Moore Community House (MCH) has a history of serving and empowering low income families in East Biloxi since 1924. MCH’s history enabled the agency to develop strong diverse partnerships with other service agencies in the community. In 1998, MCH was awarded an Early Head Start grant. Moore Community House Early Head Start (MCH-EHS) is a family-centered program that uses a holistic approach to work with individuals and within the whole family. This approach is used because it is considered “best practice” for supporting child and family growth and development.

Each year, MCH-EHS provides high quality, comprehensive services to 104 infants, toddlers, pregnant women, and their families. MCH-EHS promotes school readiness for children from birth to age three in low-income families by offering educational, nutritional, health, social and other services, which enhance the lives of the whole family. MCH-EHS operates two centers providing full care of infants and toddlers five days a week, ten hours per day, and twelve months of the year.

Summary of Community Needs

Moore Community House has conducted a 2016-2017 Community Assessment update. The update details recent changes from last year and trends within Harrison County and the Early Head Start/Head Start service population that potentially impact the Moore Community Early Head Start Program.

The following are changes observed based on responses to the Community Assessment survey:

Zip Code: Increase of respondents residing in Gulfport area
Marital Status: Increase in the number of Married or Divorced respondents and decrease in Single parent respondents
Age: Increase of respondents aged 30-39
Race: Increase of Caucasian respondents
Language and Ethnicity: Decrease of Hispanic respondents
Employment Status: Increase of respondents who are unemployed, retired, and/or disabled
Industry of Employment: Increase of respondents working in the restaurant industry and self-employed
What keeps them from working: Lack of childcare is the number one reason why respondents said they are not working and cannot attend job training or further their education
Public Assistance: Increase in the number of respondents receiving public assistance
Incarcerated: Increase in the number of people who are caring for the children of incarcerated parents
Education and Job training: Decrease in number of respondents enrolled in school
Financial Literacy Capabilities: Survey questionnaire revealed that respondents somewhat stay on a budget and feel somewhat comfortable making financial decisions versus non-confident or confident
Check Cashing systems: Increase in the number of people paying to have checks cashed and use payday loans
Housing and Homelessness: Increase in the number of respondents living with other people on a consistent basis or moving frequently between homes, a significant increase in families who rent apartments or houses, but a decrease in the number of people who receive Section 8 housing assistance.
Housing and Utilities: Increase in number of people who lost their home and / or had their utilities turned off
Immunizations: 88% of the respondents reported that they think it is important for children to be immunized, and 7% of the respondents have children who are not immunized
Dental health: Increase in the number of respondents whose children are covered with dental health insurance.

Program Goals

As determined from this Community Assessment, MCH EHS will continue working toward the same goals as established in Program Year 2013-14. The need for Early Head Start/Head Start services in the area is still pronounced.

Goal 1: Continue to provide services to children during the first years of their life so that they may have the best foundation for a lifetime of learning.

Goal 2: Provide childcare to families for their children in order for parents to work and/or further their education/job training.

Goal 3: Provide support, education and resources for families of enrolled children who are facing economic and social hardships.

Goal 4: Provide assistance for families and MCH staff members to increase their financial literacy and improve their fiscal stability through collaborations with community partners who provide resources and education.

Goal 5: Continue to provide culturally sensitive services, education and resources to children and their families.

Goal 6: Promote healthy children and families.

Goal 7: Provide nutrition education and support for children and their families geared toward the prevention of obesity and chronic disease.

Goal 8: Provide support, resources and educational services to pregnant women and their families.

Data and Methodology Used for Assessment

Extensive research was conducted and several sources of primary and secondary data were used to compile the information.

Primary data is derived from 2013 to 2017 MCH-EHS survey responses, MCH-EHS annual Program Information Reports (PIR), and other MCH-EHS child and family information. Survey data was gathered from a survey of 100 families residing in Harrison County who were applying for a position for their child in the EHS program. The parents had a choice to complete the survey on-line or through a paper copy. The overall goals of the surveys were: (1) to identify the health, social, and other family support service needs of low-income and Head Start-eligible families and their preferred patterns for using these services; (2) to determine the availability of needed services; (3) to discover barriers to accessing and receiving these services; and (4) to learn of any unmet family needs. All surveys were entered into the Survey Monkey on-line program, which calculated the results.

MCH-EHS staff members input program information on children that were served in the MCH-EHS program and their families for the years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-2016 into the Child Plus data system. The information is compiled into an annual Program Information Report.

Results from the survey and program information are compared over the four-year periods to reflect patterns of families’ needs and living situations in the community.

General Description

Moore Community House currently has three facilities located in the East Biloxi area. Two Early Head Start centers consist of thirteen classrooms. Each classroom is composed of eight children and two teaching staff. Other staff members at these centers include floater teachers, mentor teachers, center managers, coordinators, kitchen staff and the EHS director. The administrative building houses fiscal staff, the executive director, and the Women in Construction program.

Geographic Location

A. Harrison County

Harrison County has the largest population and the greatest number of cities in Mississippi. It is bordered on the east by industrialized Jackson County and on the west by Hancock County. This strategic central position has been largely responsible for Harrison County’s diversity. Harrison County has a wide mix of businesses, from retail and manufacturing, to pharmaceuticals and healthcare research, to composite technology and shipbuilding (is this a direct quote or are you paraphrasing? Harrison County Development Commission). Also, four military bases are located on the Gulf Coast: Naval Battalion Center, Trent Lott Readiness Training Center, Keesler Air Force Base and the U.S. Coast Guard Station. Harrison County is made up of five cities: Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi and D’Iberville. Each city has its own special qualities that makes the coast a wonderful place to live and grow.

