Missouri’s child welfare director to retire next week

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Darrell Missey, the director of the Missouri’s child welfare agency, will officially retire from the role next week.

Missey has served as the director of the Missouri Children’s Division since January 2022, leading the agency that oversees the state’s foster care system and investigates reports of abuse and neglect.

Missey will officially retire from the Children’s Division on Nov. 1, a spokesperson from the Missouri Department of Social Services tells FOX 2. He previously served as a Missouri circuit judge for around two decades.

Kayla Ueligger will serve as interim CD director as the state conducts a search for a new director. Ueligger currently serves as the departments Operational Excellence Director and has worked with the Children’s Divisions in many capacities since 2013.

Around 5,000 reports of child abuse and neglect were made to the Missouri Children’s Division each month in the 2023 fiscal year, according to the agency’s latest annual report.