Missouri Department of Social Services Archives

Governor hopes to bring stability to Missouri Children’s Division

October 2, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says filling the Children’s Division director position is a top priority for him.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters on July 22, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

The Children’s Division is part of the state Department of Social Services (DSS), and is responsible for the administration of child welfare services. During his virtual media briefing on Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson reacted to the resignation of former State Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, who held the Children’s Division director position for about three months.

“Because there’s one thing for sure as a parent (and) as a grandparent, we need to take care of the children of this state. And we’ll get somebody in that place as soon as we can, and we’re going to get the best qualified person to be in that position,” Parson says.

There have now been six Children’s Division directors in the past seven years, and the governor hopes to bring stability to the agency. The Children’s Division’s responsibilities also include foster care and adoption. The division works with families, communities and the courts toward ensuring the safety and well-bring of Missouri children.

The governor says the agency’s deputy director has been doing a great job. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reported this week that Joanie Rogers is now serving as interim director.

Missouri agency responsible for child welfare services has now had six directors in seven years

September 30, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A former state lawmaker from mid-Missouri’s Morgan County has resigned as Missouri’s Children’s Division director, after about three months on the job.

Former State Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 15, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Former State Rep. David Wood, R-Versailles, was named the Children’s Division director in June. He told Missourinet on Tuesday that he is no longer the Children’s Division Director, adding that he appreciates the “opportunity that the governor gave me, and I wish the Children’s Division the best as they are very good people doing a very difficult job.”

The Children’s Division is part of the state Department of Social Services (DSS), and is responsible for the administration of child welfare services. Its responsibilities also include foster care and adoption.

The division works with families, communities and the courts toward ensuring the safety and well-bring of Missouri children.

There have now been six Children’s Division directors in the past seven years.

Wood, who served almost eight years in the Missouri House, resigned his seat in June, after being named the new Children’s Division director. Wood could not seek re-election, because of term limits.

He told Missourinet Versailles affiliate KTKS in May that he planned to stay for at least four years and that the division needed stability. Wood, who served as the House Budget Committee’s vice chairman, also told KTKS that he hoped his experience would help in funding the Children’s Division.

“I know it’s going to be a tough budget cycle because the revenues aren’t coming in, we’re going to have to look at cuts,” Wood said in May. “And with my experience on the budget and knowing how to deal with that and how to defend certain pieces, I think I’m going to be a good advocate for the department.”

The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reports Joanie Rogers is now serving as interim director.

Missouri extends childcare subsidies for some school-aged kids getting remote education

September 18, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) is extending full-time childcare subsidy benefits through December 31 for eligible school-aged students who are not attending school in-person. A state press release says CARES Act Child Care Plan makes the additional financial aid possible for low-income working families.

Missouri extends childcare subsidies for some school-aged kids getting remote education

“Parents with school-aged students who are not attending in person can be in a very difficult situation when they have to work. We don’t want to ask parents to choose between going to work and their own child’s safety,” says Jennifer Tidball, Acting Director, Department of Social Services. “Extending this benefit to a full day during school hours supports the ‘Show Me Strong’ Recovery Plan, enabling low-income working families to meet the demands of their job, stay employed, and keep their children properly supervised while not attending school in person during the school day.”

Families who need fulltime childcare for their school-aged children should contact the Family Support Division.

Missourians who have questions not specific to an individual’s case can use the DSS Virtual Assistant to get immediate answers to basic questions 24 hours a day. Phone assistance is also available, call 855-FSD-INFO or 855-373-4636 Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Number of Missourians receiving food stamps up more than 100,000 in 2020

September 9, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Statistics from the state Department of Social Services (DSS) show the number of Missourians on food stamps has increased by about 120,000 since January.

There were about 658,000 Missourians receiving food stamps, at the start of the year. That number increased to about 778,000 as of July, which is the latest number available from DSS’ statistics.

Most of the increase happened after the COVID pandemic. There was an increase of about 90,000 individuals, between March and April. As Missourians lost jobs because of the pandemic, the demand for food stamps increased.

Click here to view the statistics.

Missouri lawmakers voted in April to approve a historic $6.2 billion emergency relief package to battle the pandemic.

