social work

The attorney general’s use of private medical records, and the targeting of therapists and counselors, has interrupted the health care of LGBTQ Missourians and has families worrying about their children’s privacy.

White test takers are far more likely to pass the licensing exam than people of color or older test takers.

The Jackson County Children's Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services is short hundreds of staff, resulting in overwhelmed case workers and reduced visits between biological parents and their children in foster care.

Jackson County is facing a shortage of social workers, forcing birth parents to miss court-ordered visits with their children. Plus, the Missouri Senate's controversial conservative caucus has disbanded, leaving behind moral victories and calls for unity.

Kinship placements can be a better option than a licensed foster home, but kinship parents say they need more support

The private nonprofits that run foster care in the state say they've risen to the challenge of caring for children during the pandemic and meeting the terms of a class-action lawsuit settlement. But child welfare advocates say there's plenty of room for improvement.