The Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).
Missouri’s Department of Social Services announced Thursday that it is appointing Sara Smith as the next director of Children’s Division, effective immediately.
Smith will be the agency’s seventh director since 2018.
Children’s Division administers child welfare services, including by investigating claims of child abuse and neglect and running the state’s foster care system.
Smith, previously the director of children’s residential programs and compliance within Children’s Division, has worked at the Department of Social Services for 19 years, according to a press release. Prior to working with the state, she worked at an organization focused on helping children experiencing abuse.
“Sara’s experience and dedication to supporting children and families make her an ideal leader for this vitally important role,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in the press release. “Under Sara’s guidance, the Children’s Division will be able to make the necessary strides to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children in our state.”
The agency has been without a permanent Children’s Division director since Darrell Missey stepped down Nov. 1 after three years. Missey’s tenure was the longest of the six directors the division saw during former Gov. Mike Parson’s six years in office.
The Department of Social Services’ director, Jess Bax, was confirmed by the Missouri Senate last week.
Bax praised Smith’s “deep commitment to child welfare, extensive experience, and strong leadership background” in the press release.
She added: “I want to applaud Governor Kehoe’s support throughout this transition and look forward to working with her to drive positive change and strengthen our efforts to support children and families.”
Smith said her new team will “focus on safety and streamlining processes to better serve kids and families.”
Children’s Division has been under intense scrutiny from lawmakers and advocates. They have pointed to issues ranging from a lack of appropriate placements for foster children, resulting in kids staying in hospitals and offices, to the division doing a poor job placing foster kids with family and failing to spend designated funding to keep kids safely at home.
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