OPEN NOW – FUNDING AVAILABLE!
Posted: December 1, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment
Below is the link to register for a Zoom Session on December 13th, 2021.
Session 1: 9 – 11:30 am OR Session 2: 1 – 3:30 pm
CORRECTION: Mississippi received $133 million in supplemental CCDBG funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, passed in December 2020. This is three times the amount the state received in the CARES Act, and yet, thousands of families have been removed from services due to the DECCD decision to initiate a period of redetermination during the public health emergency. As expected, the date of publication for the Stabilization Grant has been postponed again. Not a Good Look for Embattled MDHS Following Largest Embezzlement in State’s History – DECCD Policy Makers Are Violating Federal Job Search Law, Failing to Convene COVID-19 Task Force Meetings for Provider Pandemic Input Following $633 Million in COVID Relief, Failing to Properly (Even) Discuss $133 Million of that in CRRSA Funding and Failing to Meet with Provider Groups Upon Written Requests to Bob Anderson.
Posted: November 2, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentProviders laughed out loud and together this morning after reading Chad Algood’s advice for deserving parents to call the DECCD Help Desk when met with the barriers DECCD has put in place for receiving child care assistance. (Even he knows that doesn’t work so he has invited all to contact him.)
The Conservative state of Texas has not destabilized its child care industry with a period of redeterming parent eligibility for receiving child care assistance at this time.
Illinois has not destabilized its child care industry with a period of redeterming parent eligibility for receiving child care assistance. at this time.
MDHS has not yet re-enacted the work requirement for able bodied citizens receiving food stamps – it has ONLY done so for those receiving child care assistance in Mississippi!
Who actually made the decision to destabilize Mississippi Child Care Programs by requiring 25 hours per week documented for continued child care services and even added a requirement for a current driver’s license for low-income parents all the while the Governor extended a State of Emergency…twice?
Who?
Who determined that the ten day application process enacted by former Deputy Director Dana Kidd should be relaxed to allow the agency 60 days to process and most likely deny an application for child care assistance?
Who?
Do they honestly think Walmart will hold an entry level job position open for two months for a single mom seeking a voucher?
Who at DECCD does not understand that the agency MUST fund these parents at the same level for no less than 90 days beyond the date of termination while they seek other employment and/or educational/vocational training according to federal law?
Who would even dare to defend such state actor conduct in defiance of federal law? (The key word is MUST.)
Who?
Who at DECCD has demonstrated the agency’s understanding of the intent of Congress to aid and stabilize child care asap?
Who at DECCD has not seen the help wanted signs at Wal-mart, Target, Waffle House, Olive Garden, Hospitals, etc. and does not comprehend or care about the importance of child care as a work force support system to Mississippi employers?
Who?
Who at DECCD has really demonstrated empathy for a single mom seeking child care assistance?
Who at DECCD has contacted all the parents terminated without the offer of the federally mandated job search to reinstate their child care assistance for a period of 90 days?
Who?
Actions speak louder than words.
Speaking of words, please read the articles by Anna Wolfe published today in Mississippi Today for our truth.
Right click here: https://mississippitoday.org/2021/11/01/mississippi-child-care-assistance-outdated-application-process/
Old DECCD Attitudes Wreaking Havoc on Child Care Recovery during Ongoing Public Health Emergency
Posted: September 8, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentI do not know if DECCD does not understand the National and State Headlines on the dire state of child care as an industry, or if they are not allowed to officially recognize the urgency of the ongoing Delta variant pandemic in Mississippi due to any allowable interest the state may be making on the funding until it is finally disbursed for use.
- § 51c.112 Grantee accountability. Accounting for interest earned on grant funds. Pursuant to section 203 of the Intergovernmental Cooperative Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4213), a State will not be held accountable for interest earned on grant funds, pending their disbursement for grant purposes.
The vast majority of child care leadership, however, feels the current mindset of DECCD is not new, but just recycled hatefulness.
They note some who are implementing harmful DECCD decisions at this time may have previously played a role in no new enrollment in child care assistance for five consecutive years under John Davis or other punitive policy of past administrations and related agencies so, they are likely just settling into the more familiar and comfortable business as usual pe-pandemic abuse and well documented second nature to resent, under appreciate and find child care and low-income families unworthy. (Click here to read post dated 3/12/18.)
