Page 22

21 Chapter 4: Parent Application Process

The Division of Early Childhood Care and Development (DECCD) accepts applications year- round. Eligible families shall be served on a first-come, first-served basis by date of application. If funding is not available, eligible families shall be added to a waitlist. As funding becomes available, families in a service priority population as described in Chapter 3: Priority Service Populations will be served first. All other eligible families will be served on a first- come, first-served basis.

• Client referrals from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Transitional Child Care (TCC), are accepted throughout the year from Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) staff. Referrals for children experiencing homelessness and children involved with the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) are accepted throughout the year from case managers. Families experiencing homelessness may also complete a standard application without being referred to by an approved agency.

• Applications must be completed online on the consumer education website www.mdhs.ms.gov. Parents, not providers, must fill out the application; however, providers may make computers available to parents for the completion of the application. Parents may visit any child care resource and referral center. A full list of R&R sites may be found at https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/eccd/rrcenters/.

• In addition, parents requiring technical assistance in completing the application may contact DECCD at 1-800-877-7882.

• A paper application and related forms are available on the Lead Agency’s website at https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/eccd/parents/apply/ for Spanish and Vietnamese speaking individuals. In addition, Spanish translators may be available by appointment for Spanish-speaking parents by contacting DECCD.

• The applicant may be the biological or adoptive parent, or a designated guardian serving in loco parentis.

Source: 45 CFR 98.30; 45 CFR 98.31; 45 CFR 98.33; Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-2(4); Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-4 Revised: August 2025

Rule 4.1 Before Submitting an Application

• A list of the required documentation to complete the application process is available on the consumer education website at https://www.mdhs.ms.gov/eccd/parents/apply/.