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Get the Latest News from the Mississippi Department of Human Services

September 2021

Nadia Gill

Program Specialist, Economic Assistance Eligibility, Lee County

Nadia believes that training employees on policy & procedure while educating clients on our programs is the best way to live out the MDHS mission. She sets a great example for others, not only in the counties she is tasked to help with but in all the counties in her region. She works hard and is always willing to help lighten the load of someone else when needed. We are very blessed to have her on our team in Region 4.

James Hull

Accountant/Auditor, Budgets & Accounting, State Office

James has been loyal to MDHS for many years. He is a hard worker and extremely dedicated to the providers and this agency. He is always open and available to providers and clients, and if he does not know the answer right away, he is not afraid to reach out to find the answer. James is kind to everyone and treats them with dignity and respect. MDHS is lucky to have such an honest & dependable employee like James.

Employee Assistance Program

Available any time, any day, your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a free, confidential benefit to help you balance your work, family, and personal life. All employees and their household members/dependents are eligible to access the EAP. This includes retirees and employees who have recently separated from their employer.

Username and Password are mdhs.

Select the (+) sign on to the online seminars.

Program Access: You may access the EAP 24/7 by calling the toll-free Helpline number, using our iConnectYou App, or instant messaging with a work-life consultant through our online instant messaging system.

TOLL-FREE: 888-993-7650

WEBSITE: http://www.deeroakseap.com

EMAIL: eap@deeroaks.com

Read EAP Newsletter

APS Intensive Training

The Adult Protective Services (APS) Intensive Training themed “The APS Transition Train is on the Tracks” took place August 16-20. The training kicked off with Paul Needham, National Educator for the National Adult Protective Services Association. Mr. Needham conducted an APS Supervisor workshop that was a wonderful experience for our newly hired APS Supervisors. APS is positioning itself to take back over the investigative portion of the program on January 1, 2022, and this completed the first phase of the transition plan.

APS Training Unit

The Adult Protective Services Program is delighted to announce its very first training unit! The APS Training unit currently consists of a Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator, Migai Wilson (left), and APS Training Coordinator, Jessica Jenkins (right).

APS Administrative Assistant

Bethany Neyland is APS's very first Administrative Assistant. In the short time she has been here, she has created a very structured APS environment that includes managing APS's new direct phone number and email address. She has assisted with training, made a filing system, ordered supplies, and ensured the program's administrative needs are met. We are delighted to have her on the APS Team!

Adult Protective Services Program Hotline

State Office Division of Aging & Adult Services welcomes the Adult Protective Services Program Hotline. The hotline recently relocated from the Hinds County office to the APS Program. LaVada Singleton is the APS Hotline/Call Center Supervisor who oversees the APS Hotline's day-to-day operation with a staff of five Hotline Operators.

MAC Centers Make it Happen!

Sponjetta Sims, Greenville MAC (Mississippi Access to Care) Center Manager, shared how the MAC Center helped an older adult displaced by Hurricane Ida.

Mr. and Mrs. Viola of Louisiana were displaced to Greenville during Hurricane Ida. They reached out to the MAC Center when Mrs. Viola realized her husband's oxygen tank was not refilling correctly due to a missing part. With the help of FEMA, they were provided room and board in Panola county for what they anticipated was going to be a 6-week stay. However, they expressed their frustration with the lack of assistance in Mississippi. After sympathizing with Mrs. Viola, I assured her that I would help them find the resources they needed.

I contacted Lincare Medical Supply of Batesville, and without hesitation, the phone representative told me to have them come in, and they would take care of them. Afterward, the Violas called to thank me for expediting their needs and helping them find the resources they were looking for.

These are a few of the abounding situations the MAC Center staff faces daily. I'm grateful to be of service!”

MAC Senior Resource Guide

Pontotoc MAC Center Manager Willistein Williams shared their center's newly developed Senior Resource Guide. This guide is a quick reference point for older adults needing assistance and services to support aging in place. The guide includes a magnet that can be placed on the refrigerator to help make sure information is accessible.

