The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services which provides funds through the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Division of Community Services to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty in communities.

CSBG funding supports projects that:

• Lessen poverty in communities.
• Address the needs of low-income individuals including the homeless and elderly.
• Provide services and activities addressing employment, education, housing, nutrition, and health services.

The Division of Community Services distributes CSBG funds to local Community Action Agencies and Human Resource Agencies to address the needs of low income families by:

• Increasing Self-Sufficiency.
• Improving living conditions.
• Ownership of and pride in their communities.
• Strong family support systems.

Who is eligible for CSBG?

In order to receive CSBG services, individuals must be within 125 percent of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines.

How do I apply for CSBG?

Individuals who have never received services may submit a Pre Application through the Common Web Portal.  This site is available nationwide but services and funds are for residents of Mississippi only.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or an emancipated minor. Individuals without access to a computer may call the Community Action Agency (CAA) or Human Resource Agency (HRA) in their area.  Refer to the agency directory for agency contact information and services location.

Welcome to the Child Care Strong grants, administered by MDHS’s Division of Early Childhood Care Department. These are grants offered to child care providers as a part of the American Rescue Plan and are designed to help with operating expenses. All of the information and application process for the Child Care Strong program will be available here. More information will be added as it becomes available, so please check back often!

Child Care Strong will be administered in the following three phases:

• Phase one will include information on eligibility, how to apply, report on the use of funding, and evaluate current operating expenses.
• Phase two will include application, awarding, and issuing of funding.
• Phase three will include the closeout process for these funds.

(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 and families who need assistance paying a current bill, have past-due water bills, had their service terminated, or received a notice indicating that their service will be terminated in the next 60 days. Households can receive the LIHWAP grants for both drinking water and wastewater services. The funding is issued directly to the utility providers to support families who meet income requirements. 

Mississippi residents who qualify for LIHEAP Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will also be eligible for LIHWAP Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. Applicant’s household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income to qualify for these programs.  

 The Mississippi Department of Human Services works to serve aging and low-income populations with their utility assistance throughout the year through local Community Action Agencies.

“Access to clean drinking water and wastewater services are critical to a family’s daily needs,” said Robert G. (Bob) Anderson, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. “Many of our vulnerable Mississippians, especially the elderly, disabled, and families with small children, have difficulty paying their water bills. Our hope is to provide tangible help with today’s water bill to provide a lasting hope for tomorrow.”

Applicants may access eligibility through their local Community Action Agency or submit a Pre-Application through the Common Web Portal. This program is available nationwide, but services and funds are for residents of Mississippi only. There is no cap on the number of times a recipient may utilize the program. If eligible, families can be served more than once. The Community Services Division and the Community Action Agencies have created a benefits matrix to determine the amount they can receive during the year. Case by case basis. Complete application to determine the amount, frequency, and other eligibility issues.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or an emancipated minor. Individuals without access to a computer may call the Community Action Agency (CAA) or Human Resource Agency (HRA) in their area. To find the agency nearest you, please visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/community-services/.

The dedicated staff of the Mississippi Department of Human Services is here to refer families for this assistance.

For more information and to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, visit https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/community-services/.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps income-eligible residents maintain access to drinking water and wastewater services. 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 and families who need assistance paying a current bill, have past-due water bills, had their service terminated, or received a notice indicating that their service will be terminated in the next 60 days. Households can receive the LIHWAP grants for both drinking water and for wastewater services. The funding is issued directly to the utility providers in support of families who meet income requirements.

Mississippi Child Care Transformation Project

Mississippi was recently awarded a Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5) Renewal totaling over $30 million, which will be disbursed over the next three years to improve access to high-quality early child care and education programs.

The grant will allow for the creation of a new Quality Support System with input from parents and providers focused on strengthening family and provider input to ensure Mississippi’s early care and education system is more responsive to all children and families’ needs.

It will also fund a new grant opportunity to address Child Care deserts and low-income communities’ opportunity for local public-private strategies to increase compensation and create new pathways for recruitment into the early childhood care workforce.

The PDG B-5 Grant is based on the strategic plan developed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development and other partners, including the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC), The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center (SSRC).

(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Human Services has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Child Support Enforcement Services.

MDHS issued the RFP today with responses due by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. MDHS intends to issue an Award Notification on Friday, February 19, 2021.

The anticipated contract term would begin on October 1, 2021 and end September 30, 2026.

The purpose of the RFP is to solicit written proposals for the hiring of a qualified Respondent or Respondents that can most effectively, and cost efficiently provide Child Support Enforcement (CSE) services for cases administered through MDHS’ Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE).

“Child Support Enforcement is essential to ensuring families, especially children, receive the financial support they need,” said MDHS Executive Director Robert G. “Bob” Anderson. “We are committed to providing statewide service delivery to our clients, and we need competitive proposals from across the state to accomplish that goal.”

MDHS intends to evaluate and award one or more than one contract for the state-wide provision of Child Support Enforcement Services for all 82 counties in the State of Mississippi based on the MDHS Child Support Enforcement Regions described in the RFP.

The child support program, established by Congress in 1975 as Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, mandates that states enact laws and carry out required functions to ensure that legally responsible persons, to the best of their ability, contribute toward the support of their children. The program serves both children in families receiving cash welfare grants, such as TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), which provides relief to taxpayers by reducing welfare costs, and children in non-welfare families, regardless of family income level.

For the most recent updates on Business Opportunities within the agency, go to https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/solicitation/request-for-proposals-rfp/