Letter to the Editor: The impact of the changes to child care grants

VICKSBURG, Miss. — As you may be aware, the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has relied on federal COVID-19 relief funding to support the child care sector, allowing for the issuance of Child Care Strong grants, the creation of state-wide teacher substitute pool, bonus payments to child care staff, and an unprecedented increase in the number of child care certificates issued to qualifying families. These measures allowed more families than ever before to access high quality childcare, a lifeline for working parents and those in need. 

However, with the ending of the COVID-19 relief funding, MDHS will be forced to reduce the number of families and children they can serve. While the state will continue providing childcare assistance to families in certain categories, many working families, including those with incomes above the federal poverty line but still below what it takes to make ends meet, will lose access to these vital services. 

On Wednesday, April 2nd, MDHS hosted a well-attended town hall meeting, drawing over 400 participants. During this gathering, MDHS outlined the strategic steps of the ongoing transition, while also providing an opportunity for attendees to engage directly through questions and dialogue. Dr. Toni Lowe, Dr. Susie Calbert and I collaborated in organizing a local town hall meeting, with the aim of offering our community the chance to voice their concerns to state elected officials.

Throughout both sessions, we were strongly encouraged to convey to our elected representatives the critical importance of maintaining access to high-quality early education, particularly for working families. Below, you will find a letter drafted for your use. Feel free to share this with your elected officials or modify it to better reflect the specific needs of your community.

I urge you to take an active role in advocacy and to rally your families, early education centers, and local businesses to do the same. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at your earliest convenience.

Michele Connelly Executive Director United Way of West Mississippi

The Vicksburg Daily News is committed to telling the whole story regardless of who is involved or who they know. Sometimes that makes people angry, especially those who feel they are above the news.

Send your point of view to info@vicksburgnews.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.