MS Department Of Child Protection Services

The MS Department of Child Protection Services is a state government entity responsible for administering comprehensive child welfare and protection services across Mississippi. Operating under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, the department delivers critical social services and assistance programs to vulnerable populations, including children in foster care, adopted children, refugees, and youth transitioning out of the child welfare system. The entity has maintained continuous federal grant funding since at least 2021, reflecting the essential nature of its mission to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families.

The MS Department of Child Protection Services provides a diverse range of services funded through multiple federal grant programs administered by the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Primary services include foster care maintenance payments and administration (Foster Care Title IV-E Block Grant, currently $16.9 million for fiscal year 2026), adoption assistance and subsidies ($21.1 million in fiscal year 2026), and child welfare case management through various formula grants including Child Welfare Social Services (CWSS), Promoting Safe and Stable Families (FPSS), and Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants (NCCAN1). The department also administers specialized programs including the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (CETV), Independent Living Program (ILP), Kinship Navigator Program (PKIN), and Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) services. Additionally, the department manages refugee assistance programs through the Office of Refugee Resettlement, providing cash and medical assistance, temporary housing, language instruction, legal aid, and educational support to refugees, asylees, and trafficking victims. The department collaborates with the Mississippi Department of Human Services as a prime grantee on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) related initiatives supporting parenthood programs and family formation objectives. Through this extensive portfolio of federal grants and collaborative partnerships, the MS Department of Child Protection Services delivers comprehensive child protection, family support, and refugee resettlement services essential to Mississippi's vulnerable populations.