Hurricane Ida

The Division of Aging and Adult Services and Trio Community Meals distributed food to the Taylor family who evacuated from New Orleans to Canton, MS. Ministers Melvin and Kim Taylor left New Orleans before with 25 other family members for safety from Ida. The Division of Aging and Adult Services reached out to Trio and asked for assistance in providing food for the family, and they graciously accepted. The family was grateful for the kindness shown to them during this unforeseen time in their life.

MDHS Executive Director Shares Vision for the Future at Legislative Budget Hearing

Executive Director Bob Anderson presented the MDHS budget proposal to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee at the Woolfolk building on Friday, September 24. During the fifteen (15) minute session, he requested funding for the Dementia Respite Care program mandated by SB 2221 that would specifically provide respite care for caregivers of Dementia patients. Mr. Anderson shared that in 2020, MDHS meal delivery program provided over 2.1

million meals to seniors across the state of Mississippi. Mr. Anderson requested funding for the legislative mandated Adolescent Opportunity Program (AOP) that will work with local youth courts and community organizations to provide support to at-risk youth in need of support and guidance following encounters with the law. Many youth courts across the state continue to request the program to limit recidivism of youth offenders.

Within the legislative proposal, MDHS is requesting $5 million for the continued replacement of legacy data systems, many of which are over 35 years old. Replacement of the legacy systems will allow case managers to more effectively help Mississippi residents access the multitude of services provided by MDHS. Data systems are the technical backbone of service delivery and case management at MDHS.

Alzheimer's Awareness Day!

MDHS Employees raised awareness this month by wearing purple on September 21st!

World Alzheimer’s Day, September 21st of each year, is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a group of disorders that impairs mental functioning.

Every 65 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease. At current rates, experts believe the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s will quadruple to as many as 16 million by the year 2050.

Employee Development

The Division of Employee Development has had a very successful year of training. They have offered 31 training classes, in which 10,203 employees have participated.

Way to go! Thank you for all that you do!

Congratulations Debresha & Jessica!

Debresha Blaylock (right) and Jessica Davis (left) have been accepted into the Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 2021-2022.

Class members are selected based on their leadership abilities, career accomplishments, volunteer activities, contributions to the community, and commitment to help shape a better community.

Leadership Greater Jackson is a nine-month leadership development program designed to educate participants about major community issues and alternate approaches to solutions to community problems. Each month, the Leadership Greater Jackson class meets to explore different aspects of leadership and various challenges facing the community

Leadership Greater Jackson strives to help grow and enhance leadership qualities through an extensive curriculum,

community service projects and

interaction with the community’s foremost leaders. A class of approximately 40 participants are selected by a committee of program alumni, who work to ensure that the individuals chosen reflect the diversity of the community at large.

Welcome to MDHS!

Eleanor Monroe

Division Director, Economic Assistance Eligibility

Let's congratulate Ms. Eleanor Monroe on her new position as Division Director of Economic Assistance Eligibility. Eleanor, a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, began working with us as an eligibility worker in 1998 and has since held positions as a case manager, county, and regional director.

Eleanor brings with her a vision of helping people. She wants to ensure all Mississippians, young and old, gain what is required to thrive.

She is also a lover of animals, DIY home projects, water aerobics, and science fiction. We are delighted to have her serving us in this new position!

Mark Jones

Chief Communication Officer

Mark received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Mississippi College. While in college, he worked in broadcast production and on-air at WSLI–AM, and WHJT-FM.

Mark received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jones has served in various leadership roles since 2000, including senior pastor, fundraising/development, and communication director.

Jones brings leadership in the human services and government sectors, having served as Director of Communication for the Salvation Army Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi Division from 2004 – 2013. In 2013, he accepted the position of Director of Communication for the City of Clinton, becoming the first person to hold the title.

In 2018, the Mississippi College Department of Communication named Jones Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.

He is a long-time resident of Clinton, where he resides with his wife, Kelly, and their children Andrew (23), Ashley (20), Megan (17), and Meredith (15). Active in community and civic life, Mark has served on the board of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, Hinds County Relay for Life Chair, and the Clinton Soccer Association. He has participated in mission work in Canada, Ukraine, and across the United States.