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Resources in Mississippi

62 listings. Please call ahead — hours and services change.

Adoption

  • Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services — Adoption

    Statewide

    Adopting a child from Mississippi foster care: learn your options, and see the Heart Gallery of children who are legally free for adoption.

Free / Subsidized Childcare

  • Five County Child Development — Head Start

    Head Start early childhood education for children from birth to 4 in its community, based in Prentiss.

  • Friends of Children of Mississippi — Head Start & Early Head Start

    Head Start and Early Head Start centers across Mississippi, including Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships. Call your local center weekdays, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • Institute of Community Services — Head Start

    Head Start and Early Head Start at 21 centers in 14 north Mississippi counties: Benton, Clay, DeSoto, Grenada, Lafayette, Lowndes, Marshall, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate and Tunica.

  • Head Start & Early Head Start

    Nationwide

    Free preschool, child care and family support for eligible families. Find a program near you online or by phone (Mon–Fri 8–6 ET).

Churches / Baby Closets

  • Choices Clinic of Laurel

    Free in-person and online parenting classes (its Empowerment Program) that earn credits for baby items, plus support groups for new parents, in Laurel.

  • Pregnancy Center of Oxford

    Free clothing boutique for children from newborn to 5 (shoes, pajamas, blankets and more), open to anyone in the community; limit 2 bags per child. Larger items such as cribs and strollers can be requested when available. Also pregnancy and parenting classes.

Clothing / Supplies

  • Choices Clinic of Laurel

    Free in-person and online parenting classes (its Empowerment Program) that earn credits for baby items, plus support groups for new parents, in Laurel.

  • Pregnancy Center of Oxford

    Free clothing boutique for children from newborn to 5 (shoes, pajamas, blankets and more), open to anyone in the community; limit 2 bags per child. Larger items such as cribs and strollers can be requested when available. Also pregnancy and parenting classes.

Domestic Violence

  • Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence

    Statewide

    Find domestic violence support services and shelters across Mississippi. Call the coalition for help (local: (601) 981-9196); the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.

  • love is respect (National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline)

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential 24/7 help for teens and young adults in unhealthy or abusive relationships. Text LOVEIS to 22522, or chat online.

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Nationwide

    Confidential support 24/7 for anyone experiencing abuse.

  • StrongHearts Native Helpline

    Nationwide

    Free, confidential 24/7 support for Native Americans and Alaska Natives affected by domestic and sexual violence, by phone, text or chat.

  • The Deaf Hotline

    Nationwide

    24/7 domestic-violence support for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard-of-hearing survivors, by videophone, chat or email (deafhelp@thehotline.org).

Employment

  • Dress for Success Metro Jackson

    Interview clothing (with a referral) and career programs that help women search for jobs and build confidence.

  • Goodwill Industries of Mississippi — Career Centers

    Free career center classes Monday-Friday: digital skills and certifications, résumé help and interview prep, led by career coaches. Career centers in Greenville and Richland.

  • WIN Job Centers (Mississippi Department of Employment Security)

    Statewide

    Free job search help and employment services at WIN Job Centers across Mississippi, plus a Mobile WIN Job Center. Find the center nearest you.

  • American Job Centers (CareerOneStop)

    Nationwide

    Free local help with job searches, training and career services. Find your nearest American Job Center online or by phone.

  • Dress for Success

    Nationwide

    Professional clothing and career support for women. Find your local Dress for Success on the website.

  • Easterseals — Employment Services

    Nationwide

    Job training and employment support for people with disabilities through local Easterseals affiliates.

  • Goodwill Career Centers

    Nationwide

    Free job training, career coaching, résumé and interview help at local Goodwill career centers.

Potential Financial Assistance

  • Catholic Charities of Jackson

    Transitional housing and rapid re-housing for individuals and families displaced by domestic violence, and financial help with case management for survivors of natural disasters in 65 Mississippi counties.

  • The Salvation Army — Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi Division

    Emergency help with rent, mortgage and utility bills from the Salvation Army's Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Division, whose local teams assess each family's needs.

  • Catholic Charities USA (Find a Local Agency)

    Nationwide

    Find the Catholic Charities agency serving your area for emergency, family and housing help.

  • Modest Needs

    Nationwide

    Small one-time grants for working individuals and families facing an emergency expense. Apply online.

