Press "Enter" to skip to content

Speaker creates new committee to ‘improve the care and well-being of young people’

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Speaker Todd Richardson announced the formation of a special committee to focus specifically on policy proposals impacting the health and welfare of the thousands of children and youth in Missouri’s care. The Special Committee to Improve the Care and Well-being of Young People will consider ideas to improve the child welfare system that is charged with the important task of protecting the most vulnerable Missourians.

“We need to find ways to best serve our children and youth who, at no fault of their own, are put in challenging circumstances,” said Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff. “With the amount of legislation filed to address the policies and practices of the programs that serve as the state’s safety net, a specific committee with its sole mission to carefully evaluate each proposal was needed so we ensure every child in Missouri has the opportunity to succeed in life.”

The number of children in the Missouri foster care system is growing each year with the Department of Social Services responsible for nearly 13,000 children this year.  The pressures of a growing system, as well as the demanding and emotionally grueling nature of the work have made it difficult to be responsive to the needs of those requiring help from the Department.  In Missouri, the average time a child spends in foster care is estimated to be 2 years and about half of the children experience three or more foster care placements.

State Rep. Jim Neely, who is a longtime champion of Missouri’s children, will chair the committee.

“We must do everything in our power to ask the right, and maybe hard, questions of how to improve our approach of enhancing the quality of life for the children and youth requiring state services,” said Rep. Neely, R-Cameron.  “I am hopeful this committee will produce meaningful and thoughtful legislation before the House.”

The Children’s Division, under the Department of Social Services umbrella, is responsible for the administration of Missouri’s child welfare services.  The Child Abuse/Neglect Hotline, School Violence Hotline, Intensive In-Home Services, Family Centered Services, Adoption Services, Independent Living, Foster Care, Residential Licensing and preventive services are a number of the programs the division administers

“The Children’s Division provides a vital service to our state,” said the committee’s vice chair Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch, R-Hallsville.  “The committee will provide an opportunity for a thorough examination of the division to further improve our services and provide the children receiving those services with a better experience.”

Richardson added, “We have a moral responsibility to every child under Missouri’s watch to protect their dreams, hopes, and desire to succeed in life.  My expectation is the work of this committee will result in the passage of compassionate and comprehensive legislation aimed at ensuring Missouri’s youth receive the care they need.”

The Speaker referred the first bills for consideration to the committee today.

 

Members of Special Committee to Improve the Care and Well-being of Young People

Rep. Jim Neely – Chair
Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch – Vice-Chair
Rep. Kevin Corlew

Rep. Hannah Kelly

Rep. Mike Kelley

 

Rep. Don Phillips

Rep. Dan Shaul

Rep. Dan Stacy

Rep. Sara Walsh