Connecting Hope is a production of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Join us as we explore the people, policies, and programs that bridge the gap from hopelessness to hope for Mississippians, young and old.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "Mississippi Department of Human Services" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.
Progressive Success Through Community & Partnerships
In this episode, we talk with Mississippi State University Extension (TIPPS), Three Rivers Planning & Development District, Starkville Oktibbeha School District Discovery Center (Project PEACE), and Operation Shoestring about their partnership with MDHS and the positive impact they made for Mississippians in 2026.
(00:00) - Opening
(01:07) - MSU Extension (TIPPS)
(02:12) - Three Rivers Planning & Development District
(06:52) - Project PEACE
(10:33) - Operation Shoestring
(11:55) - MSU Extension (TIPPS)'s community impact
(16:59) - Success Story from Three Rivers Planning & Development District
(19:55) - Project PEACE Spotlights an Intern Success Story
(21:28) - Operation Shoestring Highlights Two Inspiring Students
(23:34) - How to receive the services of these programs
(31:43) - Final reflections on these programs’ impact
8 Oct 2026
Preparing Mississippi's Children for K-12 Success
In this episode, we will be continuing our conversation with Dr. Chad Allgood of the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development episode around child care, specifically, quality supports. We examine the notion that MDHS child care is more than a certificate and through our quality supports, we're making sure that MDHS is aligning child care quality in Mississippi with the metrics of preparing children for K-12 success.
8 Oct 2026
ELEVATE (A Quality Support System for Child Care Providers)
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Chad Allgood of the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development about ELEVATE: A Quality Support System. It is the first-of-its-kind in the nation quality support system designed to enhance early childhood education programs in Mississippi.
8 Oct 2026
Exploring the World of TANF Subgrants
In this episode of Connecting Hope, we have a sit-down discussion with Suzanne Lafever and Lora Tatum from our division of Workforce Development and Partnership Management. We talk about the amazing work that our new round of subgrantees will be performing for Mississippians all across the state.
8 Oct 2026
A Tour: What to Expect at a Resource and Referral Center
In this episode of Connecting Hope, we give a tour of a LIFT resource and referral center to help you understand what resources are available to you and your family.
4 Nov 2025
Supporting Older Adults & Their Caregivers
Mark Jones talks with KenYada Blake-Washington, Division Director of the Aging and Adult Services, about MDHS's home and community-based services, as well as caregiver supports to senior adults across the state of Mississippi.
(00:00) - Opening
(00:52) - Guest introduction
(01:32) - Supporting older adults and caregivers
(04:06) - Adult Protective Service
(05:45) - The importance of caregivers
(10:53) - Area Agency on Aging
(13:05) - MDHS gives out a million and a half meals a year
(16:32) - Importance of home and community-based services
(19:33) - Different ways to connect to the programs
(21:48) - Open Enrollment
(23:23) - State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
(24:37) - Reporting abuse
(25:38) - A message for caregivers and older adults
6 Oct 2025
MDHS speaks on Integrity in Action
Mark Jones talks with the Office of Inspector General on the topic of Integrity in Action.
(00:00) - Opening
(01:05) - Guests introductions
(05:03) - Investigation Division
(07:24) - Making sure the right people are getting the benefits
(10:09) - Common fraud schemes
(11:42) - Collaborating with local law enforcement
(13:28) - Internal investigations
(17:52) - Benefit Recovery Unit
(21:42) - Fraud prevention tips
(30:01) - Administrative Hearings
(36:11) - Fair hearing process
(39:14) - Cross divisional collaboration
(42:12) - Civil and criminal cases
(48:54) - Closing thoughts on identifying and preventing fraud
6 Oct 2025
Child Support Means Stronger Families
Denise Wesley, director of the Child Support Enforcement Division, talks with Mark Jones about what child support is, the function it plays in administering the programs, and how it encourages the support of both parents in the life of a child.
(00:00) - Opening
(00:40) - Guest Introduction
(01:06) - What is Child Support Enforcement
(03:27) - How Child Support helps the child financially, emotionally and mentally.
(05:40) - Different ways people can enter into the Child Support Program
(10:30) - Importance of showing for a Child Support hearing
(14:06) - Custodial and Non-custodial parents supporting the well-being of their child is the goal
(18:00) - Circumstances of a Non-custodial parent's job changes. What do they need to do?
(21:16) - Consequences of an arrearage
(28:12) - Child Support Initiatives
(33:40) - Future of Child Support Enforcement
13 Jun 2025
ESF6 Mass Care: Turning Chaos Into Coordination During Disasters
A discussion about the emergency support function six Mass Care and how it relates and serves during disasters.
(00:00) - Opening
(00:55) - Introduction of guests
(02:03) - What is an Emergency Support Function?
(06:28) - What does Mass Care do?