Nothing has changed as of today and the information Sharing Meeting held September 1, 2021 (but for a few in our meetings who are ill-informed, or, as it has been opined through discussion, may wish to maintain perceived personal favor and relationships with state actors holding the purse strings and/or may place their own popularity and benefit above the good of the group) did not go any further in maintaining trust and confidence among most providers in the performance of DECCD at this time.
Andrea Sanders, who, when in a position to do so, so ably and expeditiously guided CARES Act policy at DECCD, is now the Executive Director of Mississippi Child Protective Services and many providers are convinced that it is her appreciation of child care as an essential business and her aim of fair DECCD policy making that is now so desperately missing. (Andrea is also Executive Director of SECAC. If you wish, you may join her via live stream, also Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, 9:30 AM -12:00 Noon and show your support as she presides over the SECAC meeting.) (Click here.)
I have become disappointed and greatly discouraged by poorly rationalized and divisive DECCD rhetoric of late as well.
I had placed great hope and excitement in the possibilities of a future CCDF State Plan given COVID-19 Relief funding, defended DECCD when I felt they were being represented unfairly and advised or attempted to advise in matters of policy and public opinion, but the side I choose if I must choose – and now I must – will always be that of licensed child care providers in Mississippi and things are just not going well for Recovery following Redetermination and other DECCD failure to effectively provide emergency support in its wake.
When I successfully advocated against a Redetermination procedure void the well-established pattern and practice of a client’s 30 days’ notice also provided via email to the provider so that assistance and Internet access may be offered, I met DECCD halfway by accepting the argument that the Redetermination process was necessary…until I learned last week that there is no current work requirement in Mississippi for SNAP until further notice and I realized I had only been given part of the MDHS story. (SNAP is not a block grant but consistency throughout the agency is vital to public understanding and success of programs and should be expected during a State of Emergency.)
At our last provider organization’s ZOOM, providers from Texas and Illinois who met with us reported no Redetermination practices with work requirements resulting in mass terminations had been carried out in their states.
(Other lead agencies and out-of-state providers who follow this blog are also welcomed to report the Redetermination status and Recovery consequences they are experiencing by writing to licensedprovider@aol.com and are welcomed to attend our meetings-as well.)
As it stands, any mention of support for the DECCD Recovery effort in Mississippi is strongly defeated – shot down – in our organizational meetings with facts and presentations of Program violation and half-truths. (The very restrictive Redetermination decision was a mistake for many reasons.)
Honestly, DECCD does not have the right – even with a block grant – to behave so covertly, stealthily, and irresponsibly with such dire consequence for so many. As a check and balance, there are huge federal penalties for willful violation of CCDF Redetermination and Eligibility statutes if a complaint is validated.
- §98.92 Penalties and sanctions. (2)(i) A penalty of not more than four percent of the funds allotted under §98.61 (i.e., the Discretionary Funds) for a Fiscal Year shall be withheld if the Secretary determines that the Lead Agency has failed to implement a provision of the Act, these regulations, or the Plan required under §98.16;
- 98.21 (2)(i) Job Search and Continuity of Care: Lead Agencies have the option, but are not required, to discontinue assistance due to a parent’s loss of work or cessation of attendance at a job training or educational program that does not constitute a temporary change in accordance with paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section. However, if the Lead Agency exercises this option, it must continue assistance at least at the same level for a period of not less than three months after each such loss or cessation in order for the parent to engage in job search and resume work, or resume attendance at a job training or educational activity.
Sadly, other recourse includes litigation in State Court. Let your clients know they should have been informed of their right to a hearing and job search. Legal help is available through the Mississippi Center for Justice.
While it is great that DECCD announced last Wednesday the permanence of paying for full enrollment (now strongly encouraged), it must be noted that the purpose of paying for full enrollment has been defeated. Stringent Redetermination in Mississippi has proven even payment for full enrollment is too little help for those struggling child care programs today who recently lost 20 to 30 students for a reduction of 25% and more in total enrollment and operating capital as a result of the most restrictive decisions the lead agency could possibly make, with callous disregard for our public health emergency and in shocking, unexplainable conflict with its duty to stabilize all remaining child care quickly.
