MLICCI In the Press
Read about our latest work and advocacy.
2025
Cuts to Medicaid and food aid will have biggest impact on women and children, experts say
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Mississippi will give out more child care vouchers
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MS child care shortfall sparks call to tap unused welfare funds
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Child Care Matters Press Conference Featured in MPB Think Radio: Mississippi Edition
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A cry for help from child care advocates following CCPP application hold
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Mississippi advocates push TANF funds for child care aid
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Parents and providers urge state to use unspent TANF grants for child care
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The State of Child Care Through the Eyes of a Parent, a Provider, an Advocate, and an Administrator
2024
WLBT News | November 14, 2024
Mississippi Senate study groups examine connection between childcare and the workforce
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Mississippi Today | September 30, 2024​
Child care crisis is costing Mississippi and moms
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Mississippi Today | September 2, 2024
Mississippi has nation's lowest workforce participation rate, report shows
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WLOX | April 28, 2024
Power of the Sister Vote Boot Camp Highlights Importance of Black Women Voting
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National Skills Coalition | April 12, 2024
"Higher Education: Making College Work for Parents in Skills Training - Highlights from NSCS Network"
Read the article
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Mississippi Business Journal | March 7, 2024
Lack of affordable, accessible childcare harms families, the economy
Read the article
Mississippi Today | February 6, 2024
"Welfare Scandal National Safety Net Improvements"
Read the article
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2023
Listen Notes | Dec. 13, 2023
"Carol Burnett Joins Tavis Smiley"
Listen to the podcast
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Clasp.org | Oct. 10, 2023
"CLASP Launches Economic Equity Project in Mississippi and North Carolina"
Read the article
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The Clarksdale Press Register | May 23, 2023
"Single moms no longer need to cooperate with child support enforcement to get assistance."
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The Star-Herald | May 23, 2023
"MDHS removes child support cooperation requirement for child care payment program"
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The Clarion-Ledger | May 16, 2023
"State removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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MPB Online | May 16, 2023
"Child care impediment officially lifted by DHS"
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Northeast MS Daily Journey | May 16, 2023
"Mississippi Child Care Rule Change"
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WJTV | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents"
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WAPT | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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SuperTalk Mississippi Media | May 15, 2023
"MDHS drops child support cooperation requirement for payment program."
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Federal News Network | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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Fox 13 Memphis| May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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Times Daily | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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The Herald Palladium | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
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2022
MS Today | Oct. 19, 2022
"Welfare Scandal Hearing Nothing Changed"
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WLBT |Oct. 19, 2022
"State Democrats to discuss TANF funds"
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The Guardian | Aug. 12, 2022
"How a scandal in Mississippi tarnished an NFL hero."
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New York Times | July 28, 2022
"States with abortion bans among least supportive of women and children."
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Mississippi Today | June 7, 2022
"Report: Mississippi misses opportunity to make the most out of child care stimulus funds."
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Y'all Politics | May 19, 2022
"MS House Democratic Caucus holds hearing on federal funding for childcare stabilization"
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The Clarion Ledger | May 11, 2022
"Gov. Reeves advised to remove DHS child support requirement."
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Mississippi Today | May 2, 2022
"Officials stole taxpayer money from the poor. Mississippians deserve answers and accountability"
2021
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | OCT. 4, 2021
"Pandemic funds could fix Mississippi's troubled workforce child care program"
Read the analysis.
WJTV - TV 12 | SEPT. 21, 2021
"Public Comments on Proposed Changes to Mississippi's Child Care Payment Program"
Read the article.
REWIRE NEWS GROUP | SEPT. 20, 2021
"Meet the Unlikely Pair Who Are Challenging Mississippi's Pro-Life Claims"
Read the article.
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | SEPT. 20, 2021
"Thousands of Mississippi parents lost child care assistance during pandemic as state hoards federal relief"
Read the article.
