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 11-26-2025
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Resource Provider Survey 2025
As a requirement of the Psychotropic Medication Settlement, Children’s Division (CD) is to survey a sample of resource providers annually. This allows CD to hear from resource providers about how it can strengthen practice around the distribution of psychotropic medication to children in foster care. The purpose of the survey is to assess the availability of case managers for the purposes of providing informed consent, getting children to medical appointments, and engaging in secondary reviews.
The surveys were emailed to a sample of resource providers on September 15, 2025, and October 15, 2025. The deadline for responses is December 15, 2025. If you received an email, please complete the survey.
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  National Adoption Month
November is National Adoption Month! CD encourages you advocate and share your adoption stories.
For over two decades, National Adoption Month has been promoted and celebrated every November across the United States. The goal is to increase awareness and support for the thousands of children in the U.S. foster care system who are waiting for permanent, loving families.
Community connections are so important when helping youth in care and helping them find their permanent loving home.
If you would like to participate and help spread the word, please see the resources below:
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Walmart Clothing Vouchers
As of November 1, Walmart has announced the discontinuation of the Walmart Community Care program that is used by CD for Walmart clothing vouchers. In anticipation of this change, CD has partnered with Walmart to establish new Walmart business accounts for the counties that are currently using Walmart as a clothing voucher vendor. While resource providers in those counties should not experience any delays or inconveniences during this transition to the new Walmart accounts, CD will continue to monitor and share information as it becomes available. We’d like to take this opportunity to remind and encourage resource providers to connect with their local Family Resource Centers (FRC) to learn more about their clothing programs.
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New Supportive Flyer Available
There is now a new flyer available to resource providers! Provider Supports for Resource Parents Flyer! This document consists of information on Family Resource Centers, Kid-4-Kin, ParentLink, Foster Care Ambassadors, Benefits, 988, Older Youth, etc. Please utilize this flyer when in need of searching for assistance!
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SMHK, managed by Home State Health, is excited to announce a tutoring program - at no cost - for eligible students in grades K-12. In partnership with national tutoring leader Club Z! Tutoring Services, SMHK will provide up to 20 hours of one-on-one, in-home or online tutoring services to eligible students*.
*Certain Requirements must be met. Students must be referred and registered to the program.
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In this episode, Ashton and Shasta welcome a few guests who are making a difference in the lives of foster parents and children across Missouri. Their guests are:
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Together, they explore many of the resources available to the Missouri foster care community, including support and independence programs tailored for older youth, innovative respite field trips, and family finding initiatives. Discover the physical resources available, such as clothing and food, and learn about the comprehensive foster parent training and support groups.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent, learn how to get started on our website.
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November is National Adoption Month! Not only is it a great time to raise awareness for adoption, but also the adoption staffing process that is required by CD.
Are you curious about how the adoption process unfolds? There is an intricate preliminary screening process for adoptive families. This involves a detailed review by key team members, including Children’s Service Workers and adoption specialists, to select potential adoptive families for consideration.
On special occasions, an adoption staffing may be held even if only one family is available for a child. The Child Welfare Manual outlines roles of various team members and the essential documentation involved in the process.
For a complete understanding and more detailed information, read Section 4, Chapter 9 (Adoption and Guardianship Process), Subsection 3 - Selecting Adoptive Families of the Child Welfare Manual.
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Statewide Training Calendar
A statewide training calendar that includes all the available trainings in the state for prospective and current resource providers has been created. Please feel free to utilize this calendar to search for your training needs.
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2025 Annual In-Service Psychotropic Medication Training
This training must be completed by December 31, 2025.
The new Annual In-Service Psychotropic Medication Training has been released on our website. Don't forget to complete this required training. This year's topic is, "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Psychotropic Medications."
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Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery
If you are a foster to adopt home and still seeking a pre-adoptive child, please visit the Missouri Adoption Heart Gallery. Several children are looking for their forever family.
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Adoption and Older Youth
CD’s greatest need for adoptive homes is for our older youth population. Older youth who have been in CD’s custody, are still eligible for several great benefits after guardianship/adoption.
Check with your licensing worker to learn more!
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 CD Caregiver Portal
CD has a Caregiver Portal for foster, relative, respite, legal guardianship and adoptive families! This portal is the first phase of a multi-year project. This phase allows caregivers to see their demographics, what placements they have, and their financial information.
If you have any trouble, please email FosterCare@dss.mo.gov and we will assist you.
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Foster Parent Identification Cards
All Foster Parents should have a Foster Parent ID card. This is provided to you after you are licensed. If you do not have an ID card, please email FosterCare@dss.mo.gov to start your application.
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Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Centers are not-for-profit agencies that work with CD to provide support, services, and resources to meet the unique needs of foster, adoptive, relative, and guardianship children and their families.
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CD Wants to Hear from You!
If there is information you would like covered in future Foster Parent Connections Newsletters, please email Abigail.J.Smith@dss.mo.gov.
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