The Young Lawyers Division has compiled the following links to assist attorneys in child advocacy matters. These links are arranged by topic and are intended to be used by attorneys and/or shared with clients.

EDUCATION

• https://www.mdek12.org/OAE/OEER/ResourceParents
• Dyslexia
• Dyslexia Guide from MDE
• IDA Dyslexia Handbook: What Every Family Should Know 
• Mississippi College Dyslexia Center 
• IEP:
• General Info Regarding an IEP Meeting 
• It’s Still a Good Idea: A Community Guide to Special Education in Mississippi 
• IEP Checklist for Parents of Children with Disabilities 
• Sample Letter Requesting an Evaluation or Appropriate Services, and Additional Resources 
• Family Guides for Student Success
•  K-12 Student Success

FAQ for Families:  https://www.mdek12.org/OSE/Information-for-Families/FAQ

LEGAL MATTERS

• Child Support
• MDHS Child Support Information 
• Child Support Hotline: 1-877-882-4916
• Child Support: What Every Mother and Father Should Know 
• Make Child Support Payments Online 
• Determining Paternity 
• Child Custody: Considering the Best Interest of the Child 
• The Steps in Adopting a Child 
• Grounds for Terminating Parental Rights 
• Access to Visitation 
• Petition to Establish Visitation Rights Pro Se Workshop 
• Petition to Cite for Contempt Pro Se Workshop 
• Mississippi Law on Custody and Visitation 
• What are the Grounds for Divorce in Mississippi 
• The Rights of Pregnant Employees 

CHILD CARE RESOURCES

• Resources for Parents from MDHS 
• Child Care Certificate Program: The Child Care Certificate Program is a federally funded program designed to provide parents with assistance with child care tuition. Parents may choose any type of child care while participating in this program.
• Early Childhood Care and Development Laws

FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS

• Behavioral Health and Wellness Resources for Children and Family
• Mississippi Free Clinics and Community Health Centers 
• Childhood Obesity 
• SNAP 
• TANF 
• Medicaid 
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) 
• Early Childhood Developmental Health 
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program 
• Childhood Nutrition Resource (healthychildren.org) 
• 1000 Hours Outside Website 

SAFETY

• CPS: Abuse/Neglect
• How to Report Child Abuse or Neglect  or call 1-800-222-8000
• Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect 
• How Do I Keep My Family Together 
• Human Trafficking 
• Bureau of Victim Assistance
• Social Media Safety for Kids 
• Domestic Violence
• What if my Spouse/Partner Abuses Me? 
• Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Gulf Coast Center for Nonviolence: http://www.gccfn.org/wordpress

FOSTER CARE

• Becoming a Foster Parent in Mississippi
• Mississippi Heart Gallery includes children from Mississippi who are waiting become part of a family and who are legally free to be adopted.
• AdoptUSKids is a national project that supports child welfare systems and connects children in foster care with families
• Therapeutic Foster Care 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Resource Directory by County: https://www.ago.state.ms.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Resource-Directory-Map-Counties.pdf
• Canopy Children’s Solutions: https://mycanopy.org/
• Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society New Parent Guide: https://cmdss.org/parent-guide/
• Positive Parenting Tip Sheet: https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/cw_508_prev_guide_72.pdf
• Mississippi Dept of Health Resources for Parents: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,6141,304,367,html
• Fun Freebies
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: https://imaginationlibrary.com/