Mark Jones

The strategic plan serves as a blueprint for transforming the Mississippi Department of Human Services toward integrity, excellence, and compliance. It aims to build a stronger, more engaging, and connected agency by effectively utilizing resources, supporting clients, and protecting taxpayer investments. Key focus areas include strengthening internal controls, compliance, and fostering a more accessible and effective service delivery system to improve the well-being of Mississippians. The plan emphasizes tracking outcomes and metrics to inform policy and programmatic recommendations.

This yearly report details the progress of the Mississippi Department of Human Services' five-year strategic plan, which aims to provide tangible help and lasting hope for Mississippians. The plan is structured around four core pillars: ensuring Mississippians are Economically Secure, Skilled and Educated, Connected to resources, and living in Safe and Healthy environments. Key strategic goals include connecting individuals with work opportunities, expanding access to quality early childhood care, improving children's financial security, training early childcare providers, supporting education and job skills, reducing food insecurity, promoting safe and stable homes, and enhancing the accessibility of MDHS services. The plan's vision is to empower Mississippi families towards self-sufficiency and contribute to a prosperous state.

The session provided updates on the continuation of enrollment-based reimbursements at an enhanced rate and the coverage of parent co-payments through December. Information regarding the final month for booster shot applications was shared, and the upcoming series of virtual town hall meetings was introduced to gather feedback from child care providers on training, technical assistance, and quality support. Additionally, the status of the parent redetermination process was addressed, confirming that services remain unaffected for parents while redeterminations are currently waived, and it was clarified that no waiting list is in effect.

This document outlines strategic initiatives by the Mississippi Department of Human Services aimed at strengthening the future of childcare across the state. Key initiatives include the significant expansion of Mississippi LIFT (Learning Investment For Tomorrow), a program focused on growing community-based resource and referral (R&R) centers from 16 to over 50 sites, including mobile units, to provide accessible resources, support, and early intervention services to families and childcare providers. Additionally, the document introduces 'Elevate,' a new Quality Support System designed to transform childcare quality through a multi-tiered badging system that promotes continuous improvement in early childhood education, emphasizes teacher-child interaction, and highlights specialized care to inform parents and empower providers.

This State Plan outlines the Mississippi Department of Human Services' proposed use of federal Fiscal Year 2025 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding to address poverty and foster self-sufficiency. The plan focuses on supporting low-income families and individuals through activities related to employment, education, housing, and emergency assistance. Key strategic pillars include youth development programs, coordination with other social service programs, and fostering innovative community-based initiatives. The plan also details frameworks for organizational standards, financial management, results-oriented management and accountability (ROMA), and continuous training and technical assistance for eligible entities.