Historically, Children’s Division used the federal benefits of foster children (e.g., Social Security) toward the cost of their care. Section 210.560 RSMo was amended effective August 28, 2025, and prohibits the division from using those funds for the cost of children’s routine care and services. The law requires federal benefits to be conserved and used only for a child’s unmet needs.
Ongoing Tasks
- Continue writing policy and procedures for implementation
- Continue developing staff, stakeholder, and youth education
- Continue drafting regulations
Completed Tasks
- 2026 - Quarter 3
July
- Quarterly KIDS account and ABLE account statements mailed
- Collaborated with Public Consulting Group for design and implementation of Jotforms as the communication and education application for HB 737 related tasks.
- Continued drafting policy and procedures for implementation
- Continued developing staff, stakeholders, and youth education
- Continued implementation of approved recommendations
- Continued drafting regulations
August
- Continued collaborating with Public Consulting Group for design and implementation of Jotform, as the application for federal benefit activity communication and education application for HB 737 related tasks.
- Started testing electronic forms.
- The electronic Federal Benefit Eligibility Assessment (CD-340) will "go live".
- 2026 - Quarter 2
April
- Quarterly KIDS account and ABLE account statements mailed
- Began implementing approved recommendations
- Began developing staff, stakeholders, and youth education
- Approval of system and technology changes continues
- Technology and cost analysis plans continued
- Implementation and Ongoing Operations Plan reviewed
May
- Began drafting regulations
- Approval of system and technology changes completed
- Technology and cost analysis plans finalized
- Continued implementation of approved recommendations
- Continued developing staff, stakeholders, and youth education
June
- Continued drafting policy and procedures for implementation
- Continued developing staff, stakeholders, and youth education
- Continued implementation of approved recommendations
- Continued drafting regulations
- 2026 - Quarter 1
January
- Quarterly KIDS account and ABLE account statements mailed
- Technology and cost analysis and plans continued
February
- Approval of system and technology changes continues
- Technology and cost analysis and plans continues
March
- Began developing procedures based on approved recommendations
- Began finalizing implementation plan and ongoing operations plan
- Approval of system and technology changes continues
- Technology and cost analysis plans continues
- 2025 - Quarter 4
October
- Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts established and funded
November
- System assessment and recommendations received
December
- Technology analysis began
- Cost analysis plan under review
- 2025 - Quarter 3
July
- Legislation signed by the Governor
August
- Contract was awarded to Public Consulting Group, and policy updates were released
September
- Comprehensive System Assessment began - Public Consulting Group (PCG)
- Federal benefit conservation began