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Working Groups

Our working groups complete projects
that align with our agenda

Our working groups complete projects that align with our agenda. These projects build upon one another – as well as related work being done outside of Forum for the Future – to help us make incremental progress toward a state-of-the-art childcare system in Mississippi.

Our Working Group Process

Current Working Groups

Early Learning Collaboratives

Explore Childcare Participation in Early Learning Collaboratives
Answer Key Questions
  • Why aren’t more private childcare providers participating in the collaboratives?
  • From a childcare provider perspective, what are the advantages or disadvantages of participating in the collaboratives?
  • What needs to change, and who can make those changes?

    Take Action
    Identify and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate barriers to participation. Identify and implement strategies strategies to maximize the benefits of participation for childcare providers.

    This working group is led by the two co-chairs listed below. If you’d like to join this working group, email them to sign up!
  • Kenecha Brooks-Smith, Educational Consultant at KBS, Inc. and Leading for Children
  • Shuronda Claiborne-Common, Business Advisor with Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Early Care and Development
    • Email the Co-Chairs

    Childcare Teacher Wages Exploration

    Explore funding structures and revenue streams to provide wage supplements and professional development directly to childcare workers.
    Answer Key Questions
  • What kind of infrastructure would need to be in place to provide higher wages and professional development to childcare workers?
  • How much funding would be needed?
  • How do health or retirement benefits factor into this equation?
  • What would be needed to ensure that funding is sustained?

    Take Action
    Identify and connect with public, private or philanthropic agencies that might provide funding for this. Explore potential revenue streams that could be used to supplement or sustain this effort. Identify and implement strategies that reduce the cost of providing employee benefits, business overhead, childcare supplies, etc.

    This working group is led by the two co-chairs listed below. If you’d like to join this working group, email them to sign up!
  • Dr. Cathy Grace, Co-Director of the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning at the University of Mississippi.
  • Connie Clay, Education and Training Specialist at the Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning of the University of Mississippi.
    • Email the Co-Chairs
    Childcare teachers' Wages Survey Results Report

    True Cost of Childcare

    Analyze the cost of providing quality childcare services across care models & settings (including at-home and center-based). Determine how to close the gap between how much quality services cost and how much families can afford to pay.
    Answer Key Questions
  • From a financial and business perspective, what does it take to run a sustainable childcare program (including staffing needs and wages, realistic tuition, supplies, rent/mortgage, etc.).
  • How do costs and business needs differ according to center type and setting (i.e. urban vs. rural, home-based vs. center based)?
  • What are critical issues within the childcare business model?

    Take Action
    Industry leaders, childcare providers, and economic analysts will help legislators and the general public understand the comprehensive cost of providing quality childcare services. Identify and, if possible, begin implementing solutions to help childcare providers maintain financially stable programs and increase worker salaries.

    This working group is led by the two co-chairs listed below. If you’d like to join this working group, email them to sign up!
  • Dr. Jeff Leffler, Assistant Professor and Interim Head in the Meridian Division of Education at Mississippi State University
  • Tamara Smith, Director of Early Childhood at Midtown Partners, Inc.
    • Email the co-chairs

    Previous Working Group:

    This working group was assembled to create recommendations for a statewide Quality Support System for childcare that works for Mississippi children, families, and childcare providers.

    The recommendations were crafted and authored by a team of 19 childcare providers, with guidance and support from other early childhood professionals, as well as input from Mississippi parents via focus group. These recommendations were shared with the Mississippi Department of Human Services in early fall of 2022 to inform the department’s planning and design efforts around a Quality Support System for childcare.

    This process was structured to incorporate the lived experiences of providers, family needs and preferences, and research-based best practices into the final recommendations. The working group launched in May 2022, and ended with the report submission in fall 2022. However, quality support system work in Mississippi does not end with this report – the Mississippi Department of Human Services (not Forum for the Future) will lead future phases of this work. 

    Key deliverables and resources from this Working Group:

    The Mississippi Early Learning Alliance is the backbone and primary facilitator of Forum for the Future. However, the success of this movement will be driven by the continued guidance, participation, and support of the many organizations working on behalf of children across the state, as well as the involvement of parents, business owners, elected officials, researchers, and more.

    The Mississippi Forum For the Future's backbone work is generously funded by SonEdna.

    The Mississippi Forum For the Future's Data Team is generously funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.