April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is child abuse prevention month. We all want to do everything we can to make sure every child is safe and thriving. Oftentimes when abuse or neglect occurs, it…
IEPs, 504 Plans and the Tier Process
As we shared in last week's edition of the Ally, Families as Allies is doing a series of trainings on the Procedural Safeguards, or as they are subtitled and we encourage families…
Judge Carlton Reeves Issues Order in US v. State of Mississippi
We have been keeping you updated on the status of the U.S. v. State of Mississippi mental health lawsuit, which the State lost in September 2019. After we sent last week’s…
Procedural Safeguards and Individual Education Programs (IEPs)
Families as Allies is doing a series of trainings on the Procedural Safeguards, or as they are subtitled and we encourage families to think about them, Your Family’s Special Education Rights. These rights apply…
Motions Filed in U.S. v Mississippi Mental Health Lawsuit
We have been posting regularly on the status of the U.S. v State of Mississippi mental health lawsuit, which the State lost in September 2019. Since we last posted about the lawsuit, there…
2021 Legislative Session Ending, State to Receive Funding from American Rescue Act
This week is the last week of the 2021 legislative session. The last day of the session, also known as Sine Die, is this Saturday, April 4th. Legislators have been…
Make Your Voice Heard: Interagency Coordinating Council for Children and Youth
We’ve been updating you on our progress to reestablish the Interagency Coordinating Council for Children and Youth, also known as the ICCCY. The ICCCY is authorized in statute to oversee and…
Finding Ways to Stand Together When Horrific Things Happen
We typically finalize our plans for the weekly edition of the Ally in our Monday morning staff meeting. This Monday morning we shared our horror in response to the shootings…
Evaluation of Young Children
Families as Allies is doing a five-month-long series looking at the Procedural Safeguards. The Safeguards describe your rights if you think your child might need special education services or if…
Video: Joy Hogge and Wendy Bailey
This week Joy Hogge, executive director of Mississippi Families as Allies, sat down for a chat with Wendy Bailey, the newly appointed executive director of the Mississippi Department of Mental…