It is alleged one parent was terminated because her driver’s license was expired. Her expired license would have been accepted as a state issued photo i.d. if she had been going through recertification for SNAP.
Further reports allege another parent was terminated because she only had 24 hours of documented work in one week of her month’s long submission of check stubs.
The financial uncertainty due to COVID-19 is apparently of little or no concern to DECCD regardless of the ACF guidance:
- Guidance ACF CCDF-ACF-IM-2021-01 The CRRSA Act provides resources to address the immediate needs of families struggling to pay for child care and child care providers facing financial uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Information Memorandum is designed to help states, territories, and tribes quickly distribute those funds to communities, given the precarious financial situation of many child care providers. (Click here.)
DECCD and MDHS also have a duty to guarantee the personally identifiable information coerced from providers in building the data base for the Standard Application (also unlawfully implemented) is purged from all use by them, third parties and NSparc when they bring that data base in-house as announced.
It was never necessary to involve our businesses and increase our exposure to suit through coercion in the collection of the birth dates, social security numbers and email addresses of our staff members for SEACA and DECCD to pretend to carry out the miserably failed Standard/Comprehensive Program. Therefore, suspicions of tracking low-wage individuals – largely African Americans – for income tax collections and more is understandable. (Providers already had an identification number assigned to the CCPP payment program and we must enter our federal tax i.d. numbers to log in.)
It is no wonder that the announcement of yet another stressful public hearing for policy changes is being scrutinized by providers for tricks, deceit, and punitive measures. While battle fatigued providers disinfect entire facilities and vans DAILY and screen for the Delta variant THREE TIMES DAILY without promised PPE, they wait still for the promised reimbursement for school aged children who attended our classrooms fulltime last semester but only brought parttime fees.
If the proposed policy changes rightly redress Redetermination and Eligibility violations committed by DECCD, good…but it is not enough given the harm left in place. It is estimated that thousands of families have recently been terminated from the child care assistance program.
I just received a call for advice from a provider who has lost 18 children so far due to DECCD’s choice to carry out Redetermination as it has – not to even mention the fulltime children lost to public PreK last month.
She has three staff members out on quarantine with their own children and has had to hire substitutes. She wanted to know if she was required to pay the employees on quarantine as well as the substitutes because she did not feel that she could pay both even if required.
I discovered her operating capital has been reduced by $9,000 per month and advised that she pay the substitutes first and hope that did not prevent other staff members from reporting COVID-19 exposure in the days to come.
I told her to advise non-paid staff members to file for unemployment and hope for the best.
This is what providers are going through every day!
Any limited reserve of energy expected from providers at this time should have been to announce a redo public hearing for the 2022-2024 CCDF State Plan that is required to list all planned use for CRRSA and ARPA funds, but the State Plan was not even mentioned at the information sharing. It t may be true, if the State Plan has been approved, that HHS ACF OCC and Region IV are allowing DECCD to largely circumvent Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law through the amendment process that usually is not published or known by stakeholders here until implemented. (Click here for more on the State Plan.)
Other providers I have talked to, now working to secure loans if possible and/or begin work to go out of business need to know what the future holds for child care in the Mississippi CCDF State Plan so that they are at least afforded the courtesy by DECCD to make informed decisions for their lives and that of their employees.
DECCD did announce consideration of one-time grants – like the Booster Shots – to help providers meet immediate PPE and payroll and other needs in a letter to OCC dated February 25, 2021.
- Overview ACF CCDF-ACF-IM-2021-01 Child care providers are critical to working families and economic recovery. However, without immediate financial relief, child care providers will continue to close their doors, reducing the already limited supply of child care and making it harder for parents to work and children to learn. (Click here.)
- Grants or Assistance (Other than Subsidies) to Stabilize Child Care Providers The intent is to offer one-time grants that can be used to cover current costs and/or recover revenue losses for prior service offered at reduced rates to families. The exact amount of funding per provider is currently (2/25/21) under review by MDHS. (Click here to review Mississippi’s Planned Use of CRRSA.)
On June 7, 2021, however, DECCD announced it would not be issuing one-time CRRSA Grants.
During the Information Sharing meeting, we heard that over 300 providers have not yet submitted their Booster Shot reconciliation reports and that DECCD could not issue CRRSA one-time stabilizing grants until CARES Act Booster Shots reconciliation submissions were all finally reported.