B. Cities located in Harrison County

1. Biloxi

Biloxi is becoming one of the fastest and biggest growing cities on the coast. It’s known for its casinos, fishing and shrimping industry. Biloxi has been one of the top tourist destinations in the county because of its rich history. Biloxi is home to nine casinos, which provide several resort hotels, 24-hour gambling and other forms of entertainment. Biloxi is also rich in art culture as the home of the Ohr Museum. Biloxi is also now home to a minor league baseball team on the Gulf Coast, the Biloxi Shuckers. Biloxi has one military base, Keesler Air Force Base, which houses the Hurricane Hunters and other training battalions.

2. D’Iberville

Incorporated in 1988, D’Iberville is the youngest city on the coast. Today the city is known for its explosion of retail development. D’Iberville’s first casino opened in December 2015.

3. Gulfport

Gulfport is the second largest city in the state of Mississippi. It is a transportation and business hub for the state. Gulfport is home to several colleges, retail centers and casinos.

4. Long Beach

Long Beach is one of the most livable communities on the coast. Tucked in between Pass Christian and Gulfport, Long Beach houses the Gulf Park campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.

5. Pass Christian

Pass Christian is a quiet resort town, also very attractive for families. It has a rich history in the seafood industry. Pass Christian is the birthplace of yachting in the South.

C. MCH-EHS Waitlist

This map shows where MCH-EHS wait-listed families live.

Early Head Start Eligible Child and Families

D. Demographic Information

In 2016, Mississippi is ranked 50^th overall in child well-being, 47^th in education, 49^th in health, 49^th in economic well-being and 50^th in family and community. Mississippi’s total population is 3.002 million. Of that number, Harrison County’s population is 201,410. The community assessment consists of five coastal municipalities (Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach and Pass Christian.) Below is the map of the children enrolled in MCH-EHS.

According to Talk Poverty, “Mississippi ranks 51^st among states for families who had incomes below the poverty line and women who are working age in 2015. Female headed families in the Gulf Coast face very high poverty rates.” According to Sterling Best Places, there are an estimated 48.35% of people in Harrison County, Mississippi, who are married, while 14.54% are divorced. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, “female-headed families in the Gulf Coast region face very high poverty rates. Nearly two in every five female-headed families with children live in poverty.” Mississippi ranks worst in the nation for women according to health and economic indicators measured by the Institute of Women’s Policy Research.

The median age in Harrison County, Mississippi, is 35.4 years old; the US median is 37.4.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is one of the most ethnically diverse areas of the state. The majority of the population on the Gulf Coast is white and African American, with a significant Vietnamese and Hispanic population as well.

According to the Mississippi Department of Education, the state’s “English Learner (EL) population is growing rapidly. The state now serves more than 12,100 identified EL students.”

1. What is your zip code?

Survey Respondents
	Population Total ²		2013-2014			2014-2015			2015-2016		2016-2017
Mississippi Harrison County	2,992,333 203,234		#	%		#	%		#	%	#	%
Biloxi	48,299		68	68%		80	80%		74	74%	71	71%
Gulfport	72,266		20	20%		10	10%		15	15%	20	20%
D’Iberville	10,222		12	12%		10	10%		10	10%	7	7%
Long Beach	15,626		0	0%		0	0%		1	1%	1	1%
Pass Christian	5,240		0	0%		0	0%		0	0%	0	0%
Saucier	1,342		0	0%		0	0%		0	0%	1	1%
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015			2015-2016			2016-2017
Biloxi	72	75			79			69
East Biloxi	33	27			35			30
Gulfport	17	17			14			17
D’Iberville	10	8			8			16
Long Beach	0	1			1			1
Pass Christian	0	0			0			0

2. What is your Marital Status?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
Single	71	71%	61	61%	76	76%	65	65%
Married	29	29%	29	29%	20	20%	26	26%
Divorced	0	0%	6	6%	2	2%	9	9%
Widowed	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%
Separated	0	0%	4	4%	2	2%	0	0%

3. What is your gender?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014			2014-2015			2015-2016			2016-2017
	#		%	#		%	#		%	#	%
Male	18		18%	9		9%	4		4%	5	5%
Female	82		82%	91		91%	96		96%	95	95%
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
		2013-2014			2014-2015			2015-2016		2016-2017
Male		42			42			53		53
Female		57			59			49		49

4. What is your age range?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
18-20	51	51%	35	35%	33	33%		4	4%
21-29	31	31%	47	47%	48	48%		46	46%
30-39	18	18%	14	14%	15	15%		45	45%
40-49	0	0%	4	4%	4	4%		5	5%
50+	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%		0	0%
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
18-20	2		3		4		7
21-29	44		55		57		66
30-39	62		63		60		44
40-49	19		15		13		8
50+	5		2		3		2

