Nova Center of the Ozarks

11/13/2025

It is with a heavy heart that we share that we have lost a very cherished member of our community. Richard was full of life and adored by so many. He had a unique ability to bring a smile to your face within seconds. He was truly one of a kind, and his presence will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Our Administration team will be attending his Celebration of Life this Monday, November 17th. As a result, our office will not open until 12:00 p.m. that day. However, our Day Program be open with normal start time of 9am). Thank you.

11/13/2025

From blueprints to ribbon cutting — it’s finally here! Our Day Program watched our new garage take shape all the way from April, and last Friday we got to celebrate in style! 🎀🔨 Big smiles all around!

10/24/2025

We will be collecting non-perishable food items to benefit our individuals who may be affected by the hold on SNAP benefits. We will also be accepting cash donations. Every can, box, and bag makes a difference!

Most-needed items:
🍝 Pasta & rice
🥫 Canned fruits & veggies
🥜 Peanut butter
🍲 Soups, stews, & canned proteins

Let’s fill those bins and fill some hearts! ❤️
Even one small donation can help put a meal on someone’s table.

10/23/2025

Admin of the Month- September
Amanda Bono
Amanda has done an excellent job stepping into her new role as Residential Program Director over the past six months. She is learning quickly, shows strong initiative, and is always willing to help out when needed. Her positive attitude and adaptability have been a great asset to the team.

10/22/2025

Manager of the Month- September
Persephone Atreides
Persephone is truly an asset to maroon team. Persephone brings creativity, great organization skills, and a positive attitude to the ISL she manages. Persephone goes above and beyond for the consumers she works with, and she truly makes a difference in their lives. She has worked on getting them more involved in the community and experiencing new things. We are so grateful to have Persephone!

10/21/2025

Employee of the Month- September
Wes Fugate
This month’s star is all about Choice, Responsibility, and Inclusion — and Wes makes it look effortless! They consistently choose a positive attitude and make sure everyone feels included—In meals that are made, outings and so much more. Their dedication and good vibes remind us all that great workplaces don’t just happen—they’re chosen, built, and shared.

10/20/2025

Rookie of the Month- September
Caitlyn Dunning
Caitlyn is an exceptionally sweet and patient staff who consistently demonstrates genuine care in her interactions. She takes the time to truly get to know each individual, building trust and understanding their unique needs. Her thoughtful approach allows her to provided meaningful support while fostering positive relationships. Caitlyn has also proven to be highly self-sufficient in her duties and quickly grasps new tasks, showcasing both her adaptability and strong work ethics.

10/17/2025

Joy is the sunshine that sneaks into your soul. ☀️

10/03/2025

This week proved that smiles don’t need a reason — sometimes, they are the reason. Keep sharing them. They're more powerful than you think.

10/03/2025

It is National Disability Employment Awareness Month!!

“We Want More” Virtual Disability Employment Fair”

What is NDEAM and how are we celebrating?

NDEAM stands for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It’s month is October. The NDEAM recognition has existed for 80 years. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” For more information regarding NDEAM 2025 at a national level, please read the press release from the Department of Labor (https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/odep/odep20250626)

The Navigating Adult Autism Podcast and the T21 Podcast will be celebrating NDEAM with a social media resource fair. During the thirty-one days in October, a social media post will highlight one of the disability employment service providers, community resources or employment success stories from our corner of the state of Missouri. On Monday, October 13, the NAA podcast will drop an episode on tips and suggestions for parents seeking employment for their children on the spectrum.

We will be defining “disability employment service provider” in the broadest manner. Please check out the NAA Podcast’s October Autism Gossip Blog for our “Disability Employment Landscape” listing of resources.

We will be asking you to participate by reposting as much of this virtual resource fair as possible—not only to disability circles but to the general public. In addition, we are also asking you to post your employment stories. Do you have a success story? We would love to celebrate with you. Have a failure story that might benefit someone else? We want to be humble enough to learn from each other’s journey.

Let us flood social media with NDEAM posts. The need is great and greater awareness has the potential to open more opportunities for disability employment.

We want more than awareness. We want employment. Got work?