Down Syndrome Acceptance Month
According to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), October has been National Down Syndrome Awareness Month( DSAM) since the 1980s. The Society describes October as "a month to raise awareness and…
What Mississippi Law Says about Bullying at School
Bullying is against the law in Mississippi on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus. Mississippi state law requires each local school district to prohibit bullying…
Department of Mental Health Releases 2023 Report on Adult Services
On October 2, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) released its data report for adult services for the fiscal year 2023. A fiscal year is the twelve-month funding cycle for…
Fifth Circuit Court Supports State in Longstanding Mental Health Lawsuit
Mississippi's mental health system has battled the United States Department of Justice in court for over a decade. In 2011, the United States issued a comprehensive letter of findings about Mississippi's mental…
Recent Mississippi Mental Health Updates and Reports
This week, we draw your attention to three recently released documents about Mississippi's mental health system: 1. Office of the Coordinator of Mental Health Accessibility - Quarterly Report for January…
See Our Public Comments on Department of Mental Health’s Block Grant Application
At the beginning of August, the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) asked for public input on its combined block grant application to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services…
Mississippi Today: Dying in Jail While Awaiting Mental Health Care
Last week, Mississippi Today published two articles: "Their families said they needed treatment. Mississippi officials threw them in jail without charges," and "Mississippi remains an outlier in jailing people with…
U.S. Department of Education Strengthens Guidance to Improve Equal Educational Opportunity for Children with Disabilities
On July 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released updated policy guidance, which takes immediate effect, to ensure and strengthen the rights and…
Many Mississippians Lost Medicaid Coverage in June
On June 10, 2023, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid issued this press release about beginning to perform eligibility determinations again after the Federal government stopped them for three years due to Covid.…
Families as Allies Submits Public Comments on Federal Medicaid Plans to Ensure Access to Care
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees how states run their Medicaid programs. Occasionally, CMS proposes new rules…