Mo. Rev. Stat. § 205.880: May be agent for department of social services (third and fourth class counties).

The county superintendent of public welfare may be deputized or authorized and required by the department of social services to act as its agent in relation to any work to be done by said department within the county, and when said county superintendent is so authorized as the agent of the department of social services, he shall have the same powers and authority as are given to the department of social services. The county superintendent of public welfare may at any time call on the department of social services for advice and assistance in the performance of his duties.