The Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC)
Mission:
The Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC) provides a platform where families and other stakeholders in early childhood service provision can share resources and expertise to co-create solutions that promote healthy early childhood growth and development.
Who We Are:
The Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC) is a broad network of people from all parts of Mississippi’s early childhood system. We are committed to working together to improve the lives of our state’s young children and families.
What We Do:
We share resources and information and help inform policies related to early childhood development.
Note: ECDC members are already on the mailing list.
Access Mississippi Early Childhood Calendars!
Find data related to Mississippi's early childhood system here!
The ECDC meets the 2nd Thursday of each month, alternating times between day and evening.
Below are dates of upcoming ECDC meetings.
Thursday, May 14
1:00 PM
ECDC members are invited to register to attend this hybrid meeting in-person.
Members of the public are welcome to join us virtually.
Meeting ID: 810 1228 7696
Are you interested in becoming part of the Early Childhood Development Coalition (ECDC)? If so, click here to access the membership form.
Click below to access the ECDC member resource page.
(Password Protected)
Joy Hogge
Desiree States
Members of the ECDC
This map indicates where ECDC members live and work.
Some ECDC members’ work may extend to multiple counties, and 22 members have indicated that their work is statewide.
To remain an active member listed here, members must attend at least one ECDC meeting every six months.
Invite your contacts from around the state to become members!
- Keri Abernathy, Mississippi Health Advocacy Program Health Help
- Mitchell Adcock, Center for Mississippi Health Policy
- Morgan Barber, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School
- Cisley Barksdale, MS Lift Resource & Referral at MSU Extension
- Shanise Barnes, Save the Children
- Meaghan Baxendale, MS Early Childhood Inclusion Center Resource & Referral Center
- Eileen Beazley, Office of the Governor
- Albertina Bell, MS LIFT Resource & Referral Network
- