SB 2791 approved first TANF increase in 21 years

(Jackson, Miss.) – Mississippians receiving benefits from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program will see their benefits increase by $90 beginning today, three months ahead of the originally published timeline of July 2021. On May 1, families of three will see their benefits increase from the current level of $170 per month to $260 per month.

In addition, retroactive TANF payments will be issued for the month of April 2021.  On April 30, payments will be issued to make up the difference between the TANF benefit amount issued April 1 and the new amount for which the household will be eligible.  For example, a three-person household that received the maximum amount of $170 April 1 will receive an additional $90 on April 30, for a total April payment of $260.

“I’m very grateful to the Legislature and the Governor for approving and signing the bill authorizing this historic increase,” said Robert G. “Bob” Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. “Therefore, I felt it was critical to get this increase to the people who need it as quickly as possible.”

Prior to the senate vote, individual TANF disbursements in Mississippi had not seen an increase since 1999.

Implemented in Mississippi on October 1, 1996, TANF provides benefits for families with needy children under age 18. The TANF Program is designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency through employment and training activities provided by the TANF Work Program (TWP). TANF supportive services such as assistance with child care and transportation expenses are available to help the adults in the family prepare for employment and to promote self-sufficiency.

The goal of TANF is to end the dependence on public assistance by preparing recipients for a job by helping them with job readiness training, job skills training, vocational training, other educational training programs and assisting you in finding and keeping a job.

To be eligible for TANF, a family must have a dependent under the age of 18 and be residents of the state of Mississippi. The gross monthly income limit for a family of three is currently $680. Other requirements for TANF assistance include:

• Cooperation with Child Support is a requirement of receiving TANF benefits.
• Cooperation with the TANF Work Program (TWP) is a requirement of receiving TANF unless the adult in the family meets an exemption.
• Registering with Mississippi Works and completion of the Substance Abuse Screening Inventory are required for TANF application approval.
• TANF benefits and TANF Work Program Supportive Service payments are issued to a Mississippi Debit MasterCard® Card.  Paper checks are not issued.

To apply for TANF, you must submit a TANF application to the Department of Human Services office in the county where you live. The application is available online or you may request an application by phone, in person, or by mail from the county office.

For more information on the TANF program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/economic-assistance/tanf/.

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“Offering Mississippians young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

(Jackson, Miss.) – Governor Tate Reeves has appointed Robert G. “Bob” Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services to serve on the State Workforce Investment Board. The appointment is effective immediately and runs through January 2024.

The mission of SWIB is to develop and implement a strategy to maximize the state’s education, training, and employment service resources in support of economic development. SWIB has adopted three broad goals to help achieve its mission:

1. Install an accountability system to track system-wide results and funding.
2. Consolidate workforce training efforts and reduce redundancy and administration.
3. Involve businesses in defining training needs.

SWIB has been working to consolidate and strengthen the state’s workforce development system and make it more efficient, customer-friendly, and demand-driven. SWIB has also developed and implemented a statewide performance management system, the Integrated Longitudinal Education and Workforce Performance Management System, that allows for the collection and analysis of education, training, and placement data across all public workforce and education service providers throughout Mississippi – including the community and junior college system, the state’s largest training provider.

“I’m honored that the Governor has entrusted me to serve on a board that is so essential to the state’s livelihood,” Anderson said. “Our mission at MDHS is to provide Mississippians, young and old, tangible help today to provide a lasting hope for tomorrow. The ability to earn a living wage and provide for their families is essential to providing that lasting hope.”

Appointed by the governor to oversee MDHS on March 4, 2020, Anderson’s leadership has led to a robust emphasis on workforce development within the agency. Under his guidance, the MDHS Division of Workforce Development and Partnership Management oversees the Skills2Work program, which allows MDHS to leverage federal funds that can help the state scale career and technical education programs and workforce skills training, so they are more accessible to low-income families.

The SNAP Employment & Training (E&T) Program, Skills2Work, was designed to assist eligible Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) E&T recipients by providing potential tuition assistance and other support services for Adult Basic Education, Career/Technical pathways and/or Workforce Skills Training programs.  The Division of Workforce Development and Partnership Management within MDHS has established Skills2Work partnerships with the following Mississippi community colleges and other workforce skills training partners to provide E&T services to qualified SNAP recipients:

• Hinds Community College (Hinds CC) offers career/technical programs, workforce skills training programs, Adult Education and Smart Start classes. E&T participants also have access to wrap-around services that will help eliminate barriers to completion.

