When families in Mississippi are affected by their child’s mental health challenges—especially when those challenges threaten to place the child out of the home—there should be a clear and supportive path to help. That’s precisely what MAP Teams—short for “Making A Plan” Teams—provide.
According to Mississippi state law, local MAP Teams should serve as a single point of entry and re-entry for families with children at risk of institutional placement due to mental health needs. These teams bring together representatives from local systems—mental health, education, social services, juvenile justice, and community resources—to help families develop coordinated, individualized plans that keep children at home and connected to their communities.
Unfortunately, many families aren’t aware that their local MAP Team is supposed to be this “one-stop shop.” Sometimes, an official has led the family to believe that MAP Teams only help with short-term bill payments.
While MAP Teams can use flexible funds to help with immediate needs, their primary purpose is to prevent out-of-home placement and to support families when children return from psychiatric hospitals or treatment centers. Families should be able to approach their local MAP Team and expect meaningful collaboration—not just be steered toward a single provider or limited set of services.
At Families as Alliesm we believe that MAP Teams are most effective when they are truly family-driven and include agency representatives and family members with lived experience. We encourage communities to evaluate who is on the MAP Team and whether those participants have the authority, expertise, and willingness to help families plan for long-term stability. If an agency sends someone not directly involved with affected children, it can weaken the team’s impact.
It is critical to train peer supporters and agency staff to fully understand the MAP Team’s legal purpose and potential. That’s why Families as Allies integrates MAP Team education into our parent-peer support training. We teach that systems should not only offer help but also empower families with information, choices, and support.
MAP Teams belong to the community—not to any single provider. And every family in Mississippi facing the possibility of an out-of-home placement should know they have a right to request help from their local MAP Team. As we work to strengthen these teams across the state, we urge families and providers alike to advocate for full participation, transparency, and accountability—so that children can stay where they belong: at home, with the people who know and love them best.
See the webinar presented by Joy Hogge and Nikki Flippins on MAP Teams:
