MLICCI Report Finds Child Care Funding Cuts Forcing Parents Out of Work and Providers to the Brink
Mississippi’s child care system experienced a severe destabilization in April 2025 following the Mississippi Department of Human Services’ pause on most new applications to the Child Care Payment Program (CCPP) and an associated reduction in available funding. To assess the real-time impact of these decisions, MLICCI conducted a statewide survey of licensed, center-based child care providers participating in CCPP. The findings compiled into the January 2026 report, "When Child Care Funding Falls Short: How CCPP Revenue Cuts Are Impacting Mississippi Providers and Families," reveal a system in crisis—one with immediate consequences for working families, early childhood educators, and the state’s workforce.
Mississippi’s child care providers are a critical component of the state’s economic infrastructure. Survey respondents made clear that restoring and increasing CCPP funding is essential to protecting children’s learning environments, sustaining the child care workforce, and ensuring parents can remain employed or in education and training.
Employment Equity for Single Moms Program Helps Moms Thrive
We Know What Works
Through MLICCI’s Employment Equity for Single Moms (EESM) program, we have improved economic security for hundreds of single moms by linking them to child care assistance and working with them to utilize workforce resources to move into higher paying occupations. We also have learned that many single moms cannot participate in education/training required for higher paying jobs if it means quitting their current low paying job and going without income.
Single Moms Need Pathways to Higher Wage Employment
MLICCI partnered with the Moore Community House Women in Construction program to pilot an earn and learn class where we put together the package of supports we know single moms need: child care assistance, free & short-term training leading to higher wage jobs, transportation stipends, as well as income while completing training. This approach increased the number of applicants, improved attendance, increased graduation rates, and resulted in higher paying employment upon graduation.
We are now working to promote this strategy across Mississippi’s workforce and child care systems.
Graduates share what a difference this earn and learn pilot made in their ability to take the class and, indeed, in their lives, demonstrating that earn and learn is an effective and holistic strategy to help women and single mom families achieve sustainable economic security.
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MLICCI works to make sure no mom has to choose between the child she loves and the job she needs.
Carol Burnett, MLICCI Founders and Executive Director