We pointed out, in the chat box, that those requesting extensions had six months from their deadlines to submit reconciliation reports. That was later confirmed on the CCPP ledger Sign In page. Log in to your ledger and you will see the invitation to extend your deadline. (Click here.)
Cares Act, CRRSA and ARPA dollars are three separate funding streams. Each funding stream has unique requirements. Because they are separate, one funding stream reporting practices does not nullify, void, or cancel out the next funding stream and so, suggesting otherwise was deliberately wrong.
- § 51c.112 Grantee accountability. Accounting for grant award payments. All payments made by the Secretary shall be recorded by the grantee in accounting records separate from the records of all other funds, including funds derived from other grant awards.
We couldn’t speak, but we were all thinking even second round PPP was issued before forgiveness was granted for first draw PPP. (Bless their hearts!)
Then, at last, we were told that when DECCD learned of the ARPA Stabilization Grants, DECCD decided not to issue the CRRSA one-time stabilizing grants.
They changed their minds.
About 90% of the time allotted for the Information Sharing meeting was devoted to a repeat of information already presented by DECCD on ARPA Stabilization Grants. That is, DECCD is planning to begin the awards process in October. They will provide the Stabilization Grant Application and training and so on.
If you like, during the time DECCD is promising to get this funding opportunity together, you may go ahead and refer to ARPA guidance and training already provided online.
States Stabilization Grant Applications (Click here.)
There will be a ZOOM meeting of the Childcare Directors Network Alliance at 6:30 PM on Thursday.
Introduction to Infant and Toddler CLASS to be Offered in Three Locations Beginning July 13, 2021, Fee Paid!
Posted: July 2, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentClassroom Assessment Scoring System
I took this course and was left wanting to know still more!
This is a Quality Measurement that looks nothing like Q.R.I.S.
I liked what I saw and discovered CLASS has been and can be successful in classrooms serving low-income children.
It’s like Charm School for teachers! (Great classroom management – the stuff that matters most.)
Three hours of Staff Development will be awarded and the fee is paid through GEER!
Knowledge is Power.” The more we know about available quality initiatives, the better our decisions as an industry.
So, check it out and stop that staff hollering y’all! (LOL)
Click here to register:
Vague and Conflicting
Posted: June 30, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentACF HHS Announces COVID-19 Waivers Expire September 30, 2021 and More Program Chaos – Has HHS Declared the Pandemic to Be Over?
ACF acknowledges that in developing their FY 2022 — 2024 Plans states and territories may still be operating under policy changes — either through Plan Amendments or under approved waivers — related to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time they submit their Plans to meet the July 1 submission deadline. In responding to the CCDF Preprint, Lead Agencies may include and describe those policy changes for COVID-19 that are in effect at the time of Plan submission (July 1) and whether they will continue to be in effect at the time of the Plan effective period (October 1, 2021). For example, if a Lead Agency is paying based on enrollment rather than attendance as of July 1 and that policy will continue be in effect until November 15, 2021, then the Lead Agency should include that information in their submitted Plan. Or, if the Lead Agency is paying based on enrollment up until September 30 but will change to paying based on attendance starting October 1, then it should describe the policy that will start October 1 in its submitted Plan.
.. as of September 30, 2021
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/policy-guidance/ffy2022-2024-ccdf-plan-preprint-states-and-territoriesasOCC will have exhausted all allowable initial waiver and renewal options for the temporary waivers due to extraordinary circumstances at that time.
MDHS DECCD violates the APL requirement of formal rulemaking in favor of informal amendments to the 2022-2024 CCDF State Plan
MDHS DECCD received many objections to the adoption of the proposed 2022-2024 CCDF State Plan due to its violation of the Administrative Procedures Law requiring full disclosure of the true and real intention of the agency in the one required formal rulemaking public hearing. The proposed CCDF State Plan, in its chaos, includes outdated physical addresses, the outdated division name of Office of Children and Youth, and the requirement of tracking provider implementation of unfunded national standards through the “Failed to Launch” Comprehensive and Standard designations openly denounced by DECCD Co-Directors and even though Town Halls are being planned to collect recommendations for new Quality Initiatives. It is a cut and paste of past CCDF State Plans that includes no mention of rate increases although we know a Market Rate Survey is now being conducted. It does not include the lead agency’s plan for CRRSA funding required by ACF HHS to be outlined in the plan.
