St. Louis city DSS has yet to meet national standards
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St. Louis city DSS has yet to meet national standards

Date: January 21, 2009
By: Abby Grimmett
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: St. Louis city is among 12 circuits in the Children's Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services that has yet to meet national accreditation standards.

Abigail Grimmett (GRIMM-it) has more from Jefferson City.

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC The Missouri DSS began seeking national accreditation in 2004. Both St. Louis County and St. Charles County received accreditation in January 2007. Spokesperson for the DSS, Arleasha Mays, says St. Louis city is one of the remaining circuits to get approval because they are sticking to a schedule set by the department when the process began.
Actuality:  MAYS2.WAV
Run Time: 00:15
Description: They evaluate us on virtually everything and that takes time. They need time to see our operating procedures, see our managerial operating procedures. They thoroughly investigate each circuit.

Mays said the DSS will meet its goal of receiving statewide accreditation by the end of 2009. From the State Capitol, I'm Abby Grimmett 1120 KMOX News.
Intro: The Children's Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services is one step closer to being accredited now that the 45th circuit in Lincoln County has met national standards. 

Abigail Grimmett (GRIMM-it) has more from Jefferson City. 

RunTime:
OutCue: SOC According to DSS spokesperson Arleasha Mays, there are still 12 circuits that have to meet these standards. St. Louis City is among these, but Mays says this is because it happens to be at the bottom of a schedule created when the process began in 2004.Mays said the process is lengthy since there are more than 800 areas evaluated.
Actuality:  MAYS1.WAV
Run Time: 00:17
Description: In areas such as adoption services, foster and kinship care services, and child protection services we have met the accreditation standards and have no doubt whatsoever that the remaining circuits that either still have to have cite visits or are awaiting compliance reports will meet those accreditation standards.

The St. Louis City office will undergo evaluation in the next couple of months, according to Mays. From the State Capitol, I'm Abby Grimmett 1120 KMOX News.