(22:27) - The effect of the lack of coordination
(27:10) - Tips to prepare for storms/Mass Care services
(30:44) - Food supply challenges
(34:53) - Long-Term Recovery
(41:20) - Avoiding negative effects of the economy on a community after a disaster
(48:18) - Closing thoughts on Mass Care
28 May 2025
Exploring TANF and SNAP Work Requirements
Suzanne Lafever and Justin Rushing of MDHS Division of Workforce Development and Partnership Management talks with Mark Jones regarding the work that they do across Mississippi to help connect the clients of MDHS to the programs that help them enter and remain in the workforce.
(00:31) - Introduction of guests
(02:58) - Employment and Training
(03:39) - TANF Work Program Requirements
(09:04) - Skills to Work Program
(17:55) - Partnerships and the RFP Process
(26:06) - ABAWDs
(29:38) - A Skills to Work Success story
(32:08) - How can an entity become a partner with MDHS
(37:53) - How to contact MDHS
(40:13) - Upcoming developments
7 Mar 2025
Strengthening the Future of Child Care
Dr. Chad Allgood sits down with Mark Jones to share exciting updates on Mississippi LIFT, including its expansion from 16 to over 50 sites statewide and the introduction of the Mobile R&R—bringing vital support to families in every community.
Plus, Dr. Allgood unveils Elevate (26:20), a groundbreaking Quality Support System designed to strengthen early childhood education programs in Mississippi. Tune in to learn how MDHS is shaping the future of childcare, building a stronger industry today, and fostering the growth of children for
To learn more and find the MS LIFT social media: https://mississippithrive.com/
(01:26) - Understanding Quality Support in Childcare
(05:22) - The Expansion of Resource & Referral Centers
(13:14) - The impact of Mobile R&Rs on Rural Mississippi
(14:45) - Specialized Support: Early Intervention & Special Needs Services
(21:52) - Elevate: Transforming Childcare Quality Support
(23:26) - Future Growth & Continuous Improvement
(33:42) - Helping child care programs identify their strengths
(41:16) - Elevate: The Start of Something new
14 Nov 2024
In Their Own Words: Child Care Providers Speak
In this follow-up episode, we sit down with Dr. Chad Allgood from the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development, joined by three child care providers from across the state. These providers offer insights into what it’s like to be a child care provider in 2024 and discuss how the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) and the Child Care Payment Program support them on a daily basis.
“The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. The "Mississippi Department of Human Services" name and all forms and abbreviations are the property of its owner and its use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.”
(01:15) - Meet our Guests
(07:23) - What is the state of child care in Mississippi
(11:44) - The critical need of qualified staff
(19:23) - How the pandemic exposed the fractures in the child care system and how we are working to fixed them.
(23:27) - The impact on the inability of a center to operate at a full capacity
(33:46) - The importance of prioritizing child care for a better tomorrow
(45:24) - The importance of collaboration and quality support in the childcare industry is to K-12 success.
(47:19) - How does early child care impact the school districts?
(50:44) - Closing thoughts on the importance of child care in Mississippi
29 Aug 2024
Child Care Successes & Challenges
In this episode will be talking with Dr. Chad Allgood of the Division of Early Childhood Care and Development about how the Child Care Payment Program supports the Mississippi workforce and lays the foundation for Mississippi's youngest residents to succeed in their quest for lifelong learning. The CCDF serves over 32,000 Mississippi families access the best possible early childhood care and education for their children, as well as supporting providers in the services of child care across the state of Mississippi.
(00:00) - Chapter 1
(01:13) - Child Care Development Fund
(03:49) - DECCD efforts to strengthen and enhance child care
(08:04) - Child Care Development Fund spending requirements.
(10:32) - DECCD Funding Streams
(13:32) - Child care is still a human service function
(17:23) - Resource and Referral Sites
(22:06) - Mobile Resource and Referral Sites
(23:17) - Developmental Resources
(26:01) - Training for parents and child care providers
(27:49) - Challenges of sustaining child care
(34:45) - Challenges of getting quality child care workers
(37:45) - Must invest in child care
18 Jul 2024
Mississippi's 2024 Legislative Session
Executive Director Bob Anderson and Legislative Affairs and Senior Policy Analyst Director Alex Bucklew sit down to discuss the 2024 Legislative Session, bills that made it through legislation and what is next for MDHS.
(01:12) - Meet our Legislative Affairs & Senior Policy Advisor
(03:47) - Why was the session longer this year?
(08:36) - How MDHS is administered under the executive branch?
(13:42) - How does a bill gets filed?
(16:18) - How does the appropriation process work?
(23:07) - How do relationships effect the Legislative session?
(30:35) - How good committee chairs can affect your session?
(32:23) - MDHS legislative agenda
(41:20) - Where is MDHS going?
1 May 2024
The Business of Hope
Executive Director Bob Anderson joins Mark Jones in this kickoff episode of Connecting Hope. Inside this episode, they discuss:
The First Four Years
In the Hope Business
Upcoming news on the application process
How is the agency listening to client feedback
Employee Initiatives
New Technologies
Baskets of Benefits
Strategic Plan
What is the S.U.C.C.E.S.S project?
Transparency and connection
Partnership Development
The Next Four Years
Closing
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