5. What is your ethnicity?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
White	11	11%	10	10%	20	20%		24	24%
Black	58	58%	75	75%	57	57%		66	66%
American Indian	0	0%	0	0%	3	3%		0	0%
Asian	2	2%	0	0%	0	0%		0	0%
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or ?	11	11%	3	3%	2	2%		0	0%
Hispanic or Latino	18	18%	12	12%	18	18%		10	10%
Bi-Racial and Multi-Racial	0	0%	0	0%	0	0%		0	0%
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
White	11		5		6		5
Black	71		71		67		70
American Indian	0		0		0		0
Asian	0		0		0		1
Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander or ?	0		0		0		0
Hispanic or Latino	13		17		16		13
Bi-Racial and Multi-Racial	4		8		13		14

6. What language do you speak at home?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
English	78	78%	88	88%	83	83%	93	93%
Spanish	19	19%	10	10%	17	17%	7	7%
Vietnamese	3	3%	2	2%	0	0%	0	0%
PIR Results of Enrolled and Completed Parents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
English	86		86		87		74
Spanish	12		15		15		12
Vietnamese	0		0		0		1

7. What is your citizenship?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
US Citizen	88	88%	87	87%	88	88%	98	98%
Foreign National/US Resident/ Green Card	12	12%	12	12%	12	12%	2	2%

E. Employment

Mississippi is ranked 46^th nationally in the percentage of all workers who are unemployed. According to Mississippi Labor Market Data, there are 5,040 people unemployed in Harrison County and 81,850 people employed in Harrison County. The unemployment rate in Mississippi 6.1% and 5.8% in Harrison County.

Parental employment doesn’t necessarily lift a family out of poverty. Minimum wage ($15,080/year) is below the federal poverty level for a family of two ($15,410) and is less than half Mississippi’s Self-Sufficiency wage ($37,080) – a wage calculated to support the basic needs of a family, such as housing, child care, food, transportation and health care. In Mississippi, women’s median wages are 18% less than that of men. Mississippi’s culture and economy steer women into gender-stratified, low-paying employment sectors.

The top three occupations for mothers in low-income families are health aides, cashiers, and housekeepers or maids. These often do not provide a family-sustaining wage or the benefits that help working mothers stay employed. Other jobs that pay family-sustaining wages without postsecondary education are often in non-traditional fields for women; they may not have the experience or skills needed to perform those jobs without training.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast has a rich history of tourism, fishing, maritime shipping and manufacturing, in addition to science and innovation. There are currently 12 casinos in Harrison County that are major employers of Moore Community House participants and other residents in the County. In addition, individuals are employed at the two military bases located in Harrison County.

Mississippi now ranks worst in the nation for child poverty, with 31.8 percent of children living in poverty, and the worst in the nation in child well-being. For every 100 families with children in poverty in the state, only ten now receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash assistance. Women are more likely to ask for assistance than men. According to the Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative, in 2014, more than 30 percent of Mississippi’s children were living in poverty. More than half of black children lived in poverty, while two in five Hispanic children, one in three American Indian children, and one in five white children lived in families with incomes below $23,492 a year for a family of four. The state also has the highest number of children living in extreme poverty, that is, with family incomes at half that rate. The Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative says that “living on $23,492 or less a year guarantees that these children struggle in families with homelessness and hunger, deprived of the critical supports they need in their early years to become self-sustaining.” Mississippi’s maximum monthly TANF cash assistance amount ($170 for a family of 3) is consistently the lowest in the nation.

1. Are you currently employed?

Survey Respondents
		2013-2014			2014-2015			2015-2016			2016-2017
Employed Full Time/Part Time		70	70%		68	68%		64		64%	62	62%
Not Employed		27	27%		30	30%		32		32%	32	32%
Retired or Disabled		3	3%		2	2%		4		4%	6	6%
PIR PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014			2014-2015			2015-2016		2016-2017
Two Parent Families
Two Parent Employed	9			7			6		7
One Parent Employed	17			20			17		10
Two Parent Unemployed	28			23			23		27
One Parent Families
One Parent Employed	53			53			52		57
One Parent Unemployed	28			23			23		27

1. What is your annual household income?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Less than $10,000	78	82	91	87
$10,000-$14,999
$15,000-$24,999
$25,000 to $34,999	21	17	8	13
$35,000 to $49,999
$50,000 and up	1	1	1	0

PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Income Eligibility
Eligible 0-100%	71	65	68	77
101-130%	11	11	6	4
Over Income	1	1	2	2
Foster Child	0	1	4	3
Homeless	3	1	5	5
Public Assistance	13	22	17	12
Annual Household Income
$0 to $2999	14	18	25	30
$3000 to $5999	5	5	9	12
$6000 to $8999	8	7	10	15
$9000 to $11999	7	10	11	14
$12000 to 14999	4	9	11	10
$15000 and Over	61	52	36	22

2. What type of industry are you employed in?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Not Employed	27	30	32	32
Casino	18	18	18	15
Restaurants	9	9	9	15
Medical and Dental Facilities	10	3	11	10
Retail Establishments	13	3	5	9
Self Employed	5	9	5	15
Childcare and Education	2	9	7	10
Service Industry	4	5	6	13
Hotels	4	7	3	4
Banks and Financial Institution	2	3	3	1
Construction	4	1	1	8
Law Enforcement and Military	2	3	0	0

