In 2025, thousands of working Mississippi parents lost access to child care when the state paused most new applications to the Child Care Payment Program (CCPP). The impact was immediate: parents were forced to leave jobs, child care centers lost revenue, classrooms closed, and children were pushed out of stable early learning environments. CCPP is the backbone of Mississippi’s child care system, supporting full-day, full-year care for working parents and parents in education or job training....

The Child Care Payment Program Manual is undergoing review as providers and families struggle to meet child care needs due to inadequate funding. MLICCI hosted a Child Care Leadership Team (CCLT) to review the manual, propose suggested changes, and highlight additional recommendations based on survey input from providers. CCLT members were encouraged to sign-up to participate in the MDHS Hearing and submit written or verbal comments. The Division of Early Childhood Care & Development (DECCD)...

Dear SECAC members,   I am writing to alert you that child care in Mississippi is in crisis. Providers, parents and children need your...