Missouri child abuse investigators are overwhelmed again as backlogs return

Missouri child abuse investigators are facing overwhelming workloads, leading to burnout and high turnover rates, as exemplified by Ashley Allen quitting her position due to excessive caseloads. The Missouri Children’s Division has a goal of no more than 15 open cases per worker, but data shows that many circuits averaged significantly higher numbers in recent months. This sustained pressure is prolonging the division's ability to close cases effectively.