Service and advocacy organizations (with emphasis on state and local, when known):

http://www.caringadvocates.org - Caring Advocates provides an approved DNR-Registry Medallion to let Emergency Medical Services personnel know that you do not want CPR. According to the law, they must honor this wish because it is a physician's order. On the Medallion, Caring Advocates also provides the advance directive registry service of etching a toll-free phone number and a web site address so that authorized people can request an immediate FAX or Internet download of your Advance Care Planning documents so that health care providers will know what medical treatment you do and do NOT want.

http://www.missouriorgandonor.com - About one-half of Missourians have signed up for the Missouri Organ and Tissue Donation Consent Registry. You can sign up or update your contact information at this website.

http://www.mo-endoflife.org - Missouri End-of-Life Coalition was formed - to ensure every Missourian has the resources they need to die with dignity.

http://www.dhss.mo.gov/EMS/ - Go to this website to download outside the hospital do-not-resuscitate (OH DNR) Order forms to print on purple (or lavender) card stock - both the 8.5 X 11 form and the wallet card. Also information is provided about approved OH DNR medallion vendors. (The form in a somewhat larger format better for printing is also available on the "forms" section of Turnbull & Stark, P. C. website.)

http://www.ccrsi.org - Cole County Residential Services, Inc. (CCRSI), is a Cole-County-based agency formed to provide services and funds to help persons with developmental disabilities.

http://www.alz.org/mid-missouri/ - The Alzheimer's Association - Mid-Missouri Chapter serves 29 counties in central Missouri and relies on support and volunteer assistance from friends throughout the community.

http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare/Include/DataSection/Questions/HomeSelect.asp - This tool has detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home within 50 miles of Jefferson City. Before you get started, you or your family member may want to consider other long-term care choices like community-based services, home care, or assisted living depending on your needs and resources.

http://ucpact.convio.net - United Cerebral Palsy Public Policy Action Center. United Cerebral Palsy has partnered with The Arc of the United States to establish the Disability Policy Collaboration (DPC) to promote legislative and legal supports to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families by interacting with lawmakers, administration officials, and community leaders.

http://www.arcusmo.com - The Arc of the United States Missouri Chapter and the national Arc office advocate for specific policies and programs that benefit people with developmental disabilities and their families.

http://www.caringinfo.org - Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), is a national consumer and community engagement initiative to improve care at the end of life, supported by a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

http://www.naela.org - The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc., is a non-profit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others who work with older clients and their families. Established in 1987, the mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age.

http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=your_local_NAMI&Template=/CustomSource/AffiliateFinder.cfm&State=MO - NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. Missouri and local contact information is on this page.

http://autismalliancekc.org/index.php/about-us.html - The Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City is a bi-state community organization comprised of dedicated individuals committed to the development of a network of resources targeted toward fostering an informed community that facilitates the independence, acceptance, and emotional well-being of individuals with autism spectrum disorders throughout their entire life span. It serves some people on the Western side of Mid Missouri.

http://209.200.89.252/search_site/chapter_detail.cfm?program_id=4824 - contact information about the St. Louis area (Gateway) chapter of the Autism Society of America. It serves some people on the Eastern side in Mid Missouri.

http://www.missouriautismcoalition.com/about_us - The Missouri Autism Coalition is an alliance of individuals concerned about statewide autism issues who collaborate to improve the lives of individuals and their families with autism spectrum disorders.

http://specialneedsalliance.org/ - The Special Needs Alliance is a national, non-profit organization committed to helping individuals with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who represent them. Our attorneys are some of the most credentialed public benefits and disability law attorneys in the country, many of whom are themselves parents and siblings of children with disabilities.

http://www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/massist.htm - defines eligibility for MO HealthNet (Title XIX Medicaid benefits) for persons who are Aged (65 and over), disabled, and blind.

http://www.mvc.dps.mo.gov/ - information about the Missouri Veterans Commission, which operates state veterans homes, state veteran cemeteries, and other programs and services for veterans.

http://www.dsagsl.org/index.cfm - The mission of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis is to benefit the lives of people with Down syndrome and their families through individual and family supports, information, public awareness and advocacy.

http://www.kcdsg.org - The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support and resources for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. DSG seeks to provide the entire community with information and education to broaden awareness and foster positive attitudes regarding people with Down syndrome.

Dispute Resolution Sites:

http://www.mmccla.org - Attorneys in central Missouri have formed the Mid-Missouri Collaborative and Cooperative Law Association in order to offer client solutions other than courtroom litigation as a means to resolve disputes

http://www.mediate.com/amm/ - A statewide association of professionally trained mediators, the Association of Missouri Mediators promote the use of mediation and encourage mediators to maintain professional standards.

http://www.mediate.com - A general website, Mediate.com provides a clearinghouse of more information about mediation.

Other Certified Elder Law Attorneys in Missouri (Please note that although neither the Missouri Bar nor the Missouri Supreme Court reviews or approves specialist designations or certifying organizations, the American Bar Association and over 30 states recognize the certification from the National Elder Law Foundation):

(no website) - Julie Berkowitz, CELA, Law Office of Julie Berkowitz, 500 N. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63130. (314) 725-9696.

(no website) - Barbara A. Braznell, CELA, 2902 A Frederick Ave., St. Joseph, MO 64506. (816)364-1818.

http://elderlawstlouis.com, - Martha C. Brown, CELA, Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop, LLC., 220 W. Lockwood, Suite 203, Webster Groves, MO 63119. (314) 962-0186.

http://www.coulsonlawgroup.com - Wesley J. "Wes" Coulson, CELA, The Coulson Law Group, 1125 Olivette Executive Parkway, Suite 110, St. Louis, MO 63132. (314)567-9292.

http://www.seniorlegalservices.com - Christine A. Gilsinan, CELA, 34 North Gore Ave., Suite 103, Webster Groves, MO 63119. (314) 962-0760.

http://www.mokanlaw.com - William L. Hubbard, CELA, Hubbard & Kurtz, LLP, 1718 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64108. (816) 472-4673.

http://elderlawmo.com - Mary R. McCormick, CELA, McCormick & Fracassa, P.C., 1508 NE 96th St., Suite D, Liberty, MO 64068-1396. (816) 505-1999.

(no website) - Craig C. Reaves, CELA, Reaves Law Firm, PC, 4400 Madison Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111. (816) 756-2100.