Kip Kendrick, Presiding Commissioner

Justin Aldred, District I Commissioner

Janet Thompson, District II Commissioner

Roger B. Wilson

Boone County Government Center

801 E. Walnut St., Rm 333

Columbia, MO 65201-7732

(573) 886-4305 (573) 886-4311

Boone County
Commission

Boone County News Release

Boone County Children's Services Board Releases 2026-2029 Strategic Plan

COLUMBIA, Mo. (May 6, 2026) - The Boone County Children's Services Board has officially approved and released its 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, outlining a forward-looking framework to guide investments, strengthen governance, and enhance services for children, youth, and families across Boone County.

The strategic plan reflects a comprehensive and data-informed planning process designed to ensure the responsible stewardship of public resources while addressing evolving community needs. The process included a review of prior funding strategies and evaluations; a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis; and an organizational capacity assessment. The Board also engaged in facilitated discussions to prioritize goals and align implementation with available resources and long-term sustainability.

The resulting plan establishes a flexible, yet structured framework centered on three overarching goals:

• Expand and enhance community relations efforts by strengthening communication, collaboration, and public awareness of funded programs and their impact.
• Sustain and further strengthen Board governance and the funding framework to deepen transparency, refine funding priorities, and ensure long-term financial sustainability.
• Build on effective department operations and capacity to maintain efficient, high-quality service delivery and reinforce consistent contracting and monitoring practices.

"This strategic plan represents a thoughtful and intentional approach to how we serve Boone County," said Leigh Spence, Board Chair. "This plan reflects our commitment to making data-driven, transparent decisions that maximize impact for children and families. It positions us to be responsive to community needs while ensuring accountability in how public funds are invested."

The strategic plan is available on the Boone County Community Services Department website and is provided in two formats: a full version, which includes appendices and supporting materials used to inform and develop the plan, offering transparency into the planning process, and a condensed version, which provides a streamlined overview of the plan's key priorities and goals.

To support transparency and community involvement, the Boone County Children's Services Board will host a series of open meetings throughout the summer of 2026. These sessions will provide opportunities for community members, partners, and service providers to learn more about the strategic plan, funding priorities, and how data will inform future funding decisions.

Additional information about meeting dates and materials will be shared on the Boone County Community Services Department website, https://www.boonemo.gov/community-services/.

About the Boone County Community Services Department

The mission of Boone County Community Services Department is to support the greatest possible level of independence and self-sufficiency of Boone County residents by promoting their physical, mental and social well-being to cultivate a safe and healthy community. The BCCSD oversees funding distributed from the Boone County Children's Services Fund and Domestic Violence Services funding.

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