Appeals Court Approves Child Welfare Reorganization Plan

The State Court of Appeals has ruled Missouri’s recent reorganization of its child welfare and protection services is legal. It’s found the Family Support Division does, indeed, have the authority to collect child support. This ruling overturns one issued by a Jackson County judge who ruled state law did not give the Division collection power. Governor Bob Holden had reorganized the state’s child welfare services agency earlier this year in response to the death of 2-year-old Dominic James of the Springfield area, who died while in state-sponsored foster care. That reorganization abolished the Division of Child Support Enforcement and placed its responsibilities with the new Family Support Division.