In previous Plans, Lead Agencies were not asked to provide specific details about the funds used to support the activities described in the CCDF Plan. However, since both CARES and CRRSA funds have specific allowable activities that would not otherwise be allowed by regular CCDF without an approved waiver, Lead Agencies are asked to provide specific details about the funding (e.g., using CARES or CRRSA funds) used to support those activities.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/policy-guidance/ffy2022-2024-ccdf-plan-preprint-states-and-territories
The Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which applies to all executive branch and independent agencies, prescribes procedures for agency rulemakings and adjudications, as well as standards for judicial review of final agency actions. In Mississippi, an objection must be placed into the minutes of a public hearing prior to seeking judicial review or restraint.
The APA describes rulemaking as the “agency process for formulating, amending, or repealing a rule.” A “rule,” for purposes of the statute, is defined expansively to include any “agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of an agency.”
Many child care providers have been waiting on the planned implementation of COVID-19 policy and CCDF rules in order to determine whether or not they should close their business operations permanently in the coming months.
Unfortunately, we just do not know what our future holds as a result of the 2022-2024 Proposed CCDF State Plan formal rulemaking and will not be able to develop a stable business plan as a result of this presentation and adoption.
CRRSA Funding
Mississippi received $133 million in supplemental CCDBG funding from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, (CRRSA) passed in December 2020. This is in addition to $47 million in supplemental CCDBG funding the state received in the CARES Act, passed in March 2020.
States were required to submit a plan for their use of CRRSA funds to the Department of Health and
Human Services by February 26, 2021. On February 25, the state announced plans to use their
supplemental funds, though specific amounts for several initiatives were still under review by the state.
According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, Mississippi will allocate $20 million to continue supporting a 25% rate increase over standard subsidy reimbursement rates through the end of 2021. Providers will also continue to receive subsidy payments based on enrollment, rather than attendance, through at least December 31, 2020, though the state will use regular CCDBG funding for this service – none of which is outlined in the Proposed State Plan. Click here to see the Bipartisan Policy Center Report: https://bipartisanpolicy.org/download/?file=/wp content/uploads/2021/04/MS_CRRSA-Tracker.pdf
February 25, 2021, Chad Allgood and Vicki Lowery of MDHS submitted a report of the planned use of CRRSA funds to Acting Director Ellen Wheatley of the Office of Child Care which included additional Booster Shot Payments (direct grants) to CCPP providers. See the planned use of CRRSA funding here: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/occ/CRRSA_60_Day_Report_2021_%20Mississippi.pdf .
We do not know the amount set aside to partner with the Department of Education or how that is COVID-19 related. Many, if not most, school-aged children are attending classes in person at public and private schools this month and as of today, June 29, 2021, no training has been provided for this summer instruction addressing learning loss in child care centers.
Recently, DECCD Co-Directors also announced there will be no Booster Shot Payments from CRRSA. There is discussion of grants but we do not know if that is from CRRSA funding or ARPA funding or regular CCDF funding and requests for transparency by COVID-19 Task Force members clearly identifying the use of each funding source have not provided clear or meaningful understanding. (The COVID-19 Task Force has only met once in six months.)
Over Half of Mississippi Child Care Centers Have closed
June 1, 2021, Mississippi Today reported that despite some help, over half of Mississippi’s child care centers have closed as they struggle to remain solvent amid COVID-19.
Across the state, 42 percent of centers have lost at least half of their revenue and 51 percent cannot currently pay even half of their monthly expenses, according to responses from 425 centers through a survey conducted by The Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning and the Center for Research Evaluation at the University of Mississippi.
