EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S LETTER

Dear Friends:

elcome to our redesigned website, which introduces a new structure for MLICCI’s work in three core program areas: 1) Child Care Financing 2) Policy & Subsidy Reform and 3) Quality Enhancement. Rebuilding and restructuring this “site” is a good metaphor for mlicci’s rebuilding efforts post-Katrina.

Post-Katrina Update

The hurricane devestated the child care sector along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Even more than 18 months out, severely hit areas like east Biloxi still have few child care services. MLICCI’s offices, training facilities, and many staff homes also suffered extensive damage. But we quickly found temporary quarters and have been very active in recovery efforts for child care centers and families, since soon after the storm.

MLICCI has leveraged over $600,000, and we are working in partnership with other groups to help rebuild the child care sector. We’ve also served as a clearinghouse—providing information and assistance to individuals and distributing funds received for families in distress.  Read more    TOP  »

Despite being interrupted by a hurricane, we have continued to pursue critical statewide work and launched a number of new activities. Several projects focus on new revenue streams and financial viability for low-income child care centers. Others target reforms for the state's inadequate child care subsidy program (CCDF) so that it works effectively for parents and providers.    TOP  »

A few of our new projects are described below:

Child Care Financing

Mississippi has no state-funded early childhood program and limited federal funds help only a fraction of the income-eligible working poor. We have updated our popular financing guide, "Where’s the Money?" and are working with the MS Economic Policy Center to investigate current and potential new revenue and strategies that could be made available for low-income child care services. We’re also partnering with alt.consulting to create training to build financially stable child care child care centers. Read more    TOP  »

Policy and Subsidy Reform

MLICCI has documented (through a report by the Stennis Institute) multiple reforms needed in Mississippi’s child care certificate program. Many problems could be easily corrected through administrative changes. But DHS aggressively opposes reforms and only recently established meaningful recourse for parents and providers with grievances (MLICCI pushed for this reform). Through a partnership with the MS Center for Justice (MCJ), we are identifying cases where state child care policies were violated, providing pro-bono legal assistance, and promoting reforms to improve services to families. Read more    TOP  »

Quality Enhancement

MLICCI is committed to offering state-wide services and training to promote developmentally and culturally appropriate child care. We’ve recently become alarmed at The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) plans for piloting a quality rating system (QRS), which uses a tiered reimbursement approach. Where quality rating systems offer financial resources to help centers improve care, they can be quite successful. But the DHS proposal threatens to create a segregated child care system. For example, under their scenario, no funds are available to help centers meet more stringent standards—only centers with the resources to finance quality improvements will be able to move up the five step system. MLICCI is monitoring the program’s impact on centers serving low-income families so that emerging inequities can be addressed before it moves to state-wide implementation.
Read more    TOP  »

Quality child care is more important than ever to low-income families—particularly those struggling to rebuild their lives on the Gulf Coast. We are committed to helping them and child care centers recover from hurricane damage; gain greater access to available funds (and increase the amount available); and reforming child care subsidy policies to be more responsive to the needs of providers and the families they serve.

Thank you for your attention and continued support and enthusiasm for Mississippi’s disadvantaged kids. If you’d like to get more involved, please contact us and sign up for our newsletter. We also welcome financial support for MLICCI’s work. You can contribute by using the "Donate Now" button on the left side of any page.    TOP  »

Carol Burnett
Executive Director