Moniteau County SB40 will now be able to assist more employees and clientele.
Members of the California Area Chamber of Commerce arrived at the Moniteau County SB40 building on March 15 for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the organization' new expansion. SB40, among other things, provides day services for people with developmental disabilities.
Tina Benton, Moniteau County SB40 executive director, said the plan to build an expansion onto the organization's current location at 1509 Industrial Park Drive initially began in January of 2022. However, she said since her organization is state funded much had to be done before construction started, including hiring an architect for the project as well as inviting the state fire marshal to inspect the property.
Construction started in November and concluded work a couple of weeks prior to the Chamber's ribbon-cutting. The expansion added a training room for employees, a supervisors room and remodeled learning space and activity center for clients.
According to the organization's website, the Moniteau County SB40 board "provides support, advocacy, funding, and coordination to individuals and families with developmental disabilities to help enhance their lives..."
Part of this service includes the organization's Day Habilitation program, which utilizes the activity center to teach clients skills they will frequently use.
"The day program is made up for individualized daily living skills," Benton said. "So it's going to be like learning how to cook or learning how to do your laundry. It might be learning how to call emergency...911 or something like that. And then also to get them out into the community. We help guide them and show them...appropriate things to do out in the community and that kind of thing."
Benton said Moniteau County SB40 has 15 people enrolled in the program. She said, prior to the expansion, it could become a little crowded in its previous space, however, expansion provided clients the room they need to learn.
Other spaces construction opened up to employees and clients include the training and supervisor rooms.
She said the training room is for when the organization hires new employees. Individuals were initially required to fill out new hire training information in the building's conference room. However, Benton said they needed the additional space to avoid staff and new hires interrupting each other whenever a meeting is required.
Benton said the new training and supervisor rooms added "a little under 500 square feet" to the existing space.
When asked by Chamber president Chelsea McGill if there were any additional needs Moniteau County SB40 required from the community, Benton said they didn't need anything else. She explained part of local residents' tax money helps support the organization and by extension its clients. She asked chamber members to spread the word to families and individuals that their services are in the area if needed.
"There are a lot of families out there that don't know that we're here for their child," Benton said. "Once they graduate from high school, what do they do now? Well, this is an opportunity that they can try and come and get services from us."
Democrat photo/Kaden Quinn Moniteau County SB40's new training room for employees. Hires will have the room to operate and fill out information required by the organization as they settle into new positions.
Democrat photo/Kaden Quinn Moniteau County SB40 new supervisor room. This area gives staff more space to themselves while also allowing more for new hires to train and learn.
Democrat photo/Kaden Quinn Moniteau County SB40 remodeled learning space and activity center for clients. Individuals learn and practice skills required for everyday life through the Day Habilitation program.