Missouri Department of Social Services

The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) is a state agency of Missouri. It has its headquarters in the Broadway State Office Building in Jefferson City.^[1] The department operates the state's social services.

Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan established the Family Investment Trust (FIT) in November 1993, which was changed to Family and Community Trust (FACT) by Governor Bob Holden in April 2001. FACT, which is housed within the Missouri Department of Social Services, is designed to lead a collaborative effort to improve the conditions of Missouri’s families and communities. It is also to encourage a collaborative effort among both private and public community entities to build local support systems.

Twenty-one Caring Community organizations were established around Missouri to implement this approach with six core results: parents working, children safe, children ready for school, children and families health, children and youth succeeding in school, and youth ready to enter the work force. FACT is the nonprofit corporation that governs the 21 partnerships. Funding to support this work comes from the state legislature through the Department of Social Services and is a combination of general revenue and a federal match.

There are currently 20 community partnerships across Missouri, including Area Resources for Community and Human Services (ARCHS) in St. Louis, Local Investment Commission (LINC) in Kansas City, and more.

Divisions

• Missouri Division of Youth Services

References

External links

• Missouri Department of Social Services