During the third hearing held by the Senate Study Group on Women, Children and Families, state agency heads are discussing the barriers to success faced by many low-income Mississippians. Ryan Miller is the Executive Director for Accelerate Mississippi, a department working with industry leaders and local colleges to grow the state’s labor force. He says families face a variety of obstacles when trying to grow in their careers, ranging from a lack of affordable housing, access to transportation, and drug use.
“The number one topic that continually comes up is that of childcare,” says Miller. “Industry has been saying this for a number of years, and only in the 18 months we’ve been existence it’s been the number one challenge that has been articulated amongst our industry partners.”
Miller says one of the most common reasons people have difficulty finding childcare is scheduling conflicts, preventing parents from seeking higher education.
Community Colleges across the state have begun to pursue alternative learning methods to accommodate for the busy schedules of working Mississippians, says Community College Board Interim-Executive Director Kell Smith. He says virtual classes have helped, but the course options are limited.
Smith says “It allows students the opportunity to take classes and earn credit obviously towards their associate degree. They receive the same support as if they were in a brick-and-mortar class. But we recognize the needs for flexible course offerings, because life does often get in the way sometimes for our students.”
Officials say expanding childcare opportunities and pathways for education could benefit families as well as the state’s workforce.
