Announcements and News
Helping to change lives in Mississippi
MDHS Engages New Firm to Continue Important Civil Litigation to Recover TANF Funds
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) received approval today from the Mississippi State Personnel Board to proceed with engaging the Jones Walker law firm to move forward with civil litigation filed on behalf of MDHS in May of this year to recover TANF funds from 38 parties named as defendants in the pending lawsuit. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch had already approved the proposed contract with Jones Walker. “This litigation must go forward to accomplish our stated goal of recovering and returning to the taxpayers the millions of dollars in misspent TANF [...]
Approximately 466,000 Mississippi Children to Receive P-EBT Benefits This Fall
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) have received federal approval to distribute Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to approximately 466,000 Mississippi children who participated in the National School Lunch Program or were under six (6) and received SNAP benefits during the 2021-22 school year or summer 2022 months. In addition to the K-12 P-EBT benefit distributed in prior years, children under age six (6) who received SNAP benefits during the 2021-22 school year or summer 2022 have been approved to receive P-EBT benefits. An estimated 90,000 additional Mississippi [...]
Curriculum Development Project Signals First Step in Strategic Partnership for Early Childhood Development
Jackson MS- The Mississippi Department of Human Services has awarded the Mississippi State University Extension Service $5 million to develop a new curriculum for children from birth through age 5. Leaders anticipate the new curriculum will directly impact early childhood education in the state by renewing the early-childhood partnership between Mississippi State and Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood Care and Development that existed for many years. The funding will be used to develop "My Mississippi Adventures," a developmentally appropriate, integrated curriculum that will be made available at no cost to all licensed and registered [...]
SNAP Fraud Investigation Leads to Guilty Plea in Madison County
(Jackson, Miss) - A Madison County, Miss. resident, has been arrested and later pled guilty to SNAP fraud following an investigation conducted by the Investigations Division of the Mississippi Department of Human Service (MDHS). Madison-Rankin Counties District Attorney John K. Bramlett, Jr., announced that Sabrina Catchings, 28, of Madison County pled guilty to welfare fraud before the Madison County circuit court on January 14, 2022. Catchings was sentenced to serve three (3) years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC), three (3) years suspended, and five (5) years supervised probation under the direct supervision of [...]
Water Bill Assistance Program Benefits Mississippi Families
(Jackson, Miss.) – Thousands of Mississippians won’t have to worry about providing water to their families through a new program from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) has received $13 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to help income-eligible residents maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services through the end of September 2023. This important resource provides financial assistance to eligible households in managing costs associated with: Water bills Wastewater/sewer bills Stormwater fees Groundwater fees Reconnection fees Late fees Lien removal fees (water-related) LIHWAP is available for individuals [...]
SNAP Fraud Investigation Leads to Arrest in Desoto County
(Jackson, Miss.) – A Desoto County, Miss. resident has been arrested for SNAP fraud following an investigation conducted by the Investigations Division of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). Investigators found that Candice Ballard received an over issuance of SNAP benefits in the amount of $30,072.00 due to Ballard fraudulently receiving benefits by her failing to report income and household composition accurately. Due to the substantial amount of overpayment and the evidence of alleged fraud found during the investigation, the case was turned over to Desoto County District Attorney to be presented to the Grand [...]