Virtual mississippi access to care (MAC) centers

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living awarded a cooperative agreement to the Mississippi Department of Human Services on June 1, 2026, totaling $450,000 under the Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV, and Title II, Discretionary Projects program (CFDA 93.048).

The award funds the implementation of Virtual Mississippi Access to Care Centers, a modernization of long-term services and supports (LTSS) access through the state's No Wrong Door (NWD) system. The virtual centers will serve as a centralized, coordinated entry point for LTSS by integrating state agency efforts, enhancing person-centered counseling, and streamlining referral processes. Deliverables include modernization of the NWD system to reduce redundant data collection and improve service delivery, increased public education and awareness of LTSS options across community-based organizations and state agencies, enhanced cross-referrals and integrated partnerships with providers, and establishment of systematic processes for information and referral assistance with assistive technology implementation. The project also establishes a multi-agency governance framework to ensure sustainability beyond the grant period and strategically aligns NWD goals with state-level policy initiatives and cross-sector planning efforts such as multisector plans for aging.

Place of performance is Mississippi. The period of performance runs from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028. Mississippi Department of Human Services is the prime recipient.

Abstract

The proposed project modernizes ltss access through the implementation of virtual MAC centers. These centers will serve as a centralized, coordinated entry point for ltss by integrating state agency efforts, enhancing person-centered counseling, and streamlining referral processes. By leveraging advanced IT solutions and cross-agency collaboration, the project aims to: · modernize the NWD system to reduce redundant data collection and improve service delivery. · increase public education and awareness of ltss options. · establish a multi-agency governance framework to ensure sustainability beyond the grant period. Goals: • modernize access to ltss through the NWD system • increase outreach and public education through key referral sources across community-based organizations, state agencies using integrative technology • enhance cross-referrals and integrated partnerships with providers. • ensure systematic processes across all NWD partners to provide information and referral/assistance (i & r/a) and manage referrals across platforms using assistive technology objectives: • strategically align NWD goals with state-level policy initiatives and cross-sector planning efforts, such as multisector plans for aging, to document and advance increased access to ltss. • ensure referral processes and access points extend across all programs and services that support access to ltss and expand upon goals for aligning health and social care. • address the need for modernized information technology (IT) systems by bridging knowledge gaps through education, information, and referrals. Outcomes: • improve efficiency of intake • improve effectiveness of information sharing that streamlines the continuum of access to services through multiple agencies • provide more public awareness to information and resources for human services • provide accessibility virtually increasing the implementation and use of assistive technology • accurate evaluation of data through system tracking