For Mississippi to reach its potential, our children must reach theirs.
2026 SUMMIT EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
We’re excited to announce the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi’s 2026 Annual Summit, themed Sowing Seeds of Success: Cultivating a Bright Future for Mississippi’s Children! Each year, this event brings together leaders, educators, advocates, and changemakers from across the state to share ideas, celebrate progress, and inspire collective action for Mississippi’s children and families.
Due to overwhelming demand and our goal of providing more opportunities for continuing education credits, the 2026 summit will expand to two full days on April 29–30, 2026, at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, Mississippi. Day 1 will feature the release of the new Mississippi KIDS COUNT Risk and Reach Report, a keynote panel, a range of breakout sessions, and a few more surprises! Day 2 will build upon the main day’s discussions with additional sessions and in-depth learning opportunities. We’re also introducing a silent auction this year, giving attendees even more ways to engage and support our work.
New Chat about Children Podcast episode: What Everyone Should Know About the Mississippi LIFT Resource & Referral Network PART ONE
Chat About Children connects you to the people, places, and practical tools that help Mississippi’s children reach their potential.
In this episode, host Bailey Shelton Ray, Director of Communications and Outreach for the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, takes listeners inside the Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network, a statewide system of free community centers supporting families, educators, and anyone involved in early childhood care.
You may now access the 2025 MS KIDS COUNT Factbook digitally! Click the cover or here to download.
Have you Heard about Mississippi LIFT (Learning Investment for Tomorrow)? The Mississippi LIFT project is funded by the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5) Renewal. The PDG B-5 Grant is based on the strategic plan developed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development and other partners, including the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC), The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center (SSRC).
Mississippi LIFT invests in families, communities, and child care providers with sound educational resources for our littlest Mississippians. By offering training, employment incentives, and support for early child care teachers, Mississippi LIFT sustains families with free at-home learning and child care services by providing safe, evidence-based educational and lifestyle resources from birth to age five.
Early investment can transform the lives of children living in underserved populations, poverty, rural areas, and with disabilities. Mississippi's future depends on sustained funding of these early childhood education and development programs. Our fate is in the hands of the next generation.
Mississippi KIDS COUNT