The survey did not distinguish between child care providers mostly reliant on government subsidies who have been paid for full enrollment or centers with higher-income, private-pay customers who have been hardest hit by the pandemic – not paid for full enrollment -and who are also entitled to ARPA funding. However, plans for ARPA funding of $506,000,000 (over a half billion) are extremely vague and these recovery efforts by MDHS DECCD are also in limbo as we remain keen to rebuild the whole of the child care industry including family child care homes. (Only existing programs and those in operation on March 30, 2021, are entitled to receive ARPA funding.)
https://mississippitoday.org/2020/06/01/mississippi-child-care-centers-face-closures-due-to-coronavirus/
The Amendment Process
Any substantial change to the CCDF program requires an amendment to the approved CCDF Plan pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 98.18(b) of CCDF regulations. Before amending the ACF-118 Plan, Lead Agencies must first contact the regional office to discuss any proposed modifications. The regional office can assist in determining the need for the amendment as well as providing guidance on the information needed to complete the amendment.
If prior submission is not possible, the Lead Agency must submit the Plan amendment within 60 days of the effective date of the change. In no case will ACF approve an effective date that is more than 60 days before the submission of a Plan amendment. Lead Agencies will use the CCDF ACF-118 Plan submission website to submit Plan amendments.
As a reminder, amendments to the CCDF Plan, and any approved request for temporary relief (i.e., waivers) have to be made publicly available on the Lead Agency website. [1] In addition, the Lead Agency must provide advance written notice to affected parties of changes that adversely affect income eligibility, payment rates, or fees. (A public hearing is not required for amendments. Written comments are also not specifically required in this language. See: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/policy-guidance/ffy2022-2024-ccdf-plan-preprint-states-and-territories
Lead Agencies are not required to submit Plan Amendments for basic “edits” or revisions to Plan questions that do not constitute a CCDF program change. Whenever you are unsure if you are making a substantial change, please consult with your Regional Office staff.
Substantial changes include, but are not limited to, any changes that affect CCDF administration and policies such as policy changes to program eligibility (e.g., changes in income eligibility levels), payment rates, sliding fee scales, changes in responsible agency/entity who is administering CCDF activity (e.g., change in agency who oversees quality funds), change in CCDF Lead Agency, change in subsidy or quality activities that affects parents and/or providers access to the program (e.g., adding a new professional development initiative or changing the subsidy application process), and changes to the Lead Agency consumer education website address.
Any non-compliance(s) are subject to compliance actions, such as corrective action plans and/or penalties in accordance with CCDF regulations, but who specifically at DECCD is required to report “edits” and activities amounting to unreported substantial change to Region IV ACF HHS and how does Region IV ACF HHS specifically monitor for unreported substantial changes when MDHS DECCD does not self-report even honest “errors” (under threat of penalty)?
History of Mississippi CCDF administration demonstrates this to be the most flawed method of promulgating rules.
Region IV ACF HHS
Region IV ACF HHS is responsible for ensuring that business and financial responsibilities of grants administration are properly conducted and for managing ACF’s discretionary, formula, entitlement and block grants in the region including Mississippi’s CCDF.
CCDF expenditures are subject to audits and fiscal review. In accordance with 45 CFR 98.66, expenditures that are not made in accordance with the CCDBG statute, the implementing regulations, or the approved plan are subject to
disallowance.
One example of a disallowed expense would be the CCDF money former MSDH Executive Director John Davis publicly committed to wipe out the millions in budget deficit at the Department of Child Protective Services – now a stand-alone state agency. This offer of CCDF funding to Jess Dickson was reported by Jimmie Gates of the Clarion Ledger. See the article and video by linking here: https://msdeltachildcare.wordpress.com/2018/03/02/its-going-to-make-some-of-their-other-programs-suffer/?preview_id=13328&preview_nonce=0908fb18c2&preview=true .
During that same time, child care providers and parents were in a five year stretch of NO NEW enrollment or funding for new working parents in need of child care assistance. While being monitored by federal monitors, the child care assistance program was effectively defunded.
Mississippi child care providers asked for a meeting with Eric Blanchette, HHS Regional Program Manager, but the request was never acknowledged by him.
During the same CCDF triennium and with the same Region IV ACF HHS monitoring in place, we learned of approximately $93,000,000 in embezzlement of TANF funds by MSDH employees through the non-profit Families First and gross disallowed spending that included a $7,000,000 volley ball court at the University of Southern Mississippi supporting Bret Favre’s daughter’s team sport all the while the fewest number of children and families in any state in the nation received welfare dollars in this geographic location of greatest poverty:. See: https://mississippitoday.org/2020/05/08/southern-miss-knew-human-services-funds-paid-for-volleyball-center-construction-auditor-found/
I have no confidence in the current Region IV ACF HHS oversight of these block grants.
