Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday announced he has selected Jennifer Tidball as the acting director for the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS).
Tidball was already serving as deputy director of the department. Before that, she was director of the DSS division of finance and administrative services. She has worked as an interim Mo HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) director.
She previously served as acting director for DSS during the first half of 2017.
Tidball fills the gap left by the departure of Steve Corsi, whom former Gov. Eric Greitens appointed in June 2017.
Corsi arrived after having served as the director of Wyoming's Department of Family Services. He went from running a Wyoming department with a staff of about 700 people and budget of $258 million, to the Missouri department with a staff of 7,000 and budget of $9.6 billion.
During budget hearings in February 2018, his unusual salary arrangement came under scrutiny. It was revealed Corsi received a salary of $128,244 per year from his department, while also receiving $13,756 from the state Department of Health and Senior Services, making his total $142,000.
The Greitens administration briefly defended the arrangement, but within days said it ended the practice. However, Corsi continued to receive the double payment the following month. Corsi said as soon as he learned of the extra payment, he went to the state to get it corrected.
In mid-April, a news release from Parson's office announced Corsi was leaving the state job for a new opportunity with a faith-based nonprofit organization. The organization has not been identified.
"I appreciate Jennifer Tidball's willingness to serve the people of Missouri in this new role and know she will build off the positive reforms made within the department under Director Corsi," Parson said in a news release. "I have full confidence the Department of Social Services will continue providing excellent service to the people of Missouri under her leadership."