Missouri’s disability services system—anchored by the Department of Mental Health—grows strongest when advocacy is not a separate task but the natural fabric of daily care. It moves us from compliance to compassion, from checklists to connection.

The r3 Summit and r3 Conference are more than events. They are reminders of WHY Restoring Hope exists. They celebrate the caregivers, team members, and partners who choose—every day—to show up for others. And they reflect the mission that continues to guide us forward: Reach. Restore. Repeat.

In Missouri’s disability services landscape, the answer lies in relationship-based care—a model that values trust over turnover, partnership over transactions, and long-term stability over short-term fixes.