Although Missouri’s 2023 legislative session was contentious and resulted in a historically low number of bills being passed, advocates for children applaud some significant wins for struggling Missouri families. Jessica Seitz with Missouri KidsFirst, an advocacy nonprofit focused on preventing child abuse and neglect, says among the most important is the extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage from its current 60 days to one year. Seitz calls access to health care a “proven prevention strategy against child maltreatment.”
Missouri ranks 44th in the nation for maternal mortality rates — something Governor Mike Parson called “embarrassing and absolutely unacceptable” in his 2023 State of the State address. Seitz says another huge win for struggling families is the change to a gradual “step-down” from access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Seitz says under the new system, a family will gradually lose benefits proportionate to their increase in income until they reach 200-percent of federal poverty guidelines.
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