Missouri’s Children Division cutting nearly 100 jobs as COVID-19 hits state budget

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Children’s Division plans to cut 96 positions, including 80 filled jobs 16 other vacant ones, as the state seeks cost savings to counter revenue problems caused by COVID-19.

Missouri Department of Social Services spokeswoman Rebecca Woelfel said jobs are being cut because of the pandemic's economic effects.

"The reasoning for the job cuts cited is the lack of revenue for the state due to the Corona Virus taking a toll on the state’s finances," Woelfel wrote in an email.

The fiscal year began July 1 with large cuts to the state budget as Gov. Mike Parson adjusted for lower projected revenue. Parson restricted nearly $450 million in state spending on June 30.

Woelfel said the Children’s Division is in charge of the Missouri's most vulnerable population and all managers take part in keeping the community safe, even if they aren't directly dealing with cases.

"There are approximately 14,000 children in the state’s foster care system – the highest number in years. The Children’s Division staff are also first responders to calls of concern regarding Child Abuse and Neglect," she wrote. "In FY2019, there were a total of 64,920 calls to the Child Abuse Hotline responded to by frontline staff."

Woelfel said the job cuts would target employees with duties that can be removed or given to other staff members without hurting services the agency provides.

Supervisors, children’s services specialists, circuit managers and field support managers are some the jobs that will be cut.

State officials have said the pandemic has reduced calls to the state's abuse hotline, primarily because children are no longer at school. Many of the reports come from teachers.

A letter to Children's Division workers said the decision to make these job cuts was not made lightly.

"All DSS work is important. Every DSS team member has a role in empowering Missourians to live safe, healthy and productive lives," the letter says.

Other positions have been offered to about 70 of the 80 affected employees, Woelfel said. This would allow them to keep working with children and families.

"For the remaining staff, we are working with them to find employment in another DSS division or state agency," she said.