Missouri families receiving food stamps to get their benefits extended

July 29, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The USDA has approved the state’s request to extend pandemic food stamp program benefits through August. Missouri households receiving SNAP benefits will automatically get the maximum benefits loaded onto their Electronic Bank Transfer card.

Missouri families receiving food stamps to get their benefits extended

“I am very pleased Missourians will receive the maximum SNAP benefit for their household size during a month when families are buying needed items for the upcoming school year,” says Jennifer Tidball, Acting Director, Missouri Department of Social Services. “Those maximized SNAP benefits may allow families to spend their income on essential items their child needs for a successful return to the classroom, an important part of the ‘Show Me Strong’ Recovery Plan.”

As of June 30, nearly 373,000 Missouri households or 773,079 individuals receive Food Stamp/SNAP benefits.

Missouri’s governor signs major foster care legislation into law (AUDIO)

July 13, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Bipartisan legislation that aims to modernize Missouri’s foster care system and provides Medicaid coverage to homeless children was signed into law Monday by the governor in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Sheila Solon, R-St. Joseph, testifies before a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on January 28, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Sheila Solon, R-St. Joseph, who chairs the House Children and Families Committee, says it’s one of the most important bills she’s passed in her eight years in Jefferson City. She’s leaving the House in December, due to term limits.

“It’s going to help children all over the state of Missouri and especially it’s going to help foster children, who are the responsibility of all of us,” Solon says.

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) says there were 14,043 foster care children in Missouri as of May.

Solon’s bill aims to reform Missouri’s foster care system, by requiring the creation of a response team that will review the practices of the state Children’s Division and any contractors. The Children’s Division, which is part of DSS, is responsible for the administration of child welfare services.

Chairwoman Solon tells Missourinet that the response team is a key component of her bill.

“Some of the shortcomings, and not just our foster care system here in Missouri but all across the country is a lack of transparency, a lack of sharing data and the lack of sharing information when it comes to foster children,” says Solon.

Under House Bill 1414, the new response team must meet for the first time before January 1, 2021.

Solon says her legislation improves transparency in the foster care system, and ensures that it remains focused on the best interests of each child.

Missouri’s homeless youth will be covered by Medicaid and will have access to a free birth certificate, under the 58-page bill.

“Those two provisions, believe it or not, were not as difficult as the third provision, which allows homeless youth to contract for mental health services,” Solon says.

The bill also ensures that foster parents have access to full medical records of a child placed with them, at the time of placement.

The Missouri House approved the legislation by a bipartisan 144-3 vote. Solon credits State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, for getting the bill through the Senate, where it also had bipartisan support.

Craig Stevenson, the policy director of “Kids Win Missouri,” also praises the bill.

“The passage of this bill is the work of passionate policymakers and it will positively impact children of all ages,” Stevenson says, in a statement.

The new law will take effect on August 28.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with State Rep. Sheila Solon, R-St. Joseph, which was recorded on July 13, 2020:

Low-income Missourians struggling with cooling bills during pandemic now have more options

June 18, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

The state Department of Social Services (DSS) has announced an additional $15 million in funding for the low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP).

State Department of Social Services (DSS) Acting Director Jennifer Tidball briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 16, 2020. She was joined by Governor Mike Parson (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

DSS Acting Director Jennifer Tidball made this week’s announcement during a Statehouse press conference in Jefferson City, where she joined the governor. Tidball tells Capitol reporters that the program assists low-income Missourians with payments for their summer cooling bills through September.

“The additional dollars doubles the maximum benefit amount to $600 per household and allows the Department of Social Services to serve a greater number of Missourians,” Tidball says.

She emphasizes that dangerously high temperatures can make homes unsafe.

“Excessive summer heat is dangerous and an additional hardship for many Missouri families struggling financially and unable to afford their cooling bills,” says Tidball.

To be eligible for LIHEAP, low-income Missourians must be responsible for paying home cooling costs. They also must have $3,000 or less in bank and retirement accounts, and have a household income of 135 percent or less of the federal poverty level.

That is a monthly income of $2,897 or less, for a family of four.

About 115,000 Missouri households received LIHEAP assistance in federal fiscal year 2019.

Tidball says Missourians who have questions about the program can call DSS at 855-FSD-INFO. That number is answered weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Click here to read more about the LIHEAP program. DSS also notes some contracted agencies may also provide emergency services, including emergency lodging and central air replacement and repair.