MCH MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016		2016-2017
	#	%	#	%	#	%	#	%
Industrial	4	4%	4	7%	15	16%	13	13%
Casino	22	25%	10	17%	20	22%	22	22%
Hospitality	32	36%	20	34%	25	27%	22	22%
Military	5	6%	3	5%	4	4%	1	1%
Medical	5	6%	7	12%	6	6%	16	16%
Education	15	17%	9	15%	13	14%	12	12%
Other Services	2	2%	1	2%	3	3%	6	6%
Self Employed	4	4%	5	8%	7	8%	7	7%
Total	89	100%	59	100%	93	100%	99	100%

2. Employers of Moore Community House Early Head Start Families

(1) Industrial Jobs

2013-2014 Industrial Jobs: Women in Construction, offshore jobs, UPS , Utility Partners of Gulfport
2014-2015 Industrial Jobs: Women in Construction, BLP Paint Biloxi, Ability Works
2015-2016 Industrial Jobs: Construction, Offshore, Corso Inc., E-Fire, Gulf Coast Produce, Waste Pro
2016-2017 Industrial Jobs: Gulf Coast Produce, Air Condition Company, Diversified, Broadus Painting, FL Crane, independent construction companies, J.L. Collins Construction.

(2) Casino Jobs

2013-2014 Casino Jobs: Beau Rivage, Golden Nugget, Harrah’s, IP Casino, Boomtown
2014-2015 Casino Jobs: Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP Casino, Boomtown
2015-2016 Casino Jobs: Beau Rivage, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock, Harrah, IP Casino, Island View, Treasure Bay
2016-2017 Casino Jobs: Beau Rivage, Palace Casino, Hard Rock, Treasure Bay, Scarlet Pearl, Island View, IP Casino, Boomtown.

(3) Hospitality Industry (Food and Beverage, Hotel and Retail)

2013-2014 Hospitality Jobs: Walmart, McDonalds, Base Exchange, Bubba Gump Restaurant, Four Points by Sheraton, Hampton Inn, Keesler Inn, Pizza Hut, Shaggy’s Restaurant
2014-2015 Hospitality Jobs: Base Exchange, Chick-Fil-A, Dillard’s, Four Points by Sheraton, Pizza Hut and Wal-Mart
2015-2016 Hospitality Jobs: Waffle House, AAA Food Service, Applebee‘s, Walmart
2016-2017 Hospitality Jobs: Margaritaville Resort, Bacchus Restaurant, McDonald, Walmart, Winn Dixie, Keesler Dining, Morton Steakhouse, Private Staff Pro.

(4) Military and Law Enforcement Industry

2013-2014 Military and Law Enforcement Jobs: Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Department of VA, Keesler, Navy, and Harrison County Policy Department
2014-2015 Military and Law Enforcement Jobs: Keesler, Navy, Harrison County Police Department
2015-2016 Military and Law Enforcement Jobs: Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Department of VA, Keesler
2016-2017 Military and Law Enforcement Jobs: Army National Guard, VA.

(5) Healthcare

2013-2014 Healthcare Jobs: Bienville Orthopedic, Biloxi Regional, Coastal Family Health Care Clinics, Critter Sitter, Nursing Homes, Psychologist
2014-2015 Healthcare Jobs: Biloxi Regional, Coastal Family Health Care Clinics, Citter Sitter (veterinary), Family Health Centers
2015-2016 Healthcare Jobs: Biloxi Regional, Home Health, Memorial Hospital
2016-2017 Healthcare Jobs: Millcreek of Moss Point, Memorial Hospital, Plasma Center, Weight Loss Clinic, Coastal Family Pharmacy, Greenbrier, various nursing and home health contractors.

(6) Educational Field

2013-2014 Education Jobs Cross Road Elementary, Community Development Institute (CDI) of Harrison County Head Start, MCH-EHS, Kelly Services, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), Biloxi School District
2014-2015 Education Jobs: MCH, MGCCC
2015-2016 Education Jobs: Cross Road Elementary, CDI of Harrison County Head Start, MCH-EHS
2016-2017 Education Jobs: MCH-EHS, All God’s Children Childcare, Harrison County School District, CDI of Harrison County Head Start, Alphabest, Kelly Services.

(7) Other Employment Services

2013-2014 Other Employment Opportunity Jobs: Coast 2 Coast
2014-2015 Other Employment Opportunity Jobs: Cabrera and Cabrera Law Firm, M and M Bank
2015-2016 Other Employment Opportunity Jobs: Mississippi Department of Human Services, Kelly Services, BLP Paint
2016-2017 Other Employment Opportunity Jobs: Jackson Civic Action Agency, Photo Booth Rental, Blake Gym and Fitness, private home cleaning services, Gulfport Job Corp.

(8) Self Employed

2013-2014- 5 Parents who are self employed
2014-2015-4 Parents who are self employed
2015-2016- 7 Parents who are self employed
2016-2017- 7 Parents who are employed.

3. What keeps you from working as much as you want or need to?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
	#	%
Lack Of Child Care	58	58%
No Transportation	6	6%
Skills Don’t Fit Jobs	16	16%
Fears Of Losing Public Assistance	5	5%
Health Issues	2	2%
Retired	0	0%
Discrimination	3	3%
In School	10	10%

4. Do you get any kind of Public Assistance?

Survey Respondents
		2016-2017
		#		%
No Assistance		13		13%
Public Assistance		87		87%
Type of Public Assistance
Medicaid		60
TANF		4
Social Security		5
Food Stamps		70
WIC		35
Public Housing		9
Unemployment Benefits		1
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014		2014-2015		2015-2016	2016-2017
Public Assistance	13		22		17	12
TANF	12		15		17	14
SSI	17		17		13	9
WIC	93		64		75	83

F. Family and Household Information

Female-headed, low-income families in Mississippi are increasingly finding it hard to secure a job that pays family-sustaining wages because they don’t have the required postsecondary education. Approximately 43 percent of women heading low-income working families in Mississippi have no postsecondary education. In order for a single family to make sure they are having their basic needs meet, family must earn twice the federal poverty guideline.

