MISSISSIPPI EARLY LEARNING ALLIANCE

THIS PAST YEAR, THE MISSISSIPPI EARLY LEARNING ALLIANCE (MELA) WORKED ALONGSIDE FAMILIES, EDUCATORS, BUSINESSES, AND POLICYMAKERS TO STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE THREE.THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI FORUM FOR THE FUTURE, THE COALITION MELA LEADS AS THE BACKBONE CONTINUED TO GROW BY BRINGING TOGETHER DIVERSE VOICES, CLARIFYING ROLES, AND SETTING A COMMON AGENDA FOR CHANGE AND HAD 180 MEMBERS AT THE END OF JUNE 2025. MELA ALSO WORKED TO BUILD PUBLIC WILL FOR INFANT AND TODDLER ISSUES. THANKS TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION, ZERO TO THREE, MELA HAS BEEN COORDINATING A COLLECTIVE MESSAGE CAMPAIGN, BUILT FOR BABIES, THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2025. MELA SUPPORTED PARTNERS, ELEVATED CHILD CARE, AND PAID FAMILY LEAVE VIA OP-EDS IN MISSISSIPPI MEDIA TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SUPPORTING BABIES DURING THEIR EARLIEST DAYS AND YEARS. THE RESULT HAS BEEN A STRONGER, MORE CONSISTENT VOICE FOR BABIES AND FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE.AS IMPORTANTLY, MELA WORKED TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT POTENTIAL PRENATAL-TO-FIVE POLICY CHANGES FOR OUR STATE. MELA KEPT THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COMMUNITY CONNECTED THROUGH CAPITOL DAY, THE ADVOCACY COUNCIL, AND LEGISLATIVE UPDATES. MELA PRESENTED THE LABOR FORCE REPORT TO THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE AND SUPPORTED THE MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC COUNCIL CHILD CARE TASK FORCE. MELA ALSO DEVELOPED A GUIDE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FOR HOW BUSINESSES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS CHILD CARE TAX CREDIT THAT WAS PASSED IN 2023.