JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A Jefferson County judge has been tapped to lead a key division overseeing child welfare in Missouri, potentially bringing a stop to the revolving door that has marked the agency during Gov. Mike Parson鈥檚 tenure as chief executive.
Judge Darrell Missey will take over as director of the children鈥檚 division at the Department of Social Services, becoming the agency鈥檚 sixth leader since Parson took office in 2018.
Missey was elected an associate circuit court judge in 2002 and has focused extensively on cases involving juveniles. He has spent the past 15 years serving on the Missouri Supreme Court鈥檚 family court committee.
鈥淛udge Missey鈥檚 distinguished judicial career and longtime focus on child welfare issues will be invaluable to our Children鈥檚 Division moving forward,鈥 said DSS Acting Director Robert Knodell. 鈥淚 am confident his vast experience and perspectives will help the division rise to meet the many challenges it faces.鈥
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Missey takes over for Joanie Rogers, who was serving in an acting capacity after the departure of former state Rep. David Wood, a Versailles Republican who lasted just three months on the job.
In the past decade, there have been three Missouri governors and eight directors of the Children鈥檚 Division, including interim and acting directors.
Candace Shively, who served during the administration of Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, led the Children鈥檚 Division from October 2010 until she retired September 2013. The department head described Shively at the time as a 鈥渟trong leader.鈥
Melody Yancey stepped in as acting director for two months until Tim Decker took over. Decker had been with the department for years, most recently as director of the Division of Youth Services, a nationally recognized juvenile justice program under his watch. He ran the more complex Children鈥檚 Division for nearly five years, during Nixon鈥檚 last term and through Republican Gov. Eric Greitens鈥 short time in office.
When Parson became governor, Julie Lester stepped up from within to fill the role on an interim basis until January 2019. She quit shortly after it was publicly announced that David Kurt was being brought in from Kansas to run the division. One year later, Kurt, as well as his leadership team, were asked to leave, apparently without explanation.
Reggie McElhannon, a former lobbyist for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, served as interim director for six months, until Wood, the termed-out Republican lawmaker from Versailles, became division director in June. He said he resigned after having to eliminate $4.9 million from the budget. Dozens of jobs were cut, including frontline supervisor and middle manager positions that caused an uproar from staff.
Rogers replaced him, becoming the fifth leader of the Children鈥檚 Division who has served under Parson.
鈥淲e are excited to welcome Judge Missey to the team,鈥 Parson said in a statement Wednesday. 鈥淛udge Missey not only brings years of experience in family and juvenile court matters, but he is also a proven statewide leader in child welfare. He is passionate about helping Missouri鈥檚 most vulnerable, and we look forward to utilizing his expertise in service to all Missourians.鈥
Missey takes over a division with a $745 million budget that has been under a microscope for the past year as lawmakers have probed a number of problems in how the state handles child welfare issues.
In October, agency officials were put on the hot seat by a special House committee after the release of an 鈥渁larming鈥 federal report that revealed a pattern of mishandling missing foster children who run away.
The report, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, said Missouri does not have strong policies for identifying children who may be at heightened risk of running away, nor plans in place to reduce their risk. Those same children could become victims of sex trafficking.
In 59 cases reviewed by the office, Missouri 鈥渞arely demonstrated attempts to reduce children鈥檚 risk of going missing,鈥 the report noted.
And, during the times in which the children were missing from care, Missouri frequently failed to comply with requirements that could have aided in locating them.
The department also continues to be dogged by high turnover rates because of low pay.
In 2020, for example, the agency, which employs about 2,000 people, had 26% turnover. Budget documents show the division was able to roll over $1.6 million from 鈥渋ncreased turnover鈥 of children鈥檚 service workers last year.
Missey鈥檚 appointment drew praise from Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican who has pushed the agency to be more accountable.
鈥淛udge Missey has worked effectively and tirelessly from the bench to protect children. Given the many challenges facing the division, I am grateful to the governor for thinking outside the box,鈥 Coleman said. 鈥淛udge Missey offers the strong leadership skills and understanding of the system that will allow him to help the state start anew and get to work day one. Kids in Missouri can鈥檛 wait.鈥
In a statement, Missey said he is looking forward to the challenge.
鈥淚 am honored to have the opportunity to serve, and I am grateful to Governor Parson and Director Knodell for entrusting me with this important task,鈥 Missey said.