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State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman called the case "an amalgamation of all of the horrible things that can happen to kids when they鈥檙e in care."

Under national standards, at least 35% of kids entering foster care should exit with a permanent living situation 鈥� whether adoption, guardianship or reunification with family 鈥� within one year. But only 12 of Missouri's 114 counties met that goal.

Foster kids are being housed in hospitals, people are waiting for months in jail to be transferred to psychiatric facilities, daycares are struggling to remain open and low-income kids are losing Medicaid.

The number of foster kids in custody of the State of Missouri has dwindled to just below 12,000 as of last month, compared to more than 14,000 in 2021.

Missouri child advocates and legislators are alarmed over the sporadic use of a program to steer parents to drug rehabilitation and keep their children out of foster care.

Many Illinois measures will now head to Gov. J.B. Pritzker, including a bill that changes how damages accrue under Illinois鈥� first-in-the-nation biometric data privacy law.

The Missouri Senate gave initial approval to legislation that would end the state鈥檚 practice of seizing Social Security benefits from foster children.

A baby girl who was several hours old became the first child to be surrendered in the Safe Haven Baby Box at the Mehlville Fire Protection District Station 2 in south St. Louis County last week.

Missouri鈥檚 child welfare agency took at least $6.1 million in foster kids鈥� benefits last year to reimburse itself for the cost of providing care.

In Missouri, the state鈥檚 Children鈥檚 Division is responsible for investigating abuse and neglect claims made through the state鈥檚 hotline.