Mississippi LIFT Resource & Referral Network

Challenges

• Research indicates a 5.2% increase in lifetime earnings due to quality early childhood education, but childcare providers and parents have difficulty accessing affordable, quality educational materials.
• Objective fundamental referral services are necessary to help educators and parents address unique situations in early childhood development.
• Early childhood educators need access to quality professional development programs.

Extension Response

The Mississippi LIFT Resource & Referral Network provides a “one-stop shop” for educators and parents of preschool children to access educational materials, referrals, family engagement activities, and professional development opportunities.

• MS LIFT R&R operates 31 brick and mortar sites and four mobile units to serve educators and parents.
• In 2025, MS LIFT R&R facilities hosted 9,877 teachers and 16,992 parents.
• Community events are offered at least monthly to further engage parents in their child’s early education.
• In 2025, the program offered 73 professional and educational events for teachers and parents and made 560 referrals for issues faced by children and their parents.
• A lending library at each facility provided 21,377 checkouts of developmentally appropriate educational materials for children and individuals with special needs through 18 years of age.
• Each facility also offers a “maker space” where parents and educators can receive assistance in developing their own teaching materials.

Economic Impacts

• We estimate that MS LIFT R&R could increase the lifetime earnings potential of one-fourth of the preschool child population by 5% ($6.9 million) and the elementary school population by 7% ($4.9 million).
• Lifetime earnings increases could result in an estimated additional 59 jobs in Mississippi’s economy, earning $2.6 million.
• This increase in earnings could also increase value-added in the state by $5.6 million and total output by $9.9 million.
• In addition, program expenditures ($6.3 million in FY2025) generated an estimated 84 jobs earning $3.5 million, $5 million in value-added, and $7.3 million in output.

M2480-29 (01-26)

Jamila Taylor, Executive Director, Early Childhood Extension Programs