Darrell Missey

The former Jefferson County judge has served as the leader of the agency investigating child abuse and neglect since 2021.

The Salem Republican recently held a hearing on child welfare issues at a time when Missouri’s Children’s Division has struggled with staff retention and executing key programs.

The head of the agency that oversees the Missouri Children’s Division says he wants investigators to treat evidence of fentanyl as an imminent danger to kids.

Some lawmakers remain worried that low salaries could make retaining child abuse investigators difficult.

Officials say tackling St. Louis and St. Louis County’s more than 6,000 abuse and neglect cases will require hiring more investigators.

In 1957, Dwight Eisenhower was in the White House, Elvis topped the charts with “All Shook Up,” and Missouri lawmakers wrote the state’s juvenile code.The…