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Rule 9.4 Threatening Behavior

A. Any applicant who engages in the use of aggressive or disruptive language, threats, or behavior against a subgrantee agency, subgrantee staff, subgrantee contractor, or state/federal staff shall be prohibited from receiving services for one year from the date of the incident, for the first offense. That staff person must complete an incident report and submit it to their Executive Director. The incident report should be uploaded into Virtual ROMA and the client case coded as sanctioned.

Any subsequent threats or disruptive behavior will permanently disqualify the client from receiving services. The staff must complete an incident report and submit it to their Executive Director. The incident report should be uploaded into Virtual ROMA and the client case coded as permanently sanctioned.

B. Any kind of physical contact or physical threats with firearms or weapons made against a subgrantee agency, subgrantee staff, subgrantee contractor, or state/federal staff, will disqualify an applicant or household from services permanently. The staff must notify their Executive Director immediately. The Executive Director must contact local authorities and file a police report. A copy of the report and detailed account of the incident must be kept in the client’s file, scanned into Virtual ROMA and coded as sanctioned, and a copy must be submitted to the Director of the Division of Community Services.

Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-2(4); Miss. Code Ann. § 43-1-4. Revised: January 2026

Rule 9.5 Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.

The Mississippi Department of Human Services has zero tolerance for the commission or concealment of acts of waste, fraud and abuse. Allegations of such acts will be investigated and pursued until the logical conclusion, including legal action when warranted.

A. Definitions of Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Waste involves the taxpayers not receiving a reasonable value for money in connection with any government funded activities due to an inappropriate act or omission by players with control over or access to government resources.

Fraud is a type of illegal act of obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation or a false representation of a material fact, whether by words or by conduct, by false or misleading allegations, or by concealment of that which should have been disclosed, which deceives another so that he acts, or fails to act to his detriment.

Abuse involves behavior that is deficient or improper when compared with behavior that a prudent person would consider reasonable and necessary business practice given the facts and circumstances. Abuse also includes misuse of authority or position for personal financial interests or those of an immediate or close family member or business associate.