Children age and income eligible for Early Head Start: Income eligible: Each year, at least 600 children are born into poverty in Harrison County and are eligible for the Early Head Start program. Therefore, over a three-year period that a child could be enrolled in the program, over 1,800 children need the service.

South Mississippi has the highest child abuse counts in the state. Harrison County has 619 child abuse cases, and 1,407 children are living in the foster care system.

1. Which of the following best describes your family?

Survey Respondents
			2016-2017
Two Parent Family			42
One Parent Family			58
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015		2015-2016	2016-2017
Two Parent Family	28	29		26	18
One Parent Family	81	76		75	84

2. Which describes your relationships with the child/children?

Survey Respondents
				2016-2017
Parents				92
Grandparents				4
Relatives				3
Foster				0
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Adopt/Natural Step	96	101	98	97
Foster	1	0	3	3
Grand Child	1	0	1	1
Niece and Nephew	1	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0

3. How many children live with you? And how old?

Survey Respondents
Children in Household	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes	90	94	92	96
No	10	6	8	4
Age of Children?
0-2	65
3-5	42
6-13	45
14-17	15

4. Is the father involved in the child life?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, Fathers are involved in child life	58
No, fathers not involved in child life	42

5. Are you currently caring for a child whose parent is incarcerated?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I am caring for child with incarcerated parent	15	25	18	22
No, I’m not caring for child with incarcerated parent	85	75	82	78

6. Does your child participate in the MCH-EHS programs or other childcare program?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, Currently enrolled in MCH-EHS	57
No, My child is not enrolled in MCH-EHS but attends other childcare programs.	22
No, my does not attend any childcare programs	21

7. Does the lack of childcare hinder you from job training or education?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, my lack of childcare hinders my job training and or education	51
No, does not hinders my job training and or education	49

There are 54 licensed facilities in Harrison County. Of that number, 38 have the capability to care for infants and toddlers and accept the Mississippi Childcare Subsidy Funds. But not all families are able to receive the child care subsidy. The number of recipients has been reduced due to the lack of funding and budget cuts. Mississippi is fifth highest in the nation? in the number of cuts made to its child care subsidy program. Consequently, many families leave their children in inconsistent care situations and/or with unlicensed providers. Because of the fluid statuses and situations of families and child care providers, the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) is unable to determine the number of unlicensed child caregivers in Harrison County. According to MSDH Regulations for Child Care Licensing, anyone providing care for more than five unrelated children must be licensed.

Today almost two-thirds of Mississippi’s 500,000 schoolchildren are from low-income families. Fifty-five percent are eligible for free lunch at school, and more than 9 percent receive reduced-price lunches.

Mississippi must invest in its young children by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality early childhood education. Early childhood education may have the potential to mitigate some of the effects of poverty and plays a particularly important role in the lives of children in Mississippi.

Education

There are several reasons why Mississippi has been falling behind the nation in educational attainment. Primarily, too many students are not school-ready and never catch up; too many students drop out of high school; and among those who finish high school, too few go onto college. Children who receive quality early childhood education tend to do better in school, graduate at higher rates, become more financially independent and have better jobs and higher earnings over a lifetime than those without such an education. A simple investment in ensuring high-quality, universal early childhood education for all of Mississippi’s children could and would make an enormous difference in the state’s future. A building resting on a shaky or weak foundation will not stand. Children who enter grade school without the basic skills that quality early childhood education provides lack the foundation for success. According to a Miles to Go article, “Twenty-seven percent of Mississippi adults had no high school diploma in 2000. In 2004, the state ranked 48th in the nation in college education, with only about 20 percent of Mississippi adults with a bachelor’s degree.”

8. Tell us about your highest level of education.

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Did not attend school	0	0	0	0
Elementary School (K-5)	0	0	0	0
Middle School (6-8)	0	0	0	0
High School (9-12)	13	15	34	13
High School Diploma/GED	87	85	66	87
Have Either Vocational, Some College, AA Degree, Bachelor Degree or Graduate Degree				65
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Advanced Degree	5	4	4	5
Some College/Associates	12	20	16	13
HS Grad or GED	76	66	69	73
Less High School Grad	16	15	12	12

9. Are you currently in school?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Full or part-time at a four-year undergraduate college/university	8	22	4	7
Full or part-time at a two-year undergraduate college/university	33	45	12	21
Part-time or full-time Graduate School	3	2	6	0
Not enrolled in school	56	31	78	72

PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Two Parent Families
Two Parent In school	2	1	0	0
One Parent In School	4	2	2	1
Two Parent None in School	22	26	24	18
One Parent Families
One Parent in School	23	17	12	12
One Parent None in School	58	59	63	72

