See how these WFM Grantees are Powering a Brighter Future for Mississippi’s Women & Girls

We’re spotlighting three of our grantees and their work raising the bar for women and their families. Using a two-generation approach, these grantees offer resources like childcare, skills training, and caregiving support that improve conditions for moms and their children. Read on to learn more! 

Mississippi Low-Income Child-Care Initiative

For years the Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative (MLICCI) has worked to build economic security for Mississippi women through affordable, accessible child care. This essential resource helps working parents succeed at their jobs and take the next step in their careers through degrees or training programs. 

And there’s data showing the link between child care and economic security. A 2023 report from the U.S. Chamber Foundation, the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC), and the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi found that 22% of parents had to voluntarily leave a job, not take a job, or greatly change their job due to child care breakdowns. 

The report also found that 41% of moms had to either stop or postpone their education due to a lack of child care. Without a job, or training to get a high-earning role, working moms are more likely to face economic instability.

Grants from the Women’s Foundation will power MLICCI’s signature programming like Employment Equity for Single Moms (EESM) and Child Care Leadership Teams (CCLT) to address the child care access gap. Through EESM, MLICCI connects moms to job training, education, child care, and transportation services so they reach higher levels of employment. CCLTs take the issue of child care access to the polls, inviting parents and caregivers to raise awareness and take action.

St. Gabriel Mercy Center, Inc.

Also addressing the child care access gap, St. Gabriel Mercy Center Inc., is connecting women in Bolivar County to child care resources and caregiving training through the Parents As Teachers (PAT) Program.

Through PAT, single moms with young children have the chance to receive child care and learn more about caregiving through a ten-week curriculum. Moms are paired with Parent Educators, who provide in-home services once a month until the child is three years old, creating capacity for moms to pursue further skills training.

Not only does PAT address the childcare access gap, but it also gives young moms the opportunity to become better caregivers and providers for their children. It’s a classic example of two-gen work! 

Midtown Partners

Tackling economic security, Midtown Partners has a wide range of programs to build skills, education, and opportunities for women in Mississippi. Grants from the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi will be used to support Midtown Partners’ strategic planning and capacity building for programs focused on women and girls in the state. 

One program supported by Midtown Partners, Better Together, provides opportunities for women in the Jackson-area to receive their Child Development Associate (CDA) credentials as well as on-site training in high-quality teaching practices, real-world classroom teaching experience, and job placement. 

Just last year, this program made it possible for 75 early childhood educators to get their Child Development Associate certifications, job placement, and professional mentoring!

Keep the Good Going

When so many of you come together to donate, it helps us identify organization partners to strategically improve the lives of our state’s women and girls. Let’s keep the good going!

Employers and business leaders, click here to learn more about our upcoming Thrive @ Work event on October 24, 2024, and discover how you can build workplace policies that address two-generation issues and help women and their families live the lives they want. Because when women thrive, so does our state!