MLICCI In the Press
Read about our latest work and advocacy.
2026
Mississippi's child care crisis, explained
Who's watching the kids? The silent crisis facing families in rural America
Mississippi considers new strategy to alleviate its child care crisis
‘Left out here for the wolves’: Child care crisis continues as lawmakers weigh options
How Mississippi could meet the needs of more than 19,000 families waiting for child care vouchers
2025
Roughly 16,000 families waitlisted for child care vouchers as Mississippi providers struggle to stay open
Governor proposes child care cost-sharing program
Cuts to Medicaid and food aid will have biggest impact on women and children, experts say
Mississippi will give out more child care vouchers
MS child care shortfall sparks call to tap unused welfare funds
Child Care Matters Press Conference Featured in MPB Think Radio: Mississippi Edition
A cry for help from child care advocates following CCPP application hold
Mississippi advocates push TANF funds for child care aid
Parents and providers urge state to use unspent TANF grants for child care
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
Mississippi Today | September 30, 2024
Child care crisis is costing Mississippi and moms
Mississippi Today | September 2, 2024
Mississippi has nation's lowest workforce participation rate, report shows
WLOX | April 28, 2024
Power of the Sister Vote Boot Camp Highlights Importance of Black Women Voting
National Skills Coalition | April 12, 2024
"Higher Education: Making College Work for Parents in Skills Training - Highlights from NSCS Network"
Read the article
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
2023
Listen Notes | Dec. 13, 2023
"Carol Burnett Joins Tavis Smiley"
Listen to the podcast
Clasp.org | Oct. 10, 2023
"CLASP Launches Economic Equity Project in Mississippi and North Carolina"
Read the article
The Clarksdale Press Register | May 23, 2023
"Single moms no longer need to cooperate with child support enforcement to get assistance."
The Star-Herald | May 23, 2023
"MDHS removes child support cooperation requirement for child care payment program"
The Clarion-Ledger | May 16, 2023
"State removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
MPB Online | May 16, 2023
"Child care impediment officially lifted by DHS"
Northeast MS Daily Journey | May 16, 2023
"Mississippi Child Care Rule Change"
WJTV | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents"
WAPT | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
SuperTalk Mississippi Media | May 15, 2023
"MDHS drops child support cooperation requirement for payment program."
Federal News Network | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
Fox 13 Memphis| May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
Times Daily | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
The Herald Palladium | May 15, 2023
"Mississippi removes hurdle to child care for low-income single parents."
2022
MS Today | Oct. 19, 2022
"Welfare Scandal Hearing Nothing Changed"
WLBT |Oct. 19, 2022
"State Democrats to discuss TANF funds"
The Guardian | Aug. 12, 2022
"How a scandal in Mississippi tarnished an NFL hero."
New York Times | July 28, 2022
"States with abortion bans among least supportive of women and children."
Mississippi Today | June 7, 2022
"Report: Mississippi misses opportunity to make the most out of child care stimulus funds."
Y'all Politics | May 19, 2022
"MS House Democratic Caucus holds hearing on federal funding for childcare stabilization"
The Clarion Ledger | May 11, 2022
"Gov. Reeves advised to remove DHS child support requirement."
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"
WAPT-TV | NOV. 24, 2020
"Impoverished hit hard as coronavirus rages on."
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | NOV. 23, 2020
"Survey: Food insecurity, lack of support remain top challenges for Mississippians receiving SNAP."
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.
REUTERS | OCT. 13, 2020
"INSIGHT- How poor regions lose out because of U.S. census undercounts."
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | SEPT. 11, 2020
"Mississippi makes mad dash to ‘ReSkill’ workers before the end of the year."
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | JULY 22, 2020
"Was welfare misspending a one-man scheme? Here's how Human Service spent TANF since the former director left."
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."
CLARION LEDGER | MAY 7, 2020
"Mississippi child care centers in financial crisis, state needs to adjust vouchers: Column"
MISSISSIPPI-BUSINESS JOURNAL | APRIL 3, 2020
"Mississippi ranks last in pay equality for women"
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."
THE NEW YORK TIMES | MAY 29, 2019
"Single Mothers Are Surging Into The Workforce"
MISSISSIPPI TODAY | APRIL 24, 2019
"Welfare dollars help fund college scholarships for children of middle-class families."