PBS NEWS HOUR | JULY 13, 2021
Raising the Future: America's child care dilemma
"Combining job training, child care could be ‘magic road’ to single moms’ economic security"
WLBT-TV | APRIL 29, 2021
"Potential impacts of American Families Plan for child care in Mississippi"
MPB | APRIL 19, 2021
"Millions from American Rescue Plan coming to state to expand affordable
childcare"
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | APRIL 5, 2021
"Stimulus packages offer big boost for Mississippi parents in need of child care"
WLBT-TV | MAR. 23, 2021
"Mississippi legislature passes first TANF increase in more than 20 years"
NPR | MAR. 14, 2021
"Relief Money Could More Than Double Support For Child Care Needs In Mississippi"
THE GUARDIAN | MAR. 9, 2021
"One in six jobs lost: the effect of the pandemic on childcare providers"
CLARION LEDGER | MAR. 9, 2021
"Federal COVID-19 relief for child care will help Mississippi parents, providers"
2020
RADICAL TEACHER | FALL 2020
"Pedagogy and the Politics of Organizing in Mississippi"
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WAPT-TV | NOV. 24, 2020
"Impoverished hit hard as coronavirus rages on."
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SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | NOV. 23, 2020
"Survey: Food insecurity, lack of support remain top challenges for Mississippians receiving SNAP."
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INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S POLICY RESEARCH | NOV. 10, 2020
"Build(ing) the future: Bold policies for a gender-equitable recovery."
Read the report and watch the symposium.
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REUTERS | OCT. 13, 2020
"INSIGHT- How poor regions lose out because of U.S. census undercounts."
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MISSISSIPPI TODAY | SEPT. 11, 2020
"Mississippi makes mad dash to ‘ReSkill’ workers before the end of the year."
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MISSISSIPPI TODAY | JULY 22, 2020
"Was welfare misspending a one-man scheme? Here's how Human Service spent TANF since the former director left."
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MISSISSIPPI TODAY | JUNE 1, 2020
"Despite some help, over half of Mississippi's child care centers have closed as they struggle to remain solvent amid COVID-19."
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CLARION LEDGER | MAY 7, 2020
"Mississippi child care centers in financial crisis, state needs to adjust vouchers: Column"
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MISSISSIPPI-BUSINESS JOURNAL | APRIL 3, 2020
"Mississippi ranks last in pay equality for women"
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MISSISSIPPI-BUSINESS JOURNAL | FEB. 13, 2020
"Mississippi can utilize welfare programs to get better outcomes for those in poverty"
2019
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | JULY 24, 2019
"DHS, in midst of leadership transition, failing to monitor spending of public dollars, child care center safety standards."
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THE NEW YORK TIMES | MAY 29, 2019
"Single Mothers Are Surging Into The Workforce"
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MISSISSIPPI TODAY | APRIL 24, 2019
"Welfare dollars help fund college scholarships for children of middle-class families."
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THE SUN HERALD | JAN. 30, 2019
"Should Mississippi parents have to go after child support to get public assistance?"
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MISSISSIPPI TODAY | JAN. 30, 2019
"Mississippi demands accountability from parents on public assistance — so why is the state so secretive about how it manages welfare funds?"
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WLBT-TV | JAN. 30, 2019
"Advocates gather at the State Capitol to push for additional child care assistance."
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WJTV-TV | JAN. 30, 2019
"Access to child care key to economy."
2018
CLARION LEDGER | OCT. 20, 2018
"Some waited on a Mississippi child care voucher for years. Now, the list is almost clear."
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iHEART RADIO | MAY 29, 2018
Pay equity interview with Randy Bell discussing PolicyLink Report - Boosting Economic Growth in Mississippi through Employment Equity
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THE WASHINGTON TIMES via AP | MAY 27, 2018
"Analysis: Pay gap and cost of child care create obstacles."
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CLARION LEDGER via AP | MAY 27, 2018
"What's holding Mississippi back? Pay gap, child care costs, report says."
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MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | MAY 23, 2018
"Full employment across racial, gender lines would boost economy."
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WJTV-TV | MAY 22, 2018
"Initiative looking to help low-income mothers find better jobs."
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CLARION LEDGER | APRIL 10, 2018
"What is Equal Pay Day? #EqualPayDay 2018 is about women's rights."
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BURLINGTON FREE PRESS | FEB. 3, 2018
"13.2M reasons why Mississippi is failing poor working parents and their kids."
2017
JACKSON FREE PRESS | AUG. 23, 2017
"Some waited on a Mississippi child care voucher for years. Now, the list is almost clear."