• East MS Community College (EMCC) offers Workforce Training programs, Career and Technical Education programs, the MS Works Smart Start Career Pathway Model and Adult Education classes. EMCC also connects participants to support services to help participants complete the training programs.

• Refill Cafe offers Education/Vocational Training and Work Experience through a holistic approach addressing immediate barriers to employment and provides a year-long commitment to SNAP E&T participants in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties through eight weeks of classroom instruction, work experience and additional support services.

• Mississippi Low-Income Child-Care Initiative (MLICCI) serves as a technical assistance resource to childcare providers of low-income, working, single moms, connecting them to Job Search Training, Basic Education, Vocational Training and Job Retention activities, along with support services.

• Goodwill of South Mississippi (GSM) offers the Goodwill Customer Service Program (GCSP), a two-part training program designed to help entry-level participants gain customer service skills directly related to frontline work in both Harrison and Jackson counties. The GCSP is an 80-hour training program consisting of 60-hours classroom based, instructor-led training and 20-hours work experience at one of Goodwill’s retail stores.

Anderson will join 30 other voting members on the SWIB, a majority of whom represent business and industry within the state as well as the Governor and other designated representatives from state government.

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“Offering Mississippians young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) has contracted with CliftonLarsonAllen LLC to conduct a forensic audit of the agency.

The audit is a key pillar of Operation Restore Trust, a major initiative that Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson launched upon his appointment by Governor Tate Reeves to lead the agency in March 2020. The audit will provide a complete review of the agency’s practices and ensure it is operating with integrity and in compliance with departmental policies and state and federal laws.

“I’m very pleased that Clifton Larson will be conducting this forensic audit,” Anderson said. “This was a very thorough selection process, and Clifton Larson was a unanimous selection. This is a major part of Operation Restore Trust, and I’m confident it will allow us to embrace change and move forward with confidence in our ability to succeed.”

Through this forensic audit, MDHS is seeking a complete, objective, and accurate assessment of any misspent funds, the identity of any MDHS personnel that may have been involved, and the scope of any civil or criminal fraud discovered within the period from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2019.

A forensic audit analyzes a specific set of transactions or to search for misappropriated assets. Forensic audits do not have a materiality threshold; every act or evidence of suspicious activity is material.

The international CPA firm was selected by a 5-person committee made up of representatives from within the agency and the Office of the State Auditor. OSA has been, and will continue to be, a third-party participant in the forensic audit process. Serving on the selection committee were:

From MDHS: Sandra Griffith, MDHS Chief Compliance Officer

Rachelle Richardson, MDHS Deputy Executive Director for Age Related Programs

Chris Rand, MDHS Director of Internal Audit

And from the Office of the State Auditor:

Stephanie Palmertree, OSA Director, Financial Compliance Division)

Michael Torres, OSA, Agency Audit Division

After careful consideration all the information provided by the firms responding to the Request for Information (RFI) for the forensic audit, the evaluation committee recommended Clifton Larson Allen, LLP by consensus as the highest-ranking response to the RFI.

With 6,200 employees in 120 U.S. locations and a global affiliation, CliftonLarsonAllen is a professional services network and the eighth largest accountancy firm in the United States. CLA is consistently recognized been recognized as one of the 2019 top 10 accounting firms by Accounting Today. The publication ranks the top 100 firms annually. For the second year, CLA came in at number eight.

Executive Director Anderson has also appointed an Audit Committee at MDHS to work alongside the forensic audit firm team throughout the forensic audit.  The Audit Committee includes:  Bridgette Bell, Chief Financial Officer; Brett Robinson, of the Division of Internal Audit; Kameron Harris, Deputy Compliance Officer; and Nathan Wilson, Deputy Executive Director for Administrative Services.

The forensic audit will commence September 8, 2020 and will continue through May 31, 2021. The cost of the audit will be $2,107,494 and will be paid for with federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

For more information on MDHS and its subordinate divisions, visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/.

(Jackson, Miss.) –Mississippians in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households are now able to make online food purchases using their benefits. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow online purchasing of food by SNAP households. After testing with the two nationally approved vendors, Amazon and Walmart, MDHS has launched the program statewide for Amazon today. Walmart will be live statewide on Thursday, August 27.

This program will allow Mississippi to use their SNAP benefits for online purchasing only with authorized SNAP online retailers. Currently, the only two approved retailers for Mississippi are Walmart and Amazon. Any local retailers who wish to apply for approval for receiving online purchases should review the FNS website https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing to determine what information is needed to apply.

