We Must All Take Part to Arrive at the Best, Possible, Overall, Fee to Providers!
Posted: April 22, 2024 Filed under: Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Mississippi's Child Care Crisis, SECAC Mississippi, Uncategorized | Tags: CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, MDHS, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentThe new cost estimation model examines the full cost to the provider delivering services!
The prices that parents pay in many cases do not align with the full cost of delivering child care services, particularly high-quality services, and therefore cost information provides additional facts to inform the setting of payment rates.
Our input is necessary in determining what is needed to provide the child care services needed!
BUT, we must all take part to provide the amount of information our researchers are required to have in order to arrive at the best, possible, overall fee to providers!
Share Your True Cost:
PLEASE CALL TODAY!
662-325-4150
It’s Our Serve, and We Have Points to Make!
Posted: March 3, 2020 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Mississippi Legislature, MLICCI, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, child care Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan Leave a comment
Bitter Leadership or Better Leadership Needed?
Posted: February 28, 2020 Filed under: DECCD-MDHS, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, MDHS Leave a commentBitter Leadership or Better Leadership Needed?
On the same day we learn that ongoing bitter partisan contempt and overkill (above and beyond very stringent measures already taken by Medicaid and MDHS) in determining eligibility for woefully inadequate benefits intended to assist the poorest of the poor through audits of recipient income tax returns tops the agenda for MIssissippi’s Legislature, we learn through national news reports that Jay -Z and Yo Gotti have filed a second lawsuit on behalf of Parchman prisoners who alegedly must insert their on catheters when medical aid is needed and consume food contaminated by rat feces.
(What reasons would they have to conduct state tax audits? The EITC is also already reviewed by the IRS. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that increases with the number of child dependents you have. There are income limits for qualifying as well. The IRS sends you a check for the difference if you’re eligible to claim the EITC and the amount of credit you qualify for is more than any tax you owe. But the government doesn’t want the IRS to do that before making absolutely sure that you really are entitled to claim those dependents and that the income you’re reporting is accurate. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act therefore prohibits the IRS from issuing refunds to any taxpayers who claim this credit until mid-February. This gives the agency time to review these returns and make sure everything is on the up-and-up. Child support owed is also already taken by the state from federal refunds.)
On the same day we read that legislation proposed to revamp the make-up of the board of the Institute of Higher Learning was painstakingly buried by the Speaker, we read the IHL approved the $5,000,000.00 upfront TANF cash investment/MCEC lease of a superplex volleyball arena on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Bitter and failed leadership has now rekindled every negative stereotype Mississippi has ever known.
Perhaps the most immediate resolve, then, for demonstrating to the nation and world that Mississippi really does value all life and care for the preservation of basic human needs such as heat, food, and running water, would be to consider temporarily housing Parchman inmates at the USM Volleyball Arena and all MCEC sites as they have been FULLY FUNDED and the plumbing should be in new or good repair!
Better yet, perhaps Delta Licensed Providers could also lease the USM complex and hold a fundraiser for the working poor in Hattiesburg who are in need of assistance in securing electricity with “no strings attached (tax audits)”.
I wonder if I could get a No-Bid TANF contract for that?
Demonstrate Better Leadership on Child Care Lobby Day at the Capitol March 5th!
We invite the Junior Auxilary, AKA, Delta Theta, Rotary, Chambers of Commerce, First Baptist Churches, United Methodist Churches, Pope Francis and all people of conscience to join us!
“IT’S JUST EGREGIOUS…IT’S IMMORAL FOR US TO STAND HERE…TO SEE PEOPLE STEAL MONEY LIKE THAT!”
Posted: February 26, 2020 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, SECAC Mississippi, Suel v MDHS, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, child care licensing Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, SECAC Mississippi Leave a comment“IT’S JUST EGREGIOUS…IT’S IMMORAL FOR US TO STAND HERE…TO SEE PEOPLE STEAL MONEY LIKE THAT!”