  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul

    Nationwide

    Parish volunteers who help neighbors in need. The national office does not give direct help: ask your nearest Catholic parish for its St. Vincent de Paul conference.

  • The Salvation Army

    Nationwide

    Emergency rent, utility and other assistance through local Salvation Army offices nationwide.

Food Programs

  • Feeding the Gulf Coast

    Find a food pantry near you in south Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Mississippi branch in Gulfport.

  • Mid-South Food Bank

    Food through its Find Food tool and mobile pantries across 31 counties in the Mid-South, including north Mississippi.

  • Mississippi Food Network

    Statewide

    Emergency food through 430 member agencies and mobile pantries across Mississippi. Use the map on its contact page, or call for help.

  • Feeding America (Find Your Local Food Bank)

    Nationwide

    Enter your ZIP code to find the food bank, pantries and meal programs serving your community.

  • USDA National Hunger Hotline (Hunger Free America)

    Nationwide

    Connects you with nearby food banks, meal sites and programs like SNAP and WIC. Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. En español: 1-877-842-6273.

Health Assistance

  • Central Mississippi Health Services

    Community health center in Jackson. Call to make an appointment.

  • Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative (SEMRHI)

    Affordable primary and preventive care at 18 health centers and clinics in 9 southeast Mississippi cities, plus a mobile unit. No one is turned away for inability to pay; sliding fees by family size and income.

  • Mississippi Medicaid & CHIP

    Statewide

    Health coverage for children, pregnant women and low-income parents. Apply online, by mail, or at one of 30 regional offices; call the contact center to have an application mailed.

  • Abortion Pill Reversal hotline

    Nationwide

    Started a chemical abortion and regret it? Call as soon as you can.

Housing Assistance & Shelters

  • Stewpot Community Services

    Shelter and housing help in Jackson: Matt's House for homeless women and women with children, a transitional shelter for families seeking permanent housing and work, a day shelter, and housing relocation help. Also food programs.

  • The Salvation Army — Alabama, Louisiana & Mississippi Division

    Emergency help with rent, mortgage and utility bills from the Salvation Army's Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi Division, whose local teams assess each family's needs.

  • Family Promise

    Nationwide

    Prevention, shelter and housing help for families facing homelessness, through nearly 200 local affiliates. Find yours on the website.

Infant & Baby Equipment

  • Baby Depot (Institute for the Advancement of Minority Health)

    Free baby supplies such as diapers and wipes, plus health resources, for new and expectant Mississippi mothers who qualify for Medicaid or are enrolled in RMOMS. Request supplies through the page.

  • 211 Mississippi

    Statewide

    Dial 2-1-1 for 211 Mississippi, a statewide referral service that connects callers with local health and human services, including child care and family services.

Mental Health & Postpartum Assistance

Parenting Classes

Pregnancy Centers

Special Needs Assistance

  • Mississippi Families as Allies (Family-to-Family Health Information Center)

    Statewide

    Family-led parent peer support and resources for parents and caregivers raising children with behavioral health and other challenges. Call the Parent Concern Line for help; other questions: (601) 355-0915.

  • Mississippi Parent Training & Information Center (MSPTI)

    Statewide

    Free information, resources, support and training for families of children with disabilities from birth to 26, and help for youth 14 to 26 to become self-advocates. A project of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities.

  • The Arc of Mississippi

    Statewide

    Advocacy, self-advocacy and training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

  • Easterseals

    Nationwide

    Services for children and adults with disabilities and their families. Find your local Easterseals affiliate.

  • Parent to Parent USA

    Nationwide

    Matches parents of children with disabilities or special health needs with a trained support parent. Find your state program on the map.

  • The Arc

    Nationwide

    Support and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, through 549 chapters.

Support for Fathers

Transportation

  • Mississippi Medicaid rides to medical appointments

    Statewide

    Mississippi Medicaid's non-emergency transportation broker, Modivcare, schedules rides to covered medical care for traditional (fee-for-service) Medicaid members. Where's My Ride: (866) 331-6004.

  • Family Promise

    Nationwide

    Local Family Promise affiliates help families facing homelessness, including gas cards, transit passes and car-related help where available.

  • Medicaid rides to medical appointments (NEMT)

    Nationwide

    Medicaid covers free rides to covered appointments for members with no other way to get there. Call your Medicaid health plan, ideally two days ahead.