Quality childcare has never been more critical than it is today in Mississippi. As the state looks to recover from the impact of COVID-19, accessibility to quality, early education and childcare will play a significant role for our state’s employers and employees.
The Mississippi Economic Council, along with the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, will host a virtual summit on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. to explore the importance of quality early learning and care. The summit, “Untapped Potential: Economic Impact of Mississippi Childcare” is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Panelists will include:
- Scott Waller, President & CEO, Mississippi Economic Council
- Julia Barfield, Senior Manager of Policy & Programs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Jennifer Calvert, Owner, Calvert’s ABC Child Care Center
- Dr. Carey Wright, Superintendent, MS State Department of Education
- Andrea Sanders, Chief Counsel for Programs, MS Department of Human Services
- Linda Southward, Executive Director, Children’s Foundation of Mississippi
- Rhea Williams-Bishop, W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Director of Mississippi and New Orleans programs, will moderate the program.
In February 2020, the U.S. Chamber Foundation released a report showing Mississippi loses $673 million annually due to childcare breakdowns. This includes a direct impact of $553 million to employers due to turnover and absences related to childcare.
There is an additional $120 million in tax revenue losses for the state. The report also states that Mississippi is making strides with early learning collaborative programs, but acknowledges there is more work to be done.
There is no cost to participate in the summit.
