State of Missouri

The state of Missouri s Department of Health and Senior Services is comprised of several boards, commissions, councils and committees, including the State Board of Health, State Board of Senior Services, Advisory Committee on Lead Poisoning, Board of Nursing Home Administrators, Council for Adolescent and School Health, Council for Public Health Nursing, Governor s Advisory Council on Aging, Governor s Council of Physical Fitness and Health, Missouri Arthritis Advisory Board, Missouri Folic Acid Advisory Committee, Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee and Silver Haired Legislature. The department provides services and information pertaining to community and public health, senior and disability services and regulation and licensure. The Department of Health and Senior Services is headquartered in Jefferson City, Mo.

Established in 1974, the Missouri Department of Social Services is responsible for administering programs to promote, safeguard and protect the general welfare of children and youth, as well as families. The department operates various children, youth and family support services. Its children division offers a range of services for children and parents involved in the adoption process. The Missouri Department of Social Services is also the designated lead agency in the state for providing mass support and care to the public during emergencies. The department s family support division work in partnership with local emergency management directors, as well as the Red Cross and Salvation Army and to ensure adequate shelter for clients. The Missouri Department of Social Services is located in Jefferson City, Mo.

Headquartered in Jefferson City, Mo., the Missouri State Highway Patrol is a full-service law enforcement agency that has been operational for more than 75 years. Founded in 1931, it has more than 1,400 uniformed civilians and support staff, and over 1,100 uniformed members. It is operated as an independent agency under the control of the executive branch and is a division of the Department of Public Safety. It enforces traffic laws and promotes safety on more than 33,000 miles of state-maintained highways. The agency offers a wide range of law enforcement services, including motor vehicle inspection, commercial vehicle enforcement and driver's license examination. It also offers criminal investigations, criminal laboratory analysis and research, public education, gaming enforcement and law enforcement training services.