“This is a major step forward in eliminating the dilemma caused by food insecurity and food deserts in Mississippi,” MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson said. “We appreciate FNS providing oversight of such a necessary program, which will give Mississippians healthy eating options who otherwise might not have them.”

Since the purpose of SNAP is only to purchase food, SNAP funds cannot be used for shipping or delivery of online purchases. An alternate means of payment must be used for shipping and delivery charges.

Mississippi’s SNAP participation is more than 420,000 individuals, more than 195,000 households, and totals approximately $800 million annually in federal benefits. From March through July, MDHS distributed nearly $385 million in SNAP disbursements throughout Mississippi.

(Jackson, Miss.) – A project that has been ongoing for more than a year is finally becoming a reality for citizens in Schlater, Mississippi in rural Leflore County. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at 11 a.m. for a new water well to serve the community.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) was awarded a $63,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services to provide a new water well for citizens in the area.

The well was lost due to the historic flooding last year, and residents have been without water since July 2019. Due to the lack of running water, the families have faced indescribable challenges to sanitation, safe housing, and health and safety.

“It’s hard to imagine communities being without basic necessities, especially during the pandemic we’re facing,” said MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson. “Hygiene is critical for the health and welfare of everyone right now.”

Families refused to relocate due to the lack of resources and their desire to remain on family land. Local community action agency, Central Mississippi, Inc. (CMI), and the local fire department provided thousands of gallons of water and bottled water to residents to offer some relief, however, families had to heat this water to bathe and wash dishes, and must pour water into toilets to flush them.

MDHS was contacted by CMI to inquire about possible funding.  The MDHS Division of Community Services, under the leadership of Division Director Tina Ruffin, applied for Community Services Block Grant Disaster Supplemental funds being offered through DHHS.  Funding was approved, however, MDHS had to apply for a special one-time waiver to use the funds for this particular purpose.  MDHS received approval of the waiver this week and will proceed with the project.

MDHS and CMI will offer case management services to the families to address other issues they face such as employment, education, and housing, and to provide referrals to other local and state resources such as SNAP, TANF, Head Start, Aging services, Transportation, etc.

“It brings tremendous pride when you’re able to help entire communities recover from times of hardship,” Anderson said. “This is a prime example of providing tangible assistance today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

For more information on the Mississippi Department of Human Services and the services they provide, go to https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/.

(Jackson, Miss.) – The State of Mississippi has not endured anything quite like the effects of the novel coronavirus in the last hundred years. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) is helping child care providers and families navigate this unprecedented environment with coaching and training through partnerships with the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and the Early Childhood Academy.

“It’s exciting to see how our partners are using technology to provide virtual services in response to COVID-19.”  Dr. Chad Allgood, Deputy Director of the MDHS Division of Early Childhood Care and Development said.  “By adapting quickly, MDHS and its partners have been able to continue to assist child care providers and families safely.” 

The Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC) provides training and technical assistance that focuses on children with special needs, early intervention, and universal design for learning.  MECIC has recently developed and implemented online training for the MDHS Child Care Assistance in Isolation Response Plan (CCAIR), based on CDC and Mississippi State Department of Health guidelines.

To learn more about MECIC and the programs they offer, visit https://mecic-usm.org.

The Early Childhood Academy (ECA) provides technical assistance and professional development to child care providers and families on various topics related to child development and education.  ECA oversees the statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Network which provides education resources to families and child care providers.

To learn more about the Early Childhood Academies visit https://secac.ms.gov/early-childhood-academy/.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) licenses and registers child care facilities across the state.  Licensing regulations have been established by the Department to help providers meet the health and safety needs of children enrolled in child care.  Additionally, MSDH provides training and technical assistance to child care facilities on how to keep children healthy and safe.  Families can use the MSDH Find a Child Care Provider website option to search for information about any licensed or registered child care facility.

To learn more about MSDH Child Care Licensure visit www.healthyms.com

(Jackson, Miss.) –Mississippians in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households will soon be able to make online food purchases using their benefits. The Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) recently received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to allow online purchasing of food by SNAP households. The Food and Nutrition Service will administer the program. A start date for when online purchases can be made will be determined soon.