(It should be noted that new MDHS Executive Director Bob Anderson recently helped to secure the first increase in welfare benefits in decades and is now working to make the application process for receiving welfare less burdensome.)
Written Comments Period Ends Today
Today is the last day for making written comments to MDHS DECCD regarding the Proposed 2022-2024 CCDF State Plan if you wish to add to the oral comments made during Monday’s public hearing which include:
- Reinstating job search so that parents can search for gainful employment knowing their young children are being looked after in a safe child care environment;
- Accepting an expired Mississippi driver’s license as the required state issued photo id just as is done when making application for SNAP. Policies should be consistent throughout MDHS;
- Including due process for parents by informing them of their right to a hearing when they are terminated and child care assistance is ended for their families;
- Seeking ongoing waivers for parental co-pay beyond OCC’s counterproductive to stabilization expiration date of Sept. 30, 2021. (This should be included in the Plan.);
- Allowing students the recommended days necessary to search for required employment when their classes have ended;
- Waiving the requirement of proof of an open child support case or at least making the dismal, privatized services accessible to low-income parents who often travel 70 miles round trip – or more- to communicate with the subgrantee and receive documentation of an open case;
You may add your comments at the following link which is also a barrier (particularly for low-income parents) in that you must locate the specific number of standard/policy you are referencing in a document of more than 120 pages and comments must be submitted online regardless of access to Broadband:
See the Plan here: https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FFY2022-2024_CCDF_Plan_DraftforComment.pdf
Make written comments here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5bedfa569be440bb881d126ec5c5f1c3
If you have difficulty, contact DECCD and they will assist you, I think or perhaps even allow you to submit paper written comments(?).
Today, I still choose to have hope and faith that this new DECCD leadership will always strive to do what is right, just as they have done throughout this pandemic, regardless of the obstacles, instructions and intrusion that clutter their paths.
Take this time to advise them and encourage them.
“-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, The Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
God Bless Mississippi Child Care Providers!
God be with MDHS DECCD.
Childcare Provider ZOOM Meeting
Posted: May 26, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentDeloris Suel and the CDNA invite you to participate in a ZOOM Meeting welcoming all licensed childcare providers to discuss important issues:
Thursday Evening
May 27, 2021
7:00 PM Central Time
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIodO-trjgtHNecY4EvDhQig-mwBVVG8Rdc
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
From the Desk of Deloris Suel – MECA Virtual Conference (A Partnership with JSU)
Posted: May 18, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentClick Here: WWW.jsums.edu/marketplace
Click Here: WWW.jsums.edu/marketplace
Jane Patterson Boykin v. State Early Childhood Advisory Council [SECAC]
Posted: May 7, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentOffice of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 220
Jackson, MS 39205 (Click here.)
“Meeting”: “officials acts” includes discussion.
Gathering of members of a public body at which official acts may be
taken upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control,
jurisdiction or advisory power; “officials acts” includes discussion.
Case No. M-12-007, issued February 1, 2013
Stennis Institute of Government (Click here.)
Another popular violation appears to be related to notice.
SECAC failed to notice a special called meeting on March 1, 2012. While it admits that it “inadvertently” failed to post the notice of the meeting on its website as it customarily does, it urged that no violation of the law occurred because (1) the announcement of the meeting of March 1 was made at its February 9, 2012 meeting and spread upon the face of the minutes of that meeting and (2) the inadvertence was harmless because no official actions were taken. SECAC also argues that it has a number of committees and subcommittees, all making up less than a quorum of council members, but they are not subject to the Open Meetings Act.
The Ethics Commission discussed the requirements of notice for a recess, adjourned, interim or special called meeting, as found in Section 25-41-13 (1). While SECAC argued that only subsection (2) applied to it, the Commission disagreed and determined that SECAC violated the Open Meetings Act by failing to post proper notice of the special meeting as required by law. The Commission also discussed “public bodies” as defined by statute; the statute clearly contemplates “committees” of various covered boards, and relied upon Gannett River States Pub. Corp., Inc. v. City of Jackson, 866 So. 2d 462 (Miss. 2004) as committees are established for, among other things, the shaping of policy decisions that will ultimately be recommended to the larger body.