G. Financial Literacy

Mississippi is the only state in the nation to receive an F on the 2016 National Report Card on Adult Financial Literacy. Sixty-four percent of Mississippi residents do not have an emergency fund. Close to half, 47 percent, of households lack a traditional bank account, or need to supplement their accounts with another financial product such as a prepaid card. About 41 percent of Mississippi consumers turn to nontraditional lenders, such as a payday lender, when they need money, more than any other state. According to the state treasury website:

60% Mississippians break even or spend more than they bring in
41% have overdue medical bills – highest in the nation
64% have no rainy-day fund
38% use payday loans, title loans, pawn shops or other non-bank borrowing
47% lack a traditional bank account
Only 40% pay their credit cards in full each month
10% have underwater mortgages
60% don’t shop around or compare credit cards
68% lack a fundamental financial literacy knowledge

Nearly one-third of non-elderly Mississippi households struggle to cover their basic needs. This means that 236,215 households in the state do not have enough income to pay for rent, food, child care, health care, and transportation. The 32% of Mississippi households struggling to get by represents a substantial and diverse proportion of the state, and includes married couples with children, full-time working parents, men and women, and people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. There are over 17,000 households struggling to make ends meet in Harrison County.

1. Which of the following best describes you and how you manage money?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Do not budget	5
Somewhat on a budget	55
Keep a Budget	40

2. How confident are you making financial decisions?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Not Confident	4
Somewhat	55
Confident	41

3. What kind of banking do you currently have?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Checking and Saving Account	48	62	38	47
Saving Account	14	12	10	12
Checking Account Only	14	8	19	18
Unbanked	24	18	33	23

4. Have you used check cashing place to cash your checks?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I have paid to get checks cashed.	18	13	23	35
No, I have not paid to get checks cashed	82	87	77	65

5. Have you ever used a payday loan?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I have used a payday loan.	50	25	14	50
No, I have not used a payday loan.	50	75	86	50

6. Do you have any credit cards?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, I have credit cards	25
No, I do not have credit cards	75

7. Have you lost use of a credit cards?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, Lost use of credit cards	22
No I do not have any credit cards	78

H. Housing and Transportation

Affordable housing is key to living a stable, secure life, and is closely linked to an individual’s ability to save money and reach financial independence. Hardworking Mississippians should be able to afford decent housing and still be able to pay for basics, like groceries, child care and medicine. Sadly, affordable housing is out of reach for too many Mississippi families. One-third of Mississippi’s homeowners and 53 percent of renters spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing. One out of every four senior citizen homeowners spends more than 30 percent of their monthly income on housing. More than 12,100 Mississippi children experience homelessness each year. More than 12,845 public school students were homeless (what year?).

1. Which of the following best describes your current living situation?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014		2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Own a Home	9		17	9	11
Rent a Home or Apartment	49		55	46	74
Section 8 Housing	33		20	40	0
Homeless, Live with people on consistent basis or moves frequently between homes.	9		8	5	15
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2014-2015	2015-2016		2016-2017
Number of Families experiencing homelessness that were served during the enrollment year	4	11		8
Number of children experiencing homelessness that were served during the enrollment year	4	11		8
Number of families that acquired housing during the program term	4	7		5

2. How many times have you moved in the past year?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
None	56
Once	36
Twice	6
3 or More	2

3. Have you lost your home or have the utilities turn off?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I have lost my home and/or utilities turned off	5	16	11	16
No, I have not lost my home and/or utilities turned off	95	84	89	84

4. What means of transportation do you use to travel?

Survey Respondents
	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Car pool	16	7	6
Public Transportation	3	2	6
Walked	2	1	2
Working from Home	2	0	0
Own Transportation	77	90	86

5. Do you have problems finding adequate transportation?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes	85
No	15

I. Health Indicators

Mississippi ranks 50^th out of all 50 states in overall health status. Mississippi is the unhealthiest state with the most adults suffering from diabetes. A third of Mississippi adults are obese, and a third of adults have high blood pressure. A high percentage of the state’s residents smoke, drink alcohol excessively and often die from accidents.

Only 29,000 – or 4 percent – of the state’s children have (private?) health insurance. However, Medicaid provides health insurance for another 328,000 low-income children; in fact, children make up nearly 60% of Mississippi’s Medicaid population (American Academy of Pediatrics). According to the Mississippi Center for Justice, “Better health outcomes are directly related to insurance coverage that prevents developmental problems in children, increases workforce productivity, reduces use of emergency room services and decreases the cost of publicly-funded programs.” Poor health in childhood leads to poor health later in life.

When Mississippians try to the address the health care needs of the early childhood population, ensuring that children have access to health care services is priority. According to the Department of Human Services, the ratio of pediatricians to children under 5 is 1.579. There are 51 licensed pediatricians in the state who perform the Early Periodic Developmental Screenings. Of the 82 counties in the state, 38 do not have an available pediatrician.

Mississippi does have the nation’s highest rate of immunized children. According to the Washington Post, “More than 99.7 percent of Mississippi children enrolled in kindergarten last year received all recommended doses of the MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella; the DTaP vaccine which prevents diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (also known as whooping cough); and the varicella vaccine which protects against the chickenpox.” Mississippi has very strict immunizations laws compared to many other parts of the country, and unlike many states, will now allow parents to skip vaccinations for religious or philosophical reasons. Medical exemptions must be requested by a doctor and approved by the state department of health.

