Dear Editor,

I am writing to you today to express my deep concern about the significant impact that changes to Mississippi’s child care programs, effective April 1, 2025, will have on our state’s families and children. As you may be aware, the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has relied on federal COVID-19 relief funding to support the child care sector, allowing for the issuance of Child Care Strong grants, the creation of a statewide teacher substitute pool, bonus payments to child care staff, and an unprecedented increase in the number of child care certificates issued to qualifying families. These measures allowed more families than ever before to access high-quality child care, a lifeline for working parents and those in need.

However, with the ending of the COVID-19 relief funding, MDHS will be forced to reduce the number of families and children they can serve. While the state will continue providing child care assistance to families in certain categories, many working families, including those with incomes above the federal poverty line but still below what it takes to make ends meet, will lose access to these vital services.

The financial burden for families in Mississippi is already high. According to recent data, 14.56% of Mississippi’s married households with children, 28.76% of single female-headed households, and 36% of single male-headed households with children fall above the federal poverty line but below what it takes to make ends meet. (ALICE Update on Financial Hardship Report, 2024). These are households with at least one working adult who will no longer be able to afford childcare. This will force parents to make incredibly difficult decisions regarding the care of their children, and the consequences could be devastating for both families and our state as a whole.

For example, according to the ALICE 2024 Survival Budget for Mississippi, child care costs for one child can reach up to $437 per month, with costs for two children totaling up to $920. This is already below the average cost of child care in our state, where the cost for an infant is $668 per month, a toddler costs $640 per month, and preschool-aged children cost $600 per month. (Mississippi Child Care Market Rate Survey: Final Report, 2021) With the reduced funding and the termination of child care certificates for many working families, many parents will have to make impossible choices between their jobs and the well-being of their children.

Data from MDHS indicates that in 2022, 32,871 children were enrolled in the Child Care and Development Program (CCPP), compared to just 24,304 children in 2018, prior to the pandemic. (Mississippi Early Childhood Systems Asset Map: Program Profiles, 2022 and Investing in our Future: A look at How We Support Our Children, 2024) In an effort to balance their budget, MDHS is reducing their funding from $19 million per month to $12 million per month, a significant cut that will undoubtedly impact families and child care providers across the state. In 2022, 62% of Mississippi’s licensed or registered child care providers accept CCPP, and this reduction in funding could lead to provider closures, further limiting access to child care. (Mississippi Early Childhood System Asset Map, 2022)

As a concerned citizen, I urge you to advocate for additional funding and support for Mississippi’s child care programs. Without action, we risk the well-being and development of our children, the stability of families, and the strength of our workforce. The consequences of these cuts will be felt across our state for years to come, and it is critical that we take steps now to ensure that every child has access to safe, high-quality care.

I ask that you prioritize child care in upcoming legislative discussions and seek solutions that will continue to support families, reduce financial strain, and ensure that every child in Mississippi has access to the care they need to succeed.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue. I look forward to your leadership in supporting the children and families of our state.

Sincerely,

Dr. Toni Lowe, Dr. Susie Calbert, and Michele Connelly

Vicksburg, MS