Valerie D. Huhn

Missouri Mental Health Under DOJ Scrutiny

Director, Missouri Department of Mental Health

State Government / Behavioral HealthJefferson City, MO· Member, confirmed on the Nov. 9, 2026 agenda

Last verified November 6, 2026

Overview

26-year Missouri state government official. No private sector employment, no corporate board seats, no investment interests. Oversees more than 6,500 state employees, more than $4 billion in budget authority and about 170,000 Missourians served a year. In June 2024 the DOJ found Missouri violated the ADA by unnecessarily institutionalizing 3,289 adults with mental health disabilities under her watch. A federal class action filed in November 2025 alleges 500-plus Missourians sat in jails awaiting court-ordered mental health services, with average waits of 14 months. Plaintiffs sought a preliminary injunction in March 2026; no ruling was found by November 2026. In February 2026 the governor's office proposed $80.7 million in disability care cuts. The legislature restored more than $80 million in May, and the budget signed June 30 kept self-directed supports. She now advises the federal committee on "vulnerable populations."

Since March 2026

What has changed

March 14, 2026Plaintiffs in Darrington v. Missouri DMH (W.D. Mo., Judge Harpool) moved for a preliminary injunction ordering DMH to finish wait-listed competency evaluations within 60 days; Huhn said 400+ people waited in county jails. Motion filed March 9. source
April 1, 2026DMH release on her HAC appointment lists her as President of the NASDDDS Board of Directors and a member of the CMS Home and Community-Based Services Access Workgroup; DMH has over $4 billion budget authority and 6,500+ employees. source
May 7, 2026Missouri legislature passed the FY2027 budget, restoring over $80 million for disability care programs that Gov. Kehoe's office had cut. source
June 30, 2026Gov. Kehoe signed the FY2027 budget; the governor's release says the $24.8 billion health category includes self-directed supports and outpatient competency restoration. source
September 15, 2026DMH named Jason Jones director of its Division of Behavioral Health effective Oct 1, 2026, succeeding Nora Bock, who is retiring. source
October 14, 2026DMH released a Parent and Caregiver Resource Guide; the release quotes Director Huhn, confirming her in post as of mid-October 2026. source

Career arc

Professional timeline

January 2022–Present

Director

Missouri Department of Mental Health

Deputy Director

Missouri DMH

Director

Division of Developmental Disabilities

Budget analyst

Multiple Missouri departments

Red flags

Conflicts and concerns

DOJ ADA violation finding (June 2024): Missouri unnecessarily institutionalized 3,289 adults with mental health disabilities. "Almost none" needed nursing facility placement. Missouri's guardianship system functioned as a "pipeline to nursing facilities."

Federal class action, Darrington v. DMH (November 2025): 500-plus Missourians in jails awaiting competency restoration, average wait 14 months, waitlist up 88% since September 2023. Huhn told the court in March 2026 that more than 400 people were waiting.

$80.7 million in disability care cuts proposed in February 2026: Huhn told lawmakers the cuts would affect families but preserve the state's ability to offer services, and said the reductions were an option her department offered and the governor selected (KCUR, Feb. 11, 2026). The legislature restored the money.

No private financial conflicts: the story is institutional failure being rewarded with a federal advisory role.

Physician-owned hospitals

No connection to physician ownership. The relevant concern is that an official whose state has been found by the DOJ to be systematically failing vulnerable populations is now advising CMS on vulnerable population policy.

Sources