DHS SUED AGAIN! Chancery Court Hearing Tuesday 1:30 PM
Posted: January 23, 2013 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Delta Licensed Providers, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), General, Head Start, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Education, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness, SECAC Mississippi, T.E.A.C.H., Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: 2007 Market Survey Rates, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Licensing, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), equal access, Hechinger Report, Kellogg Foundation, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi early learning system, Mississippi First, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating Systems, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | Leave a commentChild Care Advisory Council Meeting Friday
Posted: January 19, 2013 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Delta Licensed Providers, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), HB1174, Head Start, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness, SECAC Mississippi, T.E.A.C.H., Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Licensing, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), equal access, Hechinger Report, Kellogg Foundation, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Licensing, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi early learning system, Mississippi First, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | Leave a commentWalked Out!
Posted: January 11, 2013 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Licensing, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, Delta Licensed Providers, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), Head Start, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Board of Health, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Health Department, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Education, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, School Readiness, SECAC, SECAC Mississippi, T.E.A.C.H., Xerox | Tags: "Race to the Top", 2007 Market Survey Rates, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Licensing, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Early Learning Guidelines (ELG), equal access, Hechinger Report, Kellogg Foundation, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Licensing, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi early childhood education, Mississippi early learning system, Mississippi First, Mississippi licensed child care, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | 2 CommentsThompson calls for DHS investigation
Posted: December 5, 2012 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, e-Childcare™, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care licensing Mississippi, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, equal access, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | 2 CommentsThompson calls for DHS investigation
Written by Jimmie E. Gates
December 4, 2012
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson wants the federal government to investigate how the Mississippi Department of Human Services is spending millions in federal money for child-care assistance for low-income working families.
In a nine-page letter dated Thursday, the 2nd District congressman asked U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to initiate a compliance audit of DHS, based on numerous complaints his office has received from licensed child-care providers who participate in the federal child-care certificate program.
Thompson said the state violated the Administrative Procedures Act in implementing the fingerprint scan system.
He cited numerous other complaints his office has received, including:
• DHS has failed to complete a definition of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’ reasonable distance for the time allowed each way for parents to access child care.
• That DHS is still using 2004 state medium income levels for determining eligibility for the temporary assistance and child-care programs. Thompson said DHS hasn’t adjusted for inflation or the minimum wage increase of 2007 that has resulted in negative consequences for families moving from welfare to work.
• That more than one child-care provider has levied allegations that their county TANF case manager hasn’t allowed TANF parents to choose a child-care provider, but rather, has assigned children to favored child-care facilities or pressured them to change providers.
DHS officials wouldn’t comment about Thompson’s request.
To read the full Clarion Ledger story, click here.
“We were lied to! We were conned! We were sold for stupid!”
Posted: November 19, 2012 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, SECAC Mississippi, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: "Race to the Top", 2007 Market Survey Rates, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, equal access, Hechinger Report, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | 2 Comments“We were lied to! We were conned! We were sold for stupid!”
Last Friday, child care providers attended a second public hearing on the Xerox e-Childcare™ method of payment through finger scan machines ordered to be scheduled by State Court Judge Denise Owens due to the DHS Division of Early Childhood Care & Development’s violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.
Child care providers representing child care providers whose businesses are on the line raised the strongest of objections.
Petra Kay, executive director of Northtown Child Development Center in Jackson presented the following comments:
“We were lied to! We were conned! We were sold for stupid, and I’m angry!”
“I am a child care provider! I am somebody!” – Petra Kay
Representing Delta Licensed Providers, I entered the following into the minutes of the transcript:
“It is the intent of Congress for this Program to follow the private market and empower low-income parents and their children to move from welfare to self-dependency.
It has never been the intent of Congress to empower academia and SECAC members who are suggesting and making these policies while also taking steps to receive awards of quality funding for Programs they themselves administrate.
The Xerox e-Childcare™ finger scan method of payment selected will benefit the MDHS Division of Early Childhood Care and Development and failed state sponsored quality programs during periods of budget cuts by placing hardship on private citizens and small businesses.” – Debbie Ellis
Shirley Hampton of Jackson, a provider participating in the pilot program, says it’s been nothing but a headache. She said the finger scan equipment doesn’t work all the time which prevents her from getting her proper payments.
“You’re estimating that you’re going to get about $7,000 and you got $3,500…that’s mind boggling.
That’s closing down your doors!” – Shirley Hampton
DHS says their current plan is to keep monitoring the pilot centers before implementing the finger scan method of payment across the state.
Two of those pilot locations have already opted out of the program.
Danny Spreitler, Executive Director of The Gilmore Foundation and sponsor of the successful Promise Schools in Amory, Mississippi, posted the following comment on the Delta Licensed Providers Facebook Page:
Danny J. Spreitler via Delta Licensed Providers (Click to Follow Delta Licensed Providers on Facebook)
“This is becoming a troubling issue and the fight is just beginning. At a time when over 8,000 children are on the waiting list for childcare, the funds that are allocated for their care are being spent on technology and quality programs – none of which are aligned with school readiness.” – Danny Spreitler
I wish to thank all child care providers who gave their “time and attendance” to this important public hearing.
We stand united in opposition to the Xerox e-Childcare™ finger scan method of payment.
Stay tuned and safe travels to all of you this Thanksgiving Day!
WJTV: Finger Scan Fight Continues Video
Posted: November 17, 2012 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Education, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, SECAC, SECAC Mississippi, Xerox | Tags: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, equal access, Hechinger Report, Kellogg Foundation, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, QRS Mississippi, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | Leave a commentFinger Scan Fight Continues
By: Ross Adams | WJTV
Published: November 16, 2012 Updated: November 16, 2012 – 6:45 PM
State officials got an earful from daycare providers opposed to a controversial plan to track parents who receive a government subsidy to help pay for child care.
Friday, many providers voiced their opposition to a finger scanning program at a state department of human services public hearing.
DHS officials said today they don’t know when the finger scanning program will be rolled out to day care providers across the state.
(Click Here to View News Video)
Just Say No! Finger Scan Public Hearing Number 2!
Posted: November 15, 2012 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, General, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, QRS Mississippi, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, Xerox | Tags: "Race to the Top", 2007 Market Survey Rates, Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, e-Childcare™, Early Childhood Education Mississippi, equal access, Hechinger Report, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi child care, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi School Readiness, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | 4 CommentsNew Finger Scan Public Hearing November 16th!
Posted: November 8, 2012 | Author: Debbie Ellis | Filed under: "Race to the Top", Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, Child Care Mississippi, DECCD-MDHS, e-Childcare™, Hechinger Foundation, Kellogg Foundation, Mississippi Building Blocks, Mississippi First, Mississippi Legislature, MS Department of Human Services, Office of the Attorney General, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, Uncategorized, Xerox | Tags: Allies for Quality Care, CCPP-approved Provider, child care Mississippi, child care quality rating systems Mississippi, DECCD, e-Childcare™, equal access, Hechinger Report, Market Survey Rates, MDHS, Mississippi CCDF State Plan, Mississippi Child Care Quality Steps, Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral, Mississippi State Early Childhood Institute, Quality Rating System, SECAC Mississippi, The Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, Xerox | Leave a comment(Click here)to see Notice of Hearing and Economic Impact Statement.
(Click here) to Read Clarion-Ledger Article.
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