MDHS hosting virtual townhalls for child-care providers beginning Nov. 9

Child care is a crucial support system for Mississippi, and the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development is committed to taking action to support child care programs and the families they serve.

To ensure they are providing the best assistance in training, technical assistance and quality support currently available, DECCD is hosting a series of Virtual Town Hall meetings throughout November. Child care providers will be able to voice their feedback and ideas about agency-funded services

There will be six sessions, three from 11 a.m. to noon, and three from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each provider that participates will have an opportunity to speak about their experience with existing quality support services and share ideas for improving those services.

“I often say child care represents the backbone of the workforce,” said Dr. Chad Allgood, director of DECCD in a statement. “Without child care we couldn’t work. It is extremely important that we understand how important child care is, and provide the support our child care providers need to be successful.”

In the interest of giving everyone an opportunity to speak, DECCD will limit responses to three minutes, and they will give additional time for responses at the end of each session, as time allows. Additionally, they will share a link during the sessions where providers who would prefer to give a written response can send in their written feedback.

“Our businesses rely on child care to sustain their workforce, and now more than ever we need to make sure quality child care is available for working parents,” said Robert G. “Bob” Anderson, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. “Their voice is important, so I would encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity to provide their feedback.”

The dates and times for the sessions will be:

Monday, Nov. 9 • 11 a.m. to noon
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/95892506626
Meeting ID: 958 9250 6626

Monday, Nov. 9 • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/93419381428
Meeting ID: 934 1938 1428

Thursday, Nov. 12 • 11 a.m. to noon
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/98231738371
Meeting ID: 982 3173 8371

Thursday, Nov. 12 • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/99408855592
Meeting ID: 994 0885 5592

Wednesday, Nov. 18 • 11 a.m. to noon
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/92468593929
Meeting ID: 924 6859 3929

Wednesday, Nov. 18 • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
https://mdhs.zoom.us/s/96341151652
Meeting ID: 963 4115 1652

For more information and a link to all the meetings, visit https://secac.ms.gov/infosessions.

For more information on the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development and the services it offers, visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/early-childhood-care-development/.