ST. LOUIS (September 22, 2026) – Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) supports Missouri’s new Child Welfare Task Force in developing more consistent standards for child safety and strengthening coordination across the state’s child welfare system.
Created by Gov. Mike Kehoe through Executive Order 26-17, the 18-member task force brings together representatives from state agencies, courts, law enforcement, private child welfare providers, and other organizations that work with children and families.
The task force will define child safety consistently, review Missouri’s policies, procedures, training, and quality measures, and submit recommendations to the governor by November 15.
“Children and families are best served when the professionals working with them have a clear understanding of what safety looks like and how to respond when concerns arise,” said Michelle Meier, Chief Program Officer for LFCS. “Bringing people from different parts of the child welfare system together gives us a chance to look at what is working, where there are gaps, and how we can serve Missouri children and families.”
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Consistency matters when people are working together to keep children safe. Caseworkers, supervisors, foster parents, courts, law enforcement, and other providers often work together when a child’s safety is in question.
“Everyone working in child welfare wants children to be safe and families to get the support they need,” Meier said. “Having clear expectations and good communication can help the people making difficult decisions every day.”
Through a wraparound approach, LFCS provides an array of services, including foster care, behavioral health, adoption, and pregnancy and parenting support. LFCS will continue to be part of the conversation as the task force develops recommendations to improve child safety and support families across Missouri.