Children’s Division Director Wants Better System

Missouri’s Children’s Division director says he wants to build a system that focuses on prevention measures – to help keep families together. Darrell Missey, who was a judge for 19 years, says he saw many families like his, who were broken apart by a parent with mental illness or addiction.

Missey says he understands the pain that occurs when a child is removed from a home, even for a short period of time. He says the darkest time of his childhood was when his mom was in a mental hospital for three months.