This approval will allow Mississippi to expedite the implementation of online purchasing with currently authorized SNAP online retailers. Currently, the only two approved retailers for Mississippi are Walmart and Amazon. Any local retailers who wish to apply for approval for receiving online purchases should review the FNS website https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-requirements-provide-online-purchasing to determine what information is needed to apply.

“This is a major step forward in eliminating the dilemma caused by food insecurity and food deserts in Mississippi,” MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson said. “We appreciate FNS providing oversight of such a necessary program, which will give Mississippians healthy eating options who otherwise might not have them.”

Since the purpose of SNAP is only to purchase food, SNAP funds cannot be used for shipping online purchases. An alternate means of payment must be used for shipping charges.

Mississippi’s SNAP participation is more than 420,000 individuals, more than 195,000 households, and totals $606 million annually in federal benefits. Mississippi distributed nearly $82 million in SNAP disbursements throughout Mississippi during April 2020 alone.

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“Offering Mississippians young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

 MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson issued a Request for Information (RFI) today to select an accounting firm to conduct a forensic audit of the agency. The issuance represents another example of his commitment to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Governor Reeves selected me to ensure the Department of Human Services takes every measure possible to provide tangible help for the people who need it most,” Anderson said. “This audit will provide us the opportunity to see what should be sustained and what areas need the most improvement.”

“The single-audit report released today clearly demonstrates the amount of damage and coercion perpetrated by John Davis against this agency and the people of Mississippi,” Anderson said. “This audit, while covering multiple years, still makes it obvious that we need a complete, forensic audit to look at all aspects of the agency so we can move forward and put the past behind us.”

A forensic audit is designed to focus on reconstructing past financial transactions for a specific purpose, such as concerns of fraud. This is separate from an annual single audit that the Office of the State Auditor conducts of all state agencies as part of the normal course of its duties. An annual single audit is typically focused more on compliance and/or the performance of the agency.

Anderson added that his office will oversee the forensic audit, while working with the Office of the State Auditor as needed.

Anderson was selected to lead the agency by Governor Tate Reeves on March 4, 2020. He brings to the agency more than 25 years of investigating and litigating white collar crime, public corruption and fraud. This includes serving as Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Chief Integrity Officer for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, and Special Assistant Attorney General with the Public Integrity Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.

Beginning in August 2019, MDHS leadership has made significant efforts to shape policies and improve internal controls to enforce transparency and accountability for subgrantees and RFPs. Among those include:

• The State TANF Plan has been rewritten to include the stipulation that no TANF funds will be dispersed ​to non-state agencies without going through the ​competitive procurement process.
• The agency’s Subgrantee Manual has been revised to strengthen controls, to include requiring general ledgers to be included with all outcome reporting, mandating that ​financial monitoring visits be conducted ​annually.
• Risk assessments are now performed before subgrants are awarded.
• Programmatic monitoring will be conducted on a minimum of bi-annual basis.
• Subgrantees are all given training at the State Office to make sure they have a clear understanding of the agency’s expectations of them and how they can ensure they meet all federal guidelines.
• Technical assistance is provided to high risk or any other subgrantees who request such.
• MDHS created the Office of Inspector General to coordinate Internal Audit and Investigations to best identify and eliminate any potential cases of fraud or criminal activity.
• Subgrantees now receive claim reimbursement instead of cash advances after initial draw. This allows MDHS to determine how the funds are being spent before we disperse the funds.
• TANF sub-grantees are now required to submit programmatic reports by the 10th of each month that details individuals served, and services received. No reimbursement claim form is processed until after programmatic reports are received.
• Programmatic reports are required to contain unique identifying information to allow the agency to track long term outcomes for individuals served.

In addition, Anderson created the position of Chief Compliance Officer to ensure the agency and employees follow the laws, regulations, standards, and ethical practices that apply to the agency, thereby detecting and preventing violations of rules.  The Compliance Office will also take on responsibility for quality control reviews and monitoring of subgrantees in a partnership role with the Office of Inspector General.  The Chief Compliance Officer arrives May 1, 2020.

Anderson said these measures will allow the agency to move forward and separate from past indiscretions and will serve to make the agency’s oversight functions more robust.

“The forensic audit and the addition of a compliance office will help us identify any weak spots in policies or procedures that need to be modified to prevent fraud, waste and abuse,” he said. “We intend to move forward as an agency and conduct the work we are charged with performing while maintaining transparency and accountability.”

For the most recent updates MDHS business opportunities, go to https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/solicitation/.

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“Offering Mississippian young and old tangible help today to create a lasting hope for tomorrow.”