Watch Me Thrive Transition Services

Our signature transition planning program, Watch Me Thrive, focuses on supporting the individual and their family in planning for life after school based services. This innovative program takes a unique approach of supporting transition aged youth in career planning and exploration, as well as developing employment readiness skills through work-based learning experiences, while simultaneously supporting the family in creating a tactical transition plan that includes trajectory development, identifying ongoing support needs, and establishing an integrated support system.

  • Youth and young adults between the ages of 16 - 22.

    • Development of employment goals

    • Exploration of entry level employment opportunities

    • Enhanced employment readiness skills 

  • The youth participant track of this program is facilitated in community based employment settings. The parent track is facilitated both in-person, over the phone, and virtually when needed.

  • Watch Me Thrive is facilitated during hours that the program participant is not engaged in academic or school related activities, most commonly evenings and weekends. The frequency and duration of this programming is individually based on the needs of the person served, their goals, and the availability of volunteer and internship opportunities.

  • Those interested in joining Watch Me Thrive can complete the program application.

    Summit Future Foundation is a contracted provider through Missouri Department of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities and our programs may be funded by Medicaid Waivers and/or Family Flexible Assistance Program (FFAP).

For Parents and Caregivers

  • Increased understanding of what opportunities are available for adults who experience developmental differences

  • Assistance with systems navigation including Social Security, Medicaid, and other state and federal programs that fund services for individuals with disabilities

  • Development of a tactical transition plan that can be shared with IEP and ISP teams

Watch Me Thrive Scholarship

Summit Future Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that all who can benefit from our programming have the opportunity to engage in our supports and services. As a result, the board of directors retains the ability to award monetary scholarships to those individuals who may not be able to access our programming through other means. 

  • Scholarships are for participation in our signature transition planning program, Watch Me Thrive.

  • An in-depth review process is completed and funding is allocated on a needs basis, as demonstrated by the application submitted. 

  • Scholarships are awarded to those who would not be able to participate in our programs through other means.

  • Scholarships are not intended to be long term and will not replace or remove individual or parental responsibilities to access ongoing financial supports, such as those available through the Missouri Department of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities and Vocational Rehabilitation.

Frequently Asked Questions for Watch Me Thrive Transition Services

  • As a contracted provider through the Missouri Department of Mental Health, our Home and Community Services are primarily funded through Medicaid waivers, other state funding, such as Family Flexible Assistance Program (FFAP)., or County Support Board funding.

    Families may elect to privately pay for these services, however, due to contracted provider requirements the private pay rate must align with rates for contracted services.

    Due to the likely financial hardship this may cause, our organization is dedicated to supporting families in systems navigation that helps them access funding through the state and other supports.

    In addition, as a show of dedication to this program in 2020 Summit Future Foundation established the Watch Me Thrive Scholarship Fund that ensures all have access to this life-changing program.

  • Individuals seeking support or their family members may self-refer to participate in our programs.

    Targeted case managers through county support boards may also refer a person or their family to our organization.

    If you or someone you support is interested in receiving these support services, please contact us at info@summitfuturefoundation.org to request more information.

  • n collaboration with the person and others that may support them, such as parents, caregivers, and a case management team, goals and priorities are established that include assisting the person in setting employment-related goals.

    The parent engagement portion of Watch Me Thrive is a curriculum developed from research that documents elements that lead to integrated outcomes for persons with developmental differences.