Missouri Department of Social Services

Baylee Watts, the Missouri Department of Social Services' media director, said in an email that the department is working with its electronic benefits vendor to distribute full November benefits.

State leaders applied Wednesday to the $50 billion federal grant initiative, which Congress included in the congressional spending package known as “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Herman Thomas Jr. is the new foster care director at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services and has more than 20 years of experience serving vulnerable youth and families. He says foster homes are scarce, leading to children sleeping in offices or hotels.

Employees at food banks said the SNAP freeze could put a strain on their organizations, which have already seen an increase in demand this year.

Because the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is funded by the federal government, states aren't getting that money during the ongoing shutdown.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office submitted a waiver to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in late September to change the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Missouri Department of Social Services says the goal is to implement the changes one year from now.

NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal is a part-owner of a company that’s partnering with the Missouri Department of Social Services to help verify income for programs like Medicaid and food assistance. O’Neal was in Jefferson City recently to mark the statewide rollout.

Knodell will be heading back to his hometown of Poplar Bluff to serve as city manager for the southeast Missouri municipality.

Robert Knodell has been hired to be the next city manager of Poplar Bluff after 3 years leading the Department of Social Services.

The Children’s Division is almost fully staffed now — a “remarkable turnaround” from the hundreds of vacancies it had in recent years. The backlog is now down 80% since earlier this year.