The Mississippi State Department of Health’s First Steps program is intended to ensure that eligible infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities receive the necessary and appropriate early intervention services throughout the state. On average, fewer than 20% of young children are properly screened to identify any special needs, or approximately 27,295 Mississippi children. According to the First Five Count, “In Mississippi, 17,742 kids under the age of 3 are at risk of developmental delays or disabilities that will set them back when they start school, yet only 2,358 are currently receiving early intervention services through Part C of IDEA.” There are children who have a developmental disability in Harrison County.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Mississippi currently does not have adequate dental service providers for young children. Mississippi’s young children from low-income families also face the barrier of having access to few providers that accept Medicaid or CHIP. According to a state Department of Health survey of third-grade students, “63 percent of the children had experienced one or more cavities during their lifetime; 31 percent currently had untreated tooth decay and five percent of the children surveyed were in need of urgent dental care.”

Mississippi has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation, and a two to one disparity between white children and non-white children. In MSDH District IX, which includes Harrison County, the infant mortality rate has decreased. The overall life expectancy for children born in Mississippi in the past decade (2004-2013) is 75 years. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is the leading cause of death in Mississippi, accounting for over a third of all deaths in the state. According to the 2017 Kids Count report, “Between 2011 and 2015, there were 1,120 child deaths in Mississippi. Accidents were the leading cause of death of children under 18 in Mississippi (514 deaths) followed by assault (84), malignant neoplasms (77), and congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (59). Other causes may include septicemia, anemias, meningitis, diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases.”

In 2016, there were 8,390 pregnancies, or approximately 76 pregnancies for every 1,000 girls aged 15 through 19. According to the National Council to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, “ Between 1991 and 2010, there were 159,653 teen births in Mississippi, costing taxpayers a total of $4 billion over that period.” According to Mississippi Vital Records, “over the past three years,a total of 8,498 children were born in Harrison County, MS. Of that number, 855 were teen moms.”

1. Do you currently have health insurance?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I have health insurance.	79	94	56	59
No, I do not have a health insurance.	21	6	44	41

2. Do your child/children have healthcare coverage?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Insurance	79	94	56	86
No Insurance	21	6	44	14

3. What type of healthcare do you currently have?

Survey Respondents
Insurance Coverage	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Chips/Medicaid/Tricare/ Employer	93	109	99	82
Private Insurance	6	1	1	8
No Insurance	1	2	2

4. Do you currently have a healthcare provider?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, Parent has health care provider	57	59	56	50
No, parent does not have a health care provider	43	41	44	50

5. Does your child have a healthcare provider?

Survey Respondents
Health Care Provider	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, my child has health care provider.	79	89	92	90
No, my child do not have a health care provider.	21	11	8	10

6. Does your child or children diagnosed with a disability?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes	13
No	87
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, Diagnosed Disability	23	24	17	10
No, Diagnosed Disability	77	76	83	90

7. Do you get your child immunized?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes	93
No	7

8. On a scale from 1 to 4, 4 being extremely important and 1 being not important, how important do you think the following vaccinating your child is in preventing diseases in children?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
1	8
2	4
3	10
4	78

9. Do you currently have dental insurance and is your child covered?

Survey Respondents
	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, My child is covered by dental insurance	59	84
No, my child is not covered by dental insurance	41	16

10. When was the last time you went to the dentist?

Survey Respondents
	2015-2016	2016-2017
1-2 Years	96	78
3-4 Years	4	16
5+ Years	0	6

11. Do you have any family members who were diagnosed with nutrition related diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol?

Survey Respondents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I have a family member or members that suffers from nutrition related disease	66	56	46	52
No. none of my family members suffer from nutrition related disease	44	44	54	48

12. Are you currently pregnant?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, I am pregnant	6
No, I am not pregnant	90
PIR Results of Enrolled and Completed Parents
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Expecting Women	9	6	11	9

13. If yes, are you currently receiving prenatal care?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, I am receiving prenatal care	5
No, I am not receiving prenatal care	1
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I am receiving prenatal care	9	6	11	9

14. If yes, are you considered a high-risk pregnancy?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, I am considered a high-risk pregnancy	3
No, I am not considered high-risk	3
PIR data on MCH-EHS Children and Families
	2013-2014	2014-2015	2015-2016	2016-2017
Yes, I am considered a high-risk pregnancy	2	3	5	0

J. Overall Well Being

Although more than 35 percent of Mississippians are obese, the state no longer tops the list for large residents: Mississippi is now ranked third for most obese adults. Today, 1 in 5 Mississippi children is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity is likely to persist into adult life and puts individuals at risk for stroke, hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases. During the early childhood years, eating habits are formed for a lifetime. According to CDC, “15 percent of children aged 2 to 4 years in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program were overweight.” According to University of Mississippi Medical Center, “of an obese person generates 40 percent more in medical costs per year than a non-obese person. In 2008, Mississippi spent $925 million in health-care costs directly related to obesity. If the trend continues, obesity related health-care costs will be $3.9 billion by 2018.” According to 2016-17 PIR data 8 percent of MCH-EHS children are consider to be overweight, 5% are considered underweight and 87 percent are consider to be healthy. When Families eat at their dinner tables gives the child a healthy attitude toward food.

Children spend on average 25 hours a week in front of the television, children under the age of two should not be allowed to use television as entertainment. Research has found strong associations between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity. Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising and children under age 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising. According to the CDC, “Children under the age of 2 are exposed to 4,427 TV ads per year and children’s exposure to TV ads for unhealthy food products (i.e., high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, fast foods and sweetened drinks) are a significant risk factor for obesity.”