Oleta Fitzgerald, Children’s Defense Fund
The Children’s Defense Fund, the NAACP, the Southern Poverty Law Center and other non-profits held a press conference yesterday to say to Flowood Real Estate Broker, Senator Josh Harkins, and others supporting bills in the legislature that would require the State Auditor to audit the tax returns of Mississippians receiving TANF, SNAP and Medicaid benefits that they are scrutinizing the wrong “TANF beneficiaries” considering the ongoing embezzlement scandal of former MDHS Head John Davis, Nancy New and more!
Rather than withdraw his bill, Senator Harkins responded that if the state does not audit benefits, the state could loose the funding.
It is being suggested that if federal monitors do remove Mississippi from the direct administration of TANF/CCDF funds (a growing number now support legal action for a Court-ordered Conservator) it will be as a result of the alleged, ongoing misconduct and abuse of power in the implementation of federal block grants by those appointed to lead MDHS.
Reports have also surfaced alleging that, unknown to most, Medicaid is already interfaced with the IRS and has already “audited” the tax return of at least one low-income parent receiving benefits. In fact, says the mother, the income tax return was just “pulled” and used initially to determine eligibility.
Likewise, MDHS is now interfaced with many other agencies – all responsible for tracking and targeting recipients of benefits for the purpose of flagging fraud/program error.
See “Bills to audit tax returns of TANF, SNAP, Medicaid recipients draw backlash” below:
No absolution is given by us to DHS! Further, Restitution Upon Conviction Warrants the Immediate Freezing of Personal Assets (Real Property and Equipment)
Posted: February 16, 2020 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, Business Ethics, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Development Fund, DECCD-MDHS, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of Govenor Phil Bryant, SECAC Mississippi, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi licensed child care, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentNo absolution is given by us to DHS! Further, Restitution Upon Conviction Warrants Immediate Freezing of Personal Assets (Real Property and Equipment)
No Absolution
No absolution is given by us to DHS for “self-reporting” embezzlement only when/as John Davis’ gubernatorial appointment by Gov. Phil Bryant neared its end and many on the executive team at State Office vied/vie to fill the long term position of Executive Director to be appointed by Governor Tate Reeves.
If anything, child care leadership feels the public statements given over years by now Interim MDHS Executive Director Jacob Black, and others close to him, enabled/enable state actor misconduct in the administration of federal block grants in spite of grossly unreasonable justifications, violations of statute and scandal.
We First Reported March 12, 2018 – Almost Two Years Ago
We “reported” questionable appropriations March 12, 2018, including to Eric Blanchette at ACF in Atlanta. See Delta Licensed providers: Financial Windfall from MDHS to Family Resource Center allows Staff Increase From 30 to 260!
Following that post was an invitation to lunch with MDHS Executive Director John Davis and Dr. Laurie Smith of the Governor’s Office, where I was able, at long last, to influence the first release of CCDF funding for new child care enrollment in five consecutive years. See Delta Licensed Providers: March 27, 2018 “Child Care Collateral Damage is Unhealthy for this State, Life Changing and Wide Spread!”
Atlanta Meeting Requested
On August 14, 2019, a meeting was requested with HHS/ACF Region IV Office of Child Care Regional Program Manager Eric R. Blanchette. To this day, he has not acknowledged or responded to our request to discuss alleged and ongoing wrongdoing in the adoption and administration of Mississippi’s CCDF/TANF State Plans. Click here to see WLBT Red Flags: “We have been asking for help.”
Today
Families First Remains Open and held over parties have hired Butler-Snow Law Firm after receiving $65 Million in TANF Funds Over Five Years all the while Child Care Assistance was effectively “Defunded”.
See Greenwood Commonwealth February 13, 2020:
https://www.gwcommonwealth.com/news/article_2b471f1c-4e13-11ea-9df5-47b93290c9d2.html
Personal Assets (Real Property and Equipment) Accumulated In the Course of the Corruption Scheme Should Be Seized as Proper Restitution to the poor upon Conviction
See: ‘Tremendous growth’ Family Resource Center expands presence in Northeast Mississippi
Since the Mississippi Department of Human Services got involved and reorganized these organizations, there has been a significant increase in funding from the state. That has resulted in new centers built across the state at an accelerated rate, expansion of programs and a substantial staff increase.