The Ethics Commission found SECAC in violation of several aspects of the Open Meetings Act.
And they continue to govern in violation today.
Some who were members in 2012 may continue to serve in 2021.
I guess this behavior is by choice.
Our SECAC Concerns Confirmed…AGAIN- Short or No Notice of Tomorrow’s Meeting.
Posted: May 5, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentOne member of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council was conscientious and responsible enough to constituents to announce today that it, (SECAC), would be holding its first meeting tomorrow.
I find it hard to believe that SECAC members representing the child care industry did not know in advance of today, but I know of no information they provided to any known and interested parties.
Remember, every single CCPP provider was GREATLY impacted and harmed by SECAC’s failing policies and plan over the last four years!
Also be advised that the PreK Collaborative plan recently hailed by Kate Royals of Mississippi Today as in the top ten nationally according to a single and friendly non-profit actually FAILED three Race to the Top funding opportunities after scrutiny by national experts who noted the failure to fully include and involve child care and due to the lack of sustainability. That is why more funding is needed!
I wrote to and communicated with my Second Congressional District child care representative for the first time since her appointment and her willing agreement to serve, (contrary to what you may have been led to believe) and she has informed me that it is an orientation and luncheon for SECAC members and some may attend by ZOOM.
I do hope she and others representing our industry will provide direct notice to us in the future or direct us to the web site we should go to to read the required public notice of SECAC meetings.
(There is no official SECAC web site at this time. I understand that this meeting was posted by the Governor’s Office, but most did not know to search that site.)
Unfortunately, this is not new behavior from those representing child care and certainly not new behavior from those minimizing child care involvement. (They usually only need one or two child care centers to claim to be including child care centers when applying for grants. In fact, we have even seen the number of participating child care programs reduced to the single, smallest program in the community following successful funding!)
Carol Burnett of MLICCI did Email Holly Spivey and only then received the information at 1:26 this afternoon:
SECAC Meeting
Thursday
11:30 – 1:30 PM
Two Mississippi Museums (Civil Rights Museum)
222 North Street
Jackson, MS 39201
It is a public meeting.
All are invited to attend.
Public comments and questions from the Gallery will be invited at the end of the meeting.
Mississippi increases monthly welfare check for first time since 1999
Posted: April 6, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentby Bobby Harrison March 25, 2021 Mississippi Today
Mississippi’s relatively small number of families receiving federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Family benefits will receive a monthly increase in payments of $90 under legislation Gov. Tate Reeves signed into law this week.
“Listening to some of the parents and grandparents talk about how the extra benefits are going to help their children, I think it is good,” said Sen. Sollie Norwood, D-Jackson. “It has been a long time coming.”
Norwood praised Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director Bob Anderson for advocating to the Legislature for increasing the benefits.
Anderson’s actions came on the heels of the scandal that occurred during the administration of former Gov. Phil Bryant, where former DHS Director John Davis and others were indicted on charges related to siphoning off the TANF money designed to help “the poorest of the poor” for personal use.
While Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation, only between 2,500-3,000 families are normally in the TANF program, Anderson said earlier this session. In addition to increasing the benefits, Anderson has said he wants to re-evaluate the criteria for determining eligibility.
“We are in the midst of this pandemic,” Anderson said earlier this session. “We think this is an opportune time to provide this assistance for our TANF families… for the poorest of the poor in our state.”
To read the article in full, click here on link to Mississippi Today.
A Wonderful MDHS Executive Director! Meet Mr. Bob Anderson!
If you, like I, believe programs serving low-income families can and should remove stigma and empower lives, then you will appreciate the heart and the story of Mr. Bob Anderson, the MDHS Executive Director appointed by Governor Tate Reeves.
As a child, abandonment and divorce forced his beloved family into Temporary Assistance for Needy Families!
Now, he works to strengthen that program for little children…just like him and demonstrates the very best of outcomes in his daily walk!
Listen:
If you would like to have your students to thank him for this thoughtful and courageous work, they may write to him at the following address:
MDHS Executive Director Bob Anderson, Mississippi Department of Human Services, 200 South Lamar Street, Jackson, MS 39201.
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