Consumption of meals eaten away from home, especially fast food, has increased over the past years. 62% of dining budget is spent eating fast goods. According to Health Grove, “There are 7 fast foods per 1000 Harrison County Residents.”

According to the CDC website, “32.3% of Mississippi’s adults reported that during the past month, they had not participated in any physical activity” elementary and middle school/junior high students are required to take physical education for 50 minutes per week. According to CDC website, “Healthy, active and well-nourished children and youth to attend school and more prepared and motivated to learn.” 74 percent of the America’s youth were found to be unfit in 2004 according to CDC.

Fruit and vegetable intake is an important part of a healthy diet and is associated with numerous positive health outcomes. Although diets high in fruit and vegetables are associated with decreased risk for many chronic diseases nationally, 37.7 percent of adults consume fruits less than one time a day, and 22.6 consume vegetables less than one time a day. Burden of Chronic Diseases in Mississippi,” About half of adults reported eating 1 or more fruits daily about two-thirds of adults reported eating 1 or more vegetables daily.

1. Our family eats meals together.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	2
Sometimes	18
Usually	24
Almost Always	56

2. Our family eats while watching TV.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	15
Sometimes	50
Usually	12
Almost Always	23

3. Our family eats out.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	20
Sometimes	60
Usually	16
Almost Always	4

4. Our family uses microwave or ready to eat foods.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	29
Sometimes	67
Usually	2
Almost Always	2

5. Our family encourages our child to be active every day.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	0
Sometimes	9
Usually	24
Almost Always	67

6. My child eats breakfast.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	0
Sometimes	8
Usually	13
Almost Always	79

7. My child eats fruits and vegetables at meals or snacks.

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	1
Sometimes	15
Usually	18
Almost Always	66

8. My child drinks sugar-sweetened drinks

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Almost Never	22
Sometimes	61
Usually	7
Almost Always	10

9. Evaluate the Following Statement.

	2014-2015			2015-2016			2016-2017
	High Stressor	Concern	No Worry	High Stressor	Concern	No worry	High Stressor	Concern	No Worry
Financial Issues	12	19	69	19	30	51	35	25	11
Price of Utilities/fuel	12	16	72	15	24	61	26	27	11
Child Care	13	5	82	39	21	40	32	16	9
Need for education/job training	18	14	68	13	17	70	28	26	6
Need for Employment	22	9	69	21	13	66	31	22	8
Medical/Dental Issues	14	6	80	8	13	79	26	23	11
Housing Issues	11	7	82	11	12	77	33	15	10
Having Enough Food	7	3	90	3	12	85	21	19	13
Mental Health	6	2	92	2	10	88	21	17	10
Lack of Transportation	8	8	84	6	9	85	14	23	14
Afterschool Care	15	9	76	19	9	72	15	9	11
Marital/ Personal Relationships	13	6	81	6	7	87	23	14	12
Safety in School/Work Place	8	3	89	6	6	88	25	16	14
Language Barriers	5	4	91	0	4	96	16	15	7
Domestic Violence	4	2	94	1	4	95	20	10	9
Mental, Physical, Sexual, or Child Abuse issues	7	1	92	1	4	95	24	9	7
My Child’s Disabilities	4	5	91	13	2	85	24	16	9
Substance Abuse	4	1	95	1	2	97	19	7	7

10. Top Stressors in 2016-2017

a) Top 5 High Stressors

(1) Financial Issues

(2) Housing Issues

(3) Child Care

(4) Need for Employment

(5) Need for education/job training

b) Top 5 Concerns

(1) Housing Issues

(1) Need for Employment

(2) Financial Issues

(3) Medical/Dental Issues

(4) My Child’s Disabilities

c) Top 5 no Concerns

(1) Price of Utilities/Fuel

(2) Marital/Personal Relationships

(3) Having Enough Food

(4) Lack of Transportation

(5) Safety in School/Work Place

11. Do you wish there more resources in the community?

Survey Respondents
	2016-2017
Yes, there are not enough resources in the community	78
No, there are enough resources in the community	22
Please explain some resources needed in the community More temporary assistance with monthly bills More assistance for people who need help when times get hard More homeless shelters Increase slots for all eligible children at MCH More resources for East Biloxi residents More activities to positively motivate people in the neighborhood More reliable, visible, public transportation More support for parents to go back to school GED Prep More jobs in the area

Works cited

New Item. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Apr. 2017. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Best Places to Live in Biloxi, Mississippi.” Sperling’s Bestplaces. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
Buffington, John. “Data » Mississippi KIDS COUNT » Mississippi Data Books.” Mississippi KIDS COUNT. N.p., 08 Mar. 2017. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“For Mississippi parents, child care costs lead to tough choices.” The Hechinger Report. N.p., 11 May 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
Health, Mississippi State Department of. “Vital Records.” Vital Records – Mississippi State Department of Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Home.” Mississippi Department of Human Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Labor Market Data.” MDES – Labor Market Data. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Miles to go Mississippi–Pre-Kindergarten: Time to Begin (pdf).” N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Mississippi State .” Chronicdiseaseimpact.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“MS receives F on adult financial literacy report card.” N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.
“Sitemap.” The National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2017.

Community Needs Assessment for Community House

Executive Summary and State of the Grantee