RESOURCES & LINKS

Overview of MLICCI's Reports & Recommendations

For an overview of MLICCI's reports and resulting policy recommendations (in order of publication), please see
Report Recommendations (pdf file).

Child Care Financing

Broadening the Base Report: Strenghtening MS' Economy and Families Through A Strong Child Care System

MLICCI partnered with the Mississippi Economic Policy Center to investigate all current revenue available for child care subsidies, as well as researching potential new funding streams that could be used for child care subsidies including:

• ensuring that MS is fully utilizing all federal
  CCDF and TANF child care funds;
• studying workforce support and economic development
  revenue, and identify partners to help advocate for making
  a portion of these funds available for child care.    TOP  »

Read Broadening the Base. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view the report. Obtain your free copy from Adobe here.)

Where is the Money? updated brochure available

An update of MLICCI's manual providing information about public and private financial and programmatic resources available to child care providers and parents is now available. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view the report. Obtain your free copy from Adobe here.)

Video: Building A Strong Child Care System for Mississippi's Working Families

MLICCI's 10th anniversary video highlights the need for access to affordable child care, the most important work support for low-income parents.View the video>>

Investing in Futures Report: The Business of Child Care in Mississippi

Child care is an important component of the state's economic development. MLICCI has commissioned a report detailing its impact on the economy. To receive a hard copy, please email MLICCI or you can download a PDF copy. You can also request a copy of the press release or view it on this website. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view the report. Obtain your free copy from Adobe here.)    TOP  »

OCY Child Care Policy Manual

For an overview on how to apply for the child care certificate program, see the DHS summary page which provides basic eligibility information. More information available in their on-line manual. Or you can call DHS at 601-359-4555.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

(eligible for-profit centers can apply)
CACFP allows for-profit child care centers to participate in CACFP, if they serve the required percentage of low-income children. CACFP provides money to child care centers for meals and snacks for the children and nutrition education activities. CACFP is administered by the Mississippi Department of Education.    TOP  »

If you want to apply you must contact CACFP to initiate the process. Contact Lenora Phillips at 601-354-6982 or by email at Lphillips@mde.k12.ms.us You will need to send CACFP a copy of your license and a letter of interest. Then you will be required to attend a two-day CACFP training session held in Jackson and offered every 2-3 months. You will learn how to apply for and administer a CACFP contract to provide money for meals and snacks for the children in your center.

For more information on this program or others, see MLICCI's manual on funding for child care, "Where's the Money?" MLICCI wants to encourage more child care centers to use this program, and can help centers apply to the program and learn how to run it. Contact us for help.    TOP  »

Head Start and Child Care Subsidies Comparison

Table outlines and compares eligibility, services and coverage for Head Start and child care subsidies.

Mississippi Center for Economic Policy

The Mississippi Center for Economic Policy is a project of the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta and a project partner of MLICCI.    TOP  »

Policy & Subsidy Reform

STATE RESOURCES

Designing Subsidy Systems to Meet the Needs of Families Report

Poorly designed child care policies and regulations create unnecessary burdens for parents and child care providers. In Mississippi, families often suffer interruptions in child care and providers have to deal with payment shortfalls and administrative headaches. MLICCI commissioned the Urban Institute to draft a policy brief on how our state can best design child care subsidy policies to minimize these problems: Designing Subsidy Systems to Meet the Need of Families, and is promoting its recommendations.    TOP  »

Head Start and Child Care Partnerhsips Policy Brief

Head Start programs and local child care providers can share resources and work together to provide the best quality early care for children. MLICCI commissioned the Center on Law and Social Policy to create policy recommendations on how child care /Head Start partnerships can be promoted and supported at the state level: Head Start and Child Care Partnerships Policy Brief, and is promoting its recommendations.    TOP  »

Also of interest: see our comparison of Head Start and CCDF.

Mississippi Child Care Quality Impact Study

MLICCI has commissioned a report assessing MCCQSS' impact on low-income child care centers and is monitoring the program and inequities. MS Child Care Quality Impact Study report can be viewed online     TOP  »

Child Care Development Fund: Program Implementation, Evaluation and Impact Analysis

a Stennis Institute of Government report commissioned by MLICCI. Important information on child care reform process. Available on line. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view the report. Obtain your free copy from Adobe here.    TOP  »

Investing in Futures Report: The Business of Child Care in Mississippi

Child care is an important component of the state's economic development. MLICCI has commissioned a report detailing its impact on the economy. To receive a hard copy, please email MLICCI or you can download a PDF copy. You can also request a copy of the press release or view it on this website. (Adobe Acrobat is required to view the report. Obtain your free copy from Adobe here.)    TOP  »

Child Care Certificate Legal Assistance

A project of MLICCI and the The Mississippi Center for Justice – deals with legal issues arising from the implementation of the CCDF program. Free legal assistance for parents and providers as well as research and policy reform. Contact Beth Orlansky 1-877-352-2269, borlansky@mscenterforjustice.org    more  »

Congregations for Children

Congregations for Children promotes preventative, cost-effective, non-punitive policies and programs in the following areas: child care, maternal and child health, welfare reform, juvenile justice, and education, in order to meet the needs of children living in poverty in Mississippi.

Contact MLICCI for information or help with reform of the child care certificate program and state child care policies. Tel. (228) 374-2218 or info@mschildcare.org    TOP  »

NATIONAL RESOURCES

Designing Subsidy Systems to Meet the Needs of Families

Poorly designed child care policies and regulations create unnecessary burdens for parents and child care providers. In Mississippi, families often suffer interruptions in child care and providers have to deal with payment shortfalls and administrative headaches. MLICCI commissioned the Urban Institute to draft a policy brief on how our state can best design child care subsidy policies to minimize these problems: Designing Subsidy Systems to Meet the Need of Families, and is promoting its recommendations.    TOP  »

National Women's Law Center (NWLC)

NWLC is an important resource on legal issues involving families and children. They have a program on child care and early education with information on finding and paying for child care, federal and state issues, critical needs and strategies for improvement.

