- St. Louis — Oct. 14
- Springfield — Oct. 23
- Cape Girardeau — Oct. 27

Learn something you can bring back to your work. Share what you know. Build connections across your region.

👉 To register, visit the project page: https://lifecoursenexus.org/mo-no-wrong-door/

09/22/2026

🗨 We can't stop *talking* about it.

Last Friday, Great Conversations brought together community leaders, partners, friends and UMKC-IHD researchers for an evening centered around connection, conversation and the issues that matter to our communities.

We’re grateful to everyone who showed up, shared a meal, asked questions, listened and helped make the evening one to remember.

The conversations may have started around the dinner table, but we’re excited to see where they lead next.

09/18/2026

09/18/2026

¡Buenos días, feliz viernes! Our very own Gerardo Martinez, director of Alianzas (partnership with MU Extension) is working with the City of Independence, MO, to recruit volunteers for this year's IndeCleanUp: September 27 - October 4.

To sign up, visit: independencemo.gov/indecleanup-volunteer

To learn more about Alianzas, visit: www.alianzas.us

09/11/2026

🚨Attention Hannibal and Columbia!

The first No Wrong Door Link & Learn events are coming to Hannibal on Sept. 16 and Columbia on Sept. 17.

These full-day, interactive events bring together local partners across aging, disability and other service systems to learn, share and build stronger connections across systems.

So, what is Missouri’s No Wrong Door?

It’s a statewide vision for making it easier for individuals, families and caregivers to find and access the information, services and supports they need — regardless of where they first seek assistance.

The first Link & Learn series features the LifeCourse Nexus Charting the LifeCourse Framework, with practical opportunities to explore person-centered approaches that can strengthen supports across the lifespan.

📍 Hannibal — Sept. 16
📍 Columbia — Sept. 17

Additional events are coming to St. Joseph, Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Charles, Springfield and Cape Girardeau.

👉 To register, visit the project page: https://lifecoursenexus.org/mo-no-wrong-door/

09/03/2026

📣Something new is coming to communities across Missouri.

Missouri’s No Wrong Door Link and Learn Series is bringing partners together to Enhance Person-Centered Supports Across the Lifespan, featuring UMKC Institute for Human Development’s Charting the LifeCourse Nexus.

These full-day, interactive events are an opportunity to:

• Explore practical Charting the LifeCourse tools and strategies
• Connect with local partners across aging, disability and other service systems
• Strengthen person-centered approaches across systems
• Build relationships and identify opportunities for collaboration
• Contribute to a shared vision for person-centered long-term services and supports in Missouri

📍 The series kicks off soon:
Hannibal — Sept. 16
Columbia — Sept. 17

Additional Link and Learn events will be held in St. Joseph, Kansas City, St. Louis, St. Charles, Springfield and Cape Girardeau.

Space is limited. If you support, plan with, advocate alongside or help individuals and families access long-term services and supports, we want you at the table.

👉 For more information and to complete the Regional Link and Learn Interest Form, check out the project page: https://lifecoursenexus.org/mo-no-wrong-door/