Missouri Director of Social Services to resign

The Missouri Director of Social Services will resign at the end of the month, after just five months on the job.

Gov. Jay Nixon announced the resignation of Alan Freeman Monday afternoon.

According to a statement, Freeman will return to his position as president and CEO of Grace Hill Health Centers Inc.

Deputy Director of Social Services Brian Kinkade will become the acting director of the department on May 31. Kinkade also filled in as director from July 31, 2011, until Freeman was appointed last Dec. 26.

“I greatly appreciate Alan’s leadership and service to the state of Missouri, and his tireless commitment to improving the health of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens,” Gov. Nixon said in a statement.

Freeman’s departure comes one week after Ian McCaslin was replaced as director of the department’s Medicaid division.

Nixon this year pushed for an expansion of the Medicaid program, but the Legislature defeated that proposal.