social services

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe's office is requesting to change the state's SNAP program and restrict certain food and beverages. The governor's office says the changes would promote healthier food, but it may add headaches for customers and grocers.

Gov. Mike Kehoe says the alteration prioritizes healthy foods and nutritional value. It would restrict the use of SNAP benefits to purchase candy, prepared desserts, soda and other drinks.

There are more than 37,000 federal employees in the state of Missouri that could be impacted, as well as certain state agencies' funding, if Congress doesn't pass a budget bill.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is adding 13 programs to a list of public benefits restricted to people under certain immigration statuses. Officials say this will reduce the burden on taxpayers.

In a wide-ranging interview, MoHealthNet director Todd Richardson discussed some of their big challenges — such as incoming work requirements, and new federal restrictions on a tax that helps Missouri pay for the program.

Despite no legislative action on boosting Missouri Children's Division starting salaries, Gov. Mike Kehoe says Department of Social Services leaders could soon take action themselves.

Advocates worry that tens of thousands of vulnerable Missourians will lose Medicaid and food stamps because of new administrative barriers proposed by the GOP-led Congress. Missouri has already come under fire for failing to administer benefits on time.

The legislation, which state Rep. Jim Murphy called "a pro-life bill that everybody agrees with," also expands tax credits for maternity homes and diaper banks and creates a "Zero-Cost Adoption Fund."

Hailey was 15 when she learned she was pregnant. After being told abortion wasn’t an option, she became determined to be a mom in the hopes of keeping her daughter from repeating the traumatic childhood in the foster care system that she experienced.

Sara Smith is in her first month as director of the Missouri Children’s Division, which oversees the state’s foster care system and child abuse investigations.

Kansas City has recorded 12 homicides linked to domestic violence so far this year — the same number reported in all of 2024. Domestic violence service agencies fear the problem could get worse if social services lose federal funding.

Under national standards, at least 35% of kids entering foster care should exit with a permanent living situation — whether adoption, guardianship or reunification with family — within one year. But only 12 of Missouri's 114 counties met that goal.