The financial windfall that resulted from the partnership two years ago has allowed FRC to open 15 centers across Northeast Mississippi and increase staff from 30 to 260 employees.
Please click on the links below to see the title to the real property occupied by Families First of Greenwood which remains in operation and see the verification that it has retained Butler-Snow Law Firm for representation with some source of funding.
AVALON HOLDINGS LLC
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https://cs.datasysmgt.com/tax?state=MS&county=42
https://cs.datasysmgt.com/tax?state=MS&county=42#TaxPanel:taxweb_details:08608010101100
https://cs.datasysmgt.com/tax?state=MS&county=42#TaxPanel:taxweb_details:08608010201100
https://cs.datasysmgt.com/tax?state=MS&county=42#TaxPanel:taxweb_details:08608010201110
Avalon Holdings, LLC is a Mississippi Limited-Liability Company filed on March 8, 2005. The company’s filing status is listed as Good Standing and its File Number is 869004.
The Registered Agent on file for this company is New, Jesse S, JR and is located at 190 East Capitol Street, suite 100, Jackson, MS 39201.
The company has 1 principal on record. The principal is Nancy W New from Jackson MS.
The official CCDF Early Childhood Academy
The official CCDF training agency for child care providers serving low-income children in Mississippi is the Early Childhood Academy which has received merely/approximately $250,000.00 from MDHS to fund more than 20 locations at community colleges throughout the state!
Because MDCC had no room on its campus, plans were made to locate our Child Care Academy at Families First in Indianola.
I strongly opposed the Families First of Indianola location for our ECA
In addition to our localized protest (lack of support for MCEC and Families First’ no-bid funding and lack of a TANF public hearing) and concern for the organizations’ alleged entitlement/political advantage which we believed/believe greatly harmed low-income child care programs and innocent babies living in abject poverty, we did not wish to be the only ECA not located on a true college campus.
Fortunately, discussions that followed with Dr. Micah Knox of the Mississippi Community College Board resulted in the placement of our Early Childhood Academy at Mississippi Valley State University where college credits for caregivers might be earned and a demonstration pre-school for hands-on experience and instruction in curriculum and classroom management (much like short term student teaching for caregivers) may be established.
As I see it, these are the services and work that should now be given priority, fully funded and not interrupted!
Open House Friday – MVSU Early Childhood Academy
There will be an open house of the MVSU Early Childhood Academy on February 21, 2020, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
All are invited to attend.
Get rid of the “bad” ones? (Dr. Chad Allgood is Stigmatizing Child Care!)
Posted: September 18, 2019 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Advisory Council, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi Health Department, MS Department of Health, MS Department of Human Services, NAEYC, NSparc, Office of Govenor Phil Bryant, SECAC Mississippi, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, child care licensing Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi Child Care Licensing, Mississippi Health Department, proposed amendments to the regulations governing child care, SECAC Mississippi Leave a commentGet rid of the “bad” ones? (Dr. Chad Allgood is Stigmatizing Child Care!)
Prepare for fines and/or closure or contact your legislators today!
My Facebook friend and I have been having lively debate regarding the role of child care licensure and her Facebook friend, Dr. Chad Allgood, formally of MSU Quality Stars Q.R.I.S. (That program was abolished in 2015 by popular demand! According to paid consultants, after millions and millions of CCDF dollars spent in Q.R.I.S. administration over eight years, only 63 child care facilities out of 1,700 actually held a quality rating or measured up to national bench marks because his organization did not update the scoring scale. Coincidentally, DECCD did not have sufficient funding to provide quality incentive bonuses to all providers who participated. Could that have influenced scores and choice of obsolete scales?)