THE SUN HERALD | JAN. 30, 2019
"Should Mississippi parents have to go after child support to get public assistance?"
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?"
WLBT-TV | JAN. 30, 2019
"Advocates gather at the State Capitol to push for additional child care assistance."
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."
iHEART RADIO | MAY 29, 2018
Pay equity interview with Randy Bell discussing PolicyLink Report - Boosting Economic Growth in Mississippi through Employment Equity
THE WASHINGTON TIMES via AP | MAY 27, 2018
"Analysis: Pay gap and cost of child care create obstacles."
CLARION LEDGER via AP | MAY 27, 2018
"What's holding Mississippi back? Pay gap, child care costs, report says."
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | MAY 23, 2018
"Full employment across racial, gender lines would boost economy."
WJTV-TV | MAY 22, 2018
"Initiative looking to help low-income mothers find better jobs."
CLARION LEDGER | APRIL 10, 2018
"What is Equal Pay Day? #EqualPayDay 2018 is about women's rights."
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."
REWIRE.NEWS | AUG. 14, 2017
"Fighting the Long Fight: A Q&A With Mississippi Child-Care Advocate Carol Burnett."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | AUG. 8, 2017
"Report: Mississippi Moms Need More Workforce Training and Child Care."
WAPT TV | JUNE 29, 2017
"Child care changes to be discussed at town hall."
THE MERIDIAN STAR | JUNE 27, 2017
"Older Lauderdale County residents face steep increases under GOP health care bill."
WJTV | MAY 30, 2017
"MDHS makes proposed changes to Child Care Policy Manual."
ATLANTA BLACK STAR | APRIL 13, 2017
"Mississippi Lawmaker’s ‘Misguided’ Approach to Reduce Fraud in Social Programs is Unnecessarily Punishing the Poor."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | APRIL 5, 2017
"The 2017 Legislature’s Lasting Effects on Mississippians."
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | APRIL 4, 2017
"New Law Searches For Fraud in State Welfare Programs."
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS | APRIL 4, 2017
"On National Equal Pay Day, where the U.S. is and how far it needs to go."
THE NATION | MARCH 31, 2017
"A Cruel New Bill Is About to Become Law in Mississippi."
MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC BROADCASTING | MARCH 16, 2017
"Women's Group Renews Efforts to End Wage Gap."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | MARCH 16, 2017
"Advocates, Lawmakers: Women's Rights Legislation Will Be Back."
CLARION LEDGER | MARCH 3, 2017
"HOPE Act: solution in search of problem."
THE SUN HERALD | FEB. 24, 2017
"Palazzo, Wicker, Cochran miss chance to talk to large crowd at town hall."
HUFF POST | JAN. 17, 2017
"One Of The Most Conservative States Could Soon Offer Equal Pay."
CLARION LEDGER | JAN. 10, 2017
"Treasurer, governor: End gender pay gap in Mississippi."
THE DISPATCH via THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | JAN. 7, 2017
"Mississippi spends more on subsidized child care, but could serve fewer."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | JAN. 6, 2017
"Mississippi Must Help Neediest Families Now, Advocates Demand."
CLARION LEDGER | JAN. 5, 2017
"Group: Miss. leaves millions in federal aid unspent."
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."
CLARION LEDGER | DEC. 13, 2016
"New plan for early childhood in Mississippi."
CLARION LEDGER | DEC. 3, 2016
"Miss. decreases scrutiny of early child care quality."
THE HILL | OCT. 20, 2016
"Low income mothers need policy agenda to overcome healthcare obstacles."
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."
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."
CLARION LEDGER | OCT. 4, 2016
"One child care gain, much more needed."
CLARION LEDGER | APRIL 16, 2016
"More help needed for poor children: Column."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | FEB. 8, 2016
"Report: Federal Grant Funds Mismanaged, Hurts Black Women."
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."
THE HECHINGER REPORT | JAN. 4, 2013
"The nutrition gap: A fight for quality food for Mississippi’s littlest learners."
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."
WFAE | NOV. 20, 2012
"Fingerprint Scans Create Unease For Poor Parents."
JACKSON FREE PRESS | NOV. 19, 2012
"Finger Scanners: 'A Child-Care Beef Plant'?"