2025 Annual Conference
Standing with Families
Through Today’s Challenges
Moving Forward with Action & Hope
Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Resources for Collective Advocacy & Care
2025 Annual Conference Panel of Experts
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Deputy Director
Casey Hanson is the Deputy Director at Kids Win Missouri and plays a leadership role in the organization’s stakeholder engagement initiatives and child health policy. Prior to her current role, Casey was the Policy and Communications Coordinator for the Missouri AfterSchool Network (MASN). She also has years of experience working in government and politics in Missouri as a legislative staffer in the Missouri House and organizer on multiple issue-based and candidate campaigns. Casey’s passion for working on child well-being issues has been fueled by her direct experiences as a program volunteer, staff person, and parent. She currently serves on the boards of the Show Me School Based Health Alliance and Lemay Child and Family Center. Casey is a proud Mizzou alum and currently resides in St. Louis with her husband, two sons and puppy.
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Senator Brian Williams, a Democrat, has proudly represented the 14th Senatorial District in North St. Louis County since 2018, the first Black male to serve in the Missouri Senate in two decades.
In his time in the Missouri Senate, Sen. Williams has been instrumental in passing legislation to freeze property tax values on the primary residence of those over 62 and to help sickle cell anemia patients, MO ABLE account holders and families entangled in the criminal justice system. Senator Williams also facilitates the Capitol’s annual human trafficking awareness day.
His sweeping criminal justice reforms established the strongest use of force database in the country and a statewide conviction review unit; prohibit law enforcement from using a respiratory chokehold; ensure women offenders have access to free, adequate feminine hygiene products; and decreased the time to request an expungement for those who have paid their debt to society. Senator Williams also added a provision that helps set innocent people free from wrongful imprisonment.
In addition to legislative duties, Sen. Williams works for Construction Career Development Initiative, providing training and job opportunities for underserved youth. He also serves as a board director for People’s Health Center, where he helped develop a behavioral health care center for children. Senator Williams serves on the advisory boards for St. Louis Crisis Nursery, Simmons Bank, iHeart Media, Nurses for Newborns and the University City Children’s Center. Senator Williams’ family resides in University City, and he is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
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Director of Missouri Children’s Division
Sara Smith was selected as the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division Director on March 13, 2025. Smith served in various roles throughout the Children’s Division (CD) beginning as a frontline investigator. Her most recent role within CD was serving as a Deputy Director for three years. Additionally, Smith has served as a Deputy Director for the Family Support Division. She has nearly 19 years of government and leadership experience, including serving as a Children’s Service Worker (County Investigator, Out of Home Investigation Unit, and Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit), Children’s Service Supervisor, Children’s Service Specialist (Child Abuse and Neglect Review Boards), and Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline Unit Manager. Prior to working in government, Smith worked at a Child Advocacy Center for several years.
Smith holds a master’s degree in criminal justice. She and her husband, Derrick, have two children and live in Jefferson City, Missouri.
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Outreach Strategist & Policy Analyst
Jessica Ann brings extensive policy, outreach, and coalition-building skills to her role at Missouri Budget Project. Prior to joining MBP in early 2025, she served as a Chief of Staff in the Missouri State Senate, managing a legislative portfolio that included the appropriations committee.
Prior to her work in the Missouri Capitol, she worked as a Senior Account Executive for Parson + Associates (P+A), working on public feedback and outreach initiatives, as well as major city projects, and as a senior advisor for public affairs for Kansas City Mayor Sly James.
Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., majoring in International Political Economy.
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Founder and Counselor at Law - Gonzalez Herrera Law Firm, LLC
German A. Gonzalez Herrera received his first law degree from Basque Country University, Spain. Later, he obtained a Master’s Degree in Fundamental Rights from Carlos III de Madrid University, Spain. After that, he received a law degree from Javeriana University, Colombia. Finally, he obtained an LL.M from Washington University in St. Louis. He started working in immigration law at the end of 2017 and opened Gonzalez Herrera Law Firm, LLC, a solo law practice in 2019.
These resources and tools were shared at our 2025 Annual Conference and are available to support continued advocacy for children and families across Missouri.
Learn & Stay Informed
Connect with Missouri-based experts working to protect and uplift children and families:
Connect with Missouri-based experts working to protect and uplift children and families:
Health justice tools and campaigns with local relevance.
A statewide child advocacy coalition.
✔️Sign up for action alerts here
✔️Explore policy priorities here
In-depth reports and analysis on how budget decisions impact families.
Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division
Children’s Division provides monthly webinars with timely update and answers to questions regarding child welfare.
✔️Register for a webinar here
✔️Submit questions prior via email here
Use Your Voice
Share Personal Stories
Your voice is powerful. Humanizing these issues helps peers and decision-makers understand what is at stake.
For example: “The families I work with rely on Medicaid and SNAP. I’m deeply concerned about what will happen if these services are cut...”
Ask Thoughtful Questions
Help others connect policy to real-life impact.
“What can we do to ensure people don’t lose Medicaid because of an administrative error?”
“What happens to a child when their parent loses healthcare?”
Speak Up in Op-Eds & Social Posts
Make sure your voice is part of the growing call for access, equity, and care. Share your perspective or link to articles that reflect your values.
Contact Your Senators
Cuts to Medicaid will force Missouri to reduce essential programs like SNAP, education, and child welfare. Urge our senators to protect the services children and families rely on.
Senator Eric Schmitt
(202) 224-5721
Email Senator Schmitt here
Senator Josh Hawley
(202) 224-6154
Email Senator Hawley here
Sample Email Script here
Sample Phone Call Script here
Support Immigrant Families
Alongside meeting immediate, essential needs with compassion, we can strengthen our support by partnering with or referring families to organizations that provide specialized services and care:
Strengthen Collective Capacity
The work is shared, and so is the care that sustains it.
Create space for weekly team check-ins focused on self-reflection, shared learning, and collective care.
Acknowledge the value of your work. Advocacy is emotional labor and your efforts matter.
Self-care is community care. Protecting your energy allows you to better support others.
Final Word
Meeting the immediate needs of families and working toward long-term policy change are not separate efforts — they are deeply connected. By supporting families now and advocating for lasting change, we help create a Missouri where every child has the opportunity to grow up safe and supported.
Do you have resources and tools to share? Add them to our conference Dotstorm page here!