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REWIRE.NEWS | AUG. 14, 2017
"Fighting the Long Fight: A Q&A With Mississippi Child-Care Advocate Carol Burnett."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | AUG. 8, 2017
"Report: Mississippi Moms Need More Workforce Training and Child Care."
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WAPT TV | JUNE 29, 2017
"Child care changes to be discussed at town hall."
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THE MERIDIAN STAR | JUNE 27, 2017
"Older Lauderdale County residents face steep increases under GOP health care bill."
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WJTV | MAY 30, 2017
"MDHS makes proposed changes to Child Care Policy Manual."
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ATLANTA BLACK STAR | APRIL 13, 2017
"Mississippi Lawmaker’s ‘Misguided’ Approach to Reduce Fraud in Social Programs is Unnecessarily Punishing the Poor."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | APRIL 5, 2017
"The 2017 Legislature’s Lasting Effects on Mississippians."
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MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | APRIL 4, 2017
"New Law Searches For Fraud in State Welfare Programs."
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THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS | APRIL 4, 2017
"On National Equal Pay Day, where the U.S. is and how far it needs to go."
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THE NATION | MARCH 31, 2017
"A Cruel New Bill Is About to Become Law in Mississippi."
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MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | MARCH 16, 2017
"Women's Group Renews Efforts to End Wage Gap."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | MARCH 16, 2017
"Advocates, Lawmakers: Women's Rights Legislation Will Be Back."
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CLARION LEDGER | MARCH 3, 2017
"HOPE Act: solution in search of problem."
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THE SUN HERALD | FEB. 24, 2017
"Palazzo, Wicker, Cochran miss chance to talk to large crowd at town hall."
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HUFF POST | JAN. 17, 2017
"One Of The Most Conservative States Could Soon Offer Equal Pay."
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CLARION LEDGER | JAN. 10, 2017
"Treasurer, governor: End gender pay gap in Mississippi."
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THE DISPATCH via THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | JAN. 7, 2017
"Mississippi spends more on subsidized child care, but could serve fewer."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | JAN. 6, 2017
"Mississippi Must Help Neediest Families Now, Advocates Demand."
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CLARION LEDGER | JAN. 5, 2017
"Group: Miss. leaves millions in federal aid unspent."
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CLARION LEDGER | JAN. 4, 2017
"Bill filed to require equal pay for Mississippi women."
2016
JACKSON FREE PRESS | DEC. 14, 2016
"Fighting for Women: Workplace Rights, Paid Leave and Pay Gap."
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CLARION LEDGER | DEC. 13, 2016
"New plan for early childhood in Mississippi."
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CLARION LEDGER | DEC. 3, 2016
"Miss. decreases scrutiny of early child care quality."
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THE HILL | OCT. 20, 2016
"Low income mothers need policy agenda to overcome healthcare obstacles."
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CLARION LEDGER | OCT. 27, 2016
"Lawmakers are myopic about Medicaid."
MOTHER JONES | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE
"Snap Judgment: The 1996 welfare reform law is being used to cut food aid to some of the poorest Americans."
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MOTHER JONES | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 ISSUE
"Snap Judgment: The 1996 welfare reform law is being used to cut food aid to some of the poorest Americans."
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CLARION LEDGER | OCT. 4, 2016
"One child care gain, much more needed."
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CLARION LEDGER | APRIL 16, 2016
"More help needed for poor children: Column."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | FEB. 8, 2016
"Report: Federal Grant Funds Mismanaged, Hurts Black Women."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | FEB. 8, 2016
"Report: Federal Grant Funds Mismanaged, Hurts Black Women."
2013
HECHINGER ED | APRIL 3, 2013
"Mississippi passes landmark pre-k bill, moves forward with charters."
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THE HECHINGER REPORT | JAN. 4, 2013
"The nutrition gap: A fight for quality food for Mississippi’s littlest learners."
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TIME via THE HECHINGER REPORT | JAN. 4, 2013
"The War on Tater Tots: Enlisting Daycare Centers in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity."
2012
JACKSON FREE PRESS | NOV. 21, 2012
"DHS Makes Its Case for Scanners."
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WFAE | NOV. 20, 2012
"Fingerprint Scans Create Unease For Poor Parents."
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JACKSON FREE PRESS | NOV. 19, 2012
"Finger Scanners: 'A Child-Care Beef Plant'?"