Likewise, I do not support reducing the number of child care facilities down to a number that will allow Child Care Licensing to begin unannounced, long and disruptive “Observation Based Inspections” or four inspections per year where fines may be imposed as they are often in the hundreds and thousands of dollars.
I do not support the act of Child Care Licensing interfering in voluntary quality improvement exercises by asking the technical assistance coaches with other agencies to lodge complaints with Child Care Licensing on child care centers rather than correct any errors on site for the those seeking quality improvement. I find that counterproductive to quality improvement and to be a little too desperate and eager to rack up fines and demonstrate power.
I do not support inspecting a child care provider 12 times over an 8 week period and/or alleged stalking (allegedly picked up on surveillance cameras) as that meets the legal definition of harassment – that’s not conduct any state actor should be engaged in! (It is precisely why the number of inspections is preset by lawmakers. It also demonstrates that legislators should add specific verbiage to the words “one and more as needed” as well as look into the agency’s process of screening “complaints” and/or abuse of power.)
I do not support reducing the number of licensed child care programs down to a number to promote any state actor’s need for recognition, relevance or to duplicate services, push a personal agenda or embed his own program of unfunded national bench marks/recommendations into licensing, particularly when there is only statutory authority to promulgate minimum standards. (See the Economic Impact Statement – fines/business closures are not addressed.)
I do believe my Facebook friend is right about one thing, however, and that is that work of Dr. Chad Allgood is to get rid of child care centers. He has already revoked many child care licenses based on fines imposed in a single licensing period and at least one excited licensing official has already announced that she can close down a child care facility anytime she wants!
State actor contempt has become so intense, in fact, at a recent meeting on obesity, an employee of the Mississippi State Department of Health revealed that because so much animosity and hostility has been demonstrated towards licensed child care providers, she actually removes her MSDH name badge before trying to collaborate with child care providers because otherwise, they will have nothing to do with her.
I think it is clear that new leadership is needed in Mississippi.
My Facebook friend feels I just have no respect for the leadership and asked me to name just one I respected.
It took a minute!
I listed Dr. Micca Knox of the Child Care Academy for having the professionalism and strong character to refuse to allow her technical assistance coaches to file complaints with the Office of Child Care Licensing following technical assistance sessions with unsuspecting child care providers she truly wishes to empower. (She is a former elementary school assistant principal with experience in effectively guiding and training teachers.)
My Facebook friend did not attend the Road Show so I have agreed to post clips of what I did film.
I was having camera issues – I switched it off!
I just didn’t feel I could watch a replay of smooth-talking doublespeak and I was so hoping Dr. Chad Allgood would see the error of his ways and make the decision not to bully and stigmatize child care or technical assistance opportunities with fines.
That has not happened…and Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
So now, I yield and hope you and she can feel the mood and determine for yourself if measurable improved quality or improved health and safety is even a possibility under this leadership in this environment.
I, for one, do not exonerate him when he says he was once a Director, for I do not identify any relatable kinship as he is conducting himself and his office – this is some serious stuff!
I think it is more about who he thinks he is today and who he wants to be.
He has been pushing four inspections per year since he arrived from Q.R.I.S. He once announced four inspections for the Delta only because it was the only district with sufficient licensing officials or few enough centers to carry it out. I suppose by January, when this is scheduled to begin, he feels he will have closed enough child care centers and/or generated enough money to support his quality team and carry out four inspections per year state wide. He will surely be seen and heard then – to hear him tell it as he did in Hattiesburg, he will be known and called upon for his quality program nationwide!
So, prepare for fines and/or closure or contact your legislators today!
The Mississippi Legislature sets the number of times a child care facility may be inspected!
According to Dr. Allgood, one inspection is still a viable option and remains on the table.
Get rid of the “bad” ones? (Chad Allgood is Stigmatizing Child Care!)
I don’t think that program is new!
PRIOR TO THIS POST: I tried speaking to a member of Dr. Chad Allgood’s Quality Team at the Road Show but she walked away from me. I tried speaking to him, but I didn’t have time to wait. I telephoned his office and left a message. He made no effort to contact me in return.
