EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER

Dear Friends:

dvocates for low-income child care often make their case with daunting numbers, like the fact that Mississippi's subsidized child care programs serve under 40% of the state's eligible children. Statistics like these are critical to promoting policy reform. But it's important to get to know the people behind these figures -- the families who struggle to get by on subsistence wages and the child care providers who educate their children and make it possible for them to work.

Low-income child care centers in Mississippi struggle themselves just to keep their doors open. With reimbursement from child care certificates at only 58% of market rates, they operate on a shoestring and lack resources for much needed improvements. But this does not diminish their extraordinary resilience and dedication to the children and families they serve. Many rely on family and friends or barter for services and repairs.

In a state that suffers from the country's highest child poverty, distressingly little attention has been focused on the inadequate and fragile low-income child care sector, which serves the disadvantaged children who stand to gain most from quality care. This is evident in the design of the state's new quality rating system (MCCQSS), which is based on financial incentives linked to standardized ratings. The program has extensive physical and technical requirements, but unlike other states, offers inadequate resources to help poor centers participate. As a result, child care centers that need the most improvement face insurmountable barriers to participation. MLICCI's research (read report: MS Child Care Quality Impact Study) shows that centers that do not have the resources to improve are choosing to opt out or raise fees - unintended consequences that undermine child care quality and availability for disadvantaged children.      TOP  »

MLICCI is working at the cutting edge of this issue, studying the effects of MCCQSS on the sector. We also research best practices and offering practicable policy and fiscal recommendations to make the system work more effectively and equitably (see Policy and Subsidy Reforms and Child Care Financing).

Our mission and history are firmly planted in the grassroots, and we continue to work directly with constituent centers, offering a wide range of training and resources (see Training and Events.)

Another important part of MLICCI's work is drawing public attention to these issues. Our video, Video: Building A Strong Child Care System for MS Working Families, gives personal voice to these issues. As Marian Wright Edelman says, "No parent should have to choose between the job they need and they child they love."

We invite you to join us. Help urge the Governor and Department of Human Services to expand funding in the child care program so more children can be served and to reform policies to make it easier for low-income working parents to get and keep the child care services they need for their young children (see ACTION ALERTS.)

Thank you,

Carol Burnett