The Urban Institute

The Urban Institute analyzes policies, evaluates programs, and informs community development to improve social, civic, and economic well-being. It works in all 50 states and abroad in over 28 countries.    TOP  »

The Center for Law and Social Policy

CLASP conducts research, policy analysis, technical assistance, and advocacy on issues related to economic security for low-income families with children.    

Children's Defense Fund (CDF)

CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. It pays particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.    TOP  »

National Child Care Information Center (NCIC)

NCCIC, a service of the Child Care Bureau, is a national government clearinghouse and technical assistance center that links parents, providers, policy-makers, researchers, and the public to early care and education information.

Quality Enhancement

Contact MLICCI about quality enhancement training and see our page on available training.

STATE RESOURCES

Mississippi Child Care Quality Impact Study

MLICCI has commissioned a report assessing MCCQSS' impact on low-income child care centers and is monitoring the program and inequities. MS Child Care Quality Impact Study report can be viewed online     TOP  »

Promoting Head Start/fchild care partnerships

Head Start programs and local child care providers can share resources and work together to provide the best quality early care for children. MLICCI commissioned the Center on Law and Social Policy to create policy recommendations on how child care /Head Start partnerships can be promoted and supported at the state level: Head Start and Child Care Partnerships Policy Brief, and is promoting its recommendations.    TOP  »

Also of interest: see our comparison of Head Start and CCDF.

The MSU Early Childhood Institute

Housed at MSU's education college, its Early Childhood Institute offers staff development opportunities early childhood policy and practice, and aims to improve early care and education and assist communities in building school/family partnerships and support parents as first teachers.

Barksdale Reading Institute

Barksdale is designed to improve the skills of preK-3 children through a research-based Mississippi Reading Reform Model.    TOP  »

Child Care Licensing Regulations

Mississippi Dept. of Health Child Care Licensure: contact this office to obtain copies of child care licensing regulations. Tel. 1-800-489-7670

Child and Adult Care Food Program

(eligible for-profit centers can apply)
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) allows for-profit child care centers to participate if they serve the required percentage of low-income children. CACFP provides money to child care centers for meals and snacks for the children and nutrition education activities. CACFP is administered by the Mississippi Department of Education.    TOP  »

If you want to apply you must contact CACFP to initiate the process. Contact Lenora Phillips at 601-354-6982 or by email at mailto:Lphillips@mde.k12.ms.us You will need to send CACFP a copy of your license and a letter of interest. Then you will be required to attend a two-day CACFP training session held in Jackson and offered every 2-3 months. You will learn how to apply for and administer a CACFP contract to provide money for meals and snacks for the children in your center.

For more information on this program or others, see MLICCI's manual on funding for child care, "Where's the Money?". MLICCI wants to encourage more child care centers to use this program, and can help centers apply to the program and learn how to run it. Contact us for help.    TOP  »

Nurturing Homes Initiative

Nurturing Homes Initiativeof the MSU Extension School provides educational information, training and technical assistance to family home-care providers who offer full-day, full-year childcare services to children of families meeting certain income requirements.    TOP  »

MS Dept. of Health Child Care Licensure Office

This office designs the state's child care licensure regulations, and monitors compliance. Their web site has good information for parents to use in choosing child care, and a toll-free number to call if you have problems with a provider (1-866-489-8734).

NATIONAL RESOURCES

Recommended Multicultural & Anti-Bias Books for Children

A bibliography offered by the World of Difference Institute of the Anti-Defamation League. This list of children's books is intended for educators, parents and other caregivers of early childhood and elementary aged children.    TOP  »

The National Association of Educators of Young Children (NAEYC)

NAEYC is the nation's largest organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through third grade. It offers a self-study course for providers that can lead to national accreditation.

They have published a book, Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools for Empowering Young Children (NAEYC (Series), #242.), by Louise Derman-Sparks and the ABC Task Force, which can be ordered on Amazon or thru NAEYC's website. Their website is rich with other useful resources. Tel. 1-800-424-2460    TOP  »

The Anti-Bias Curriculum

See directly above for details.

National Black Child Development Institute

National Black Child Development Institute seeks to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information on children's health.

National Association of Child Care Resources and Referral Agencies (NACRRA)

As the national network of community based CCRRRs, NACCRA gives voice to the child care needs of families and communities and offers publications and other resources. See new items on NACCRRA site for policy updates. See above (MSCRR&RN) for local referral agencies.    TOP  »

EVALUATION TOOLS

Caregiver Interaction Scale

Positive and supportive interactions between adult caregivers and the children in their care are essential in assuring quality early childhood experiences for children. This scale provides a tool for measuring the quality of the interactions between the caregiver and the child and identifying areas where improvements need to occur.    TOP  »

Infant Toddler and Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scales

These scales are used in many states as a tool for measuring the impact of various state initiatives to improve quality. It is a helpful instrument for centers to use yin identifying areas where quality can be enhanced. Book by Thelma Harms, Richard Clifford and Deb by Crier, available from Teachers College, Columbia University – Teachers College Press: 1-800-575-6566; Read leaf Press 1-800-423-8309; Chaplain 1-800-334-2014.

Mississippi Dept. of Education Early Learning Guidelines for 3 and 4-Year-Olds

These learning guidelinesare offered by the MS Dept. of Education    TOP  »

For Parents:
Finding Child Care & Support Services

On the "For Parents" page of this web site, you'll find more resources and help for locating quality child care and services.