The Critical Investigations Unit (CIU) encompasses the State of Missouri, operating under guidelines within the Child Welfare Manual, and is primarily responsible for investigating the following types of investigations:
- Child Abuse and Neglect (CA/N) fatalities and CA/N near-fatalities;
- Other complex investigations which may include medical neglect or sexual abuse;
- Additional investigations may be required at the direction of the CIU Administrator or the Children Division’s Deputy Director of Safety.
CIU is divided into the following three established regions:
- Kansas City – North
(Circuit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 41 and 43) - St. Louis – Southeast
(Circuit 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 45) - Springfield – Southwest Central
(Circuit 13, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44 and 46)
These regions will remain flexible and can be altered and/or changed by the CIU Administrator, given geographical case load statistics and case management analysis. These specific regions may, at times, assist other regions along the bordering or surrounding counties of each circuit when assistance is needed or required.
In Progress Tasks
- Cases are assigned to CIU for Investigation
- Hire remaining CIU investigators
- CIU administrators and supervisors identify specialized training needs for CIU investigators
Next Steps
February-March
- CIU administrators and supervisors to provide ongoing specialized training to CIU investigators
- CIU administrator will track investigation assignment data and report monthly to the Deputy Director of Safety
April-May
- Evaluate the CIU protocol to ensure the effectiveness of the unit
- Review case assignment data for possible expansion of the unit
Completed
- 2025 - Quarter 4
October
- Hired 1 additional CIU Unit Supervisor
November
- Drafted CIU protocol
- Created CIU county office(s) in FACES
December
- CIU Protocol Finalized
- Hired 17 of 20 CIU Investigators
- 2025 - Quarter 3
July
- Conducted interviews for CIU Administrator
August
- Hired CIU Administrator
September
- Successfully onboarded CIU Administrator
- Hired 2 CIU Unit Supervisors
- 2025 - Quarter 2
June
- Developed a job description for Critical Investigations Unit (CIU) Administrator