Dear Child Care Partners,

The MS Low Income Child Care Initiative and the Child Care Directors Network invite you to join us for a zoom call on Friday, April 12 at 10am. We will discuss the recently released final rule changes in CCDF and the parameters of the CCDF state plan that DHS is currently working to complete.

As you probably know, DHS must submit a new CCDF state plan to HHS by July 1, 2024. This state plan must comply with the newly released CCDF final rules. We’ll give you info about what those are. Part of the process DHS must go through includes holding a public hearing where they solicit input on their proposed draft. DHS says these hearings will likely be in May. This zoom call is in preparation for the DHS state plan draft. MLICCI and CCDN will share the input we plan to provide, so that you can use this information to make your own recommendations.

Attached are documents we will share on the zoom call: 1) an overview of the CCDF final rules; 2) the Table of Contents for the new CCDF State Plan format; and 3) bullet points listing our recommendations.

• For more information on the CCDF final rule visit: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/outreach-material/2024-ccdf-final-rule
• For more information on the new CCDF State Plan you can view this ACF YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wii9AnOa10k

Once the DHS CCDF State Plan draft is released, we’ll hold another zoom meeting to talk about the specifics of what DHS is proposing, and discuss additional recommendations.

Please mark you calendars to be sure you join us for this informational meeting Friday, April 12 at 10am. The zoom link is here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85917354542

Thanks!

Carol Burnett and Deloris Suel

Medicaid Expansion is something most other states in the U.S. have done, taking advantage of generous federal support to offer health insurance to many low-income working families. In Mississippi, most families who would benefit are women, because of the fact that women, especially single moms, are more likely to be in low-paying jobs than any other workers. These women likely include your staff and parents of children enrolled in your centers.

This issue is getting a lot of attention right now, and we’d encourage you to learn more about it and what you can do if you’re interested to become involved. Below are links to some of our partners who are working on this issue and can share more information for you:

• Care4Mississippi: https://care4mississippi.org/
• Mississippi Health Advocacy Program: https://mhap.org/issues/
• Mississippi Today article on current status of legislation: https://mississippitoday.org/2024/03/28/mississippi-medicaid-expansion-senate-passes-legislature-work-requirement-hosemann/

If you have any questions, please reach out to us or to one of our partners listed above for more information. 

MLICCI's SUPER MOMS MINI CONFERENCE aims to address the unique challenges faced by single mothers and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in various aspects of their lives.

The conference will feature a series of dynamic workshops and keynote presentations led by experts in finance, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn practical strategies for budgeting, saving, and investing, as well as exploring pathways to business ownership and financial independence.

REGISTER TODAY! The deadline is May 8, 2024.