In January 2003, under the leadership of Chief Justice Stephen Limbaugh, Jr., and in cooperation with the Office of the Governor and the Missouri General Assembly, the Supreme Court created the Commission on Children's Justice (Commission). The Commission was established for the expressed purpose of unifying the three
branches of government so that comprehensive solutions to child welfare problems could be made in a consistent and rational manner.

The Commission is to submit this Interim Report to the Supreme Court, the Governor and the General Assembly. Included in this report is a proposed date for completion of a Final Report. In the Final Report, the Commission is to recommend concrete changes necessary to improve children's safety, to strengthen and support families, and to restore public trust and confidence in the states child welfare system.

Prior to rendering this interim report, Commission members met weekly in Jefferson City during February and March. Commission members reviewed the recent investigative reports submitted to the Governor and the Senate Interim Committee to Improve Children's Protective Services in Foster Care. Commission members also reviewed other reports, studies, materials and proposed legislation as deemed appropriate. The Commission heard presentations on new proposed legislation, received communications from a variety of sources including public and private agencies and private individuals, and heard testimony on proposals for change to the current system affecting all three branches of state government.

What follows is a summary of the information submitted to the Commission for its consideration, as well as the Commissions preliminary findings and  recommendations.