For on site technical assistance sessions in transitional activities, effective discipline of young children, age appropriate lessons, nutrition, emergency preparedness and more that are not an inspection or held under threat of any monetary penalties to be reported online, contact the Child Care Academy in your area or Email Dr. Micca Knox at: mknox@mccb.edu
The Road Show Video
I Do Not Know Why the DHS General Counsel is Collecting Child Care Fees
Posted: September 3, 2019 Filed under: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Development Fund, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, HHS ACF Office of Child Care, MS Department of Human Services, NAEYC, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, Suel v MDHS, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: Administration for Children and Families, CCPP-approved Provider, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, equal access, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Quality Rating System; DECCD-MDHS; CCDF Quality Improvement, SECAC Mississippi, Xerox Leave a commentI Do Not Know Why the DHS General Counsel is Collecting Child Care Fees
I do not know why DHS General Counsel Andrea Sanders initiated a new and expanded database to collect financial data/child care fees or how the information will be used.
I do know the purpose of A.P.L. (Administrative Procedures Law)
is to let you know what your government is up to!
Below is the Administrative Procedures Law and guidance for policy makers developing a new or expanded database which is applicable to all entities receiving CCDF funding including NSPARC and the Standard application:
Any organization proposing to establish a new system of records, or to enlarge an existing system, shall give public notice long enough in advance of the initiation or enlargement of the system to assure individuals who may be affected by its operation a reasonable opportunity to comment.
§ 1320.8 Agency collection of information responsibilities.
(3) Informs and provides reasonable notice to the potential persons to whom the collection of information is addressed of –
(i) The reasons the information is planned to be and/or has been collected;
(ii) The way such information is planned to be and/or has been used to further the proper performance of the functions of the agency;
(iii) An estimate, to the extent practicable, of the average burden of the collection (together with a request that the public direct to the agency any comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing this burden);
(iv)Whether responses to the collection of information are voluntary, required to obtain or retain a benefit (citing authority), or mandatory (citing authority);
ROUTINE USE: Allows for the disclosure of a record outside of the agency without consent. Disclosure or use must be for a purpose which is compatible with the purpose for which the information was collected. (I don’t advertise rates – never have!)
Administrative Procedures Law also requires the following with regard to the Standard application:
§552. Public information; agency rules, opinions, orders, records, and proceedings
(C) rules of procedure, descriptions of forms available or the places at which forms may be obtained, and instructions as to the scope and contents of all papers, reports, or examinations;
(D) substantive rules of general applicability adopted as authorized by law, and statements of general policy or interpretations of general applicability formulated and adopted by the agency; and
(E) each amendment, revision, or repeal of the foregoing.
Child care market rates are one rule established by DHS for reimbursement of services according to the age of the child. For example, an infant is assigned a higher rate of reimbursement than a full time child age two.
A substantive rule of general applicability is a separate rule that interprets how the market rate will be computed and paid to the CCPP provider. For example, up to August 1, 2019, a reimbursement rate was set as a constant for the whole of a Certification Period. Prescribed age adjustments were not made until rollover or the next, new period of Certification.
Now, DHS General Counsel Andrea Sanders has reformulated the general applicability of the rule to reduce the reimbursement rates each month throughout the active Certification period following a child’s birthday – the reimbursement rate is no longer set as a constant and naturally, less reimbursement will be paid each month.
The rates remain the same and therefore, do not require any further action.
It is the new way the rates will be computed and applied that have changed – a separate act –the new formulation of general applicability – that triggers required APL and an economic impact statement. (See §552. (D) above.)
Mrs. Sanders did not follow the required APL.
She just put it into effect August 1, 2019, by simply authorizing a change in computer programming and then she casually announced it in a memo dated July 26, 2019.
It is a frightening agency practice to witness!
It is reminiscent of the same state actor advantage, arrogance and environment demonstrated through the attempted finger-scanning method of payment…announced to us in a letter from Xerox requesting our private banking information and access to our accounts!
Delta Licensed Providers 
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