MDHS Executive Director Responds to Critics of Child Care Centers Saying Need Federal Funds to Stay Open

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JACKSON, Mississippi (WLBT) – Many child care providers across the state criticize what they call the Mississippi Department of Social Services’ tough and cumbersome procedures to get the federal money they desperately need need.

Many say that due to the COVID pandemic and red tape, they are being forced to close their doors.

[READ MORE: The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services discusses findings in forensic audit]

The executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services said the agency had not sat on federal child care money, but wanted to make sure it is properly distributed and that ‘it goes to those who qualify.

Providers statewide say the Mississippis child care industry is in crisis.

Deloris Suel is President of the Child Care Directors Network Alliance. Suel says the Mississippi Department of Social Services is sitting on half a billion dollars in federal money meant to help support child care providers.

Suel says there are many vendors who need federal funds to stay in business. (WLBT)

Suel said, “So many times they think they’re just looking for money and, you know, in this business, if we wanted money, we sure wouldn’t be babysitting.

In our exclusive 3 On Your Side interview with MDHS Executive Director Bob Anderson, he explains why more of the money was not distributed.

Anderson said: It should come as no surprise to anyone, child care providers or anyone else, that this agency wants to administer federal funds in a responsible, prudent, prudent manner and in accordance with all the guidelines that we have set. in our state plan and what the federal authorities require of us.

Anderson says that after providing cash grants to child care providers, the state is still awaiting documents on how that money was used.

We have released what we call booster shots during the pandemic. Cash, direct cash grant payments to childcare providers and we have asked them over the last few weeks and months to provide us with documents showing us what they have done with these funds so that we can see that they used them responsibly before they allotted some of those new money funds.

And were still waiting for several hundred of those child care providers to just tell us what they’ve done with those thousands of dollars we’ve already given them, Anderson said.

Anderson says the agency isn’t trying to hold onto the money. He adds that there is no advantage for the MDHS to keep federal funds. (WLBT)

Suel says many child care providers don’t understand the process because it’s too complicated and full of barriers. She also says that during the pandemic, providers lost many of the children they serve.

There are so many providers who need these funds. I spoke to a vendor in Tupelo and she had to borrow money to keep doing it, Suel said.

The Suels group plans to hold a press conference on Thursday to address some of their concerns. Anderson points out that DHS is always ready to work with child care providers and help families in Mississippi.

Anderson said, let’s not try to keep this money. There is no advantage for this agency to keep these funds.

Federal money comes from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act.

Anderson says the state will be reviewed and audited for every dollar awarded.

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