Governor Kehoe Signs Executive Order Establishing Missouri Child Welfare Task Force

Governor Kehoe Signs Executive Order Establishing Missouri Child Welfare Task Force Gabrielle.Picard Tue, 08/25/2026 - 16:26 August 25, 2026 Jefferson City Today, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-17, establishing the Missouri Child Welfare Task Force to further strengthen coordination across Missouri's child welfare system by developing recommendations for a set of unified standards for child welfare safety. "Protecting Missouri's most vulnerable children is one of our highest responsibilities, and the people doing this work deserve clear, consistent standards across every agency, courtroom, and community," said Governor Kehoe . "Director Bax and Director Smith are leading difficult, necessary work to strengthen the Children's Division. This order builds on their progress by bringing the entire child welfare system together around one shared definition of safety and one expectation of accountability." Given the importance and complexity of Missouri’s child welfare system, the Task Force brings together representatives from the Department of Social Services (DSS) Children’s Division (CD), courts and juvenile offices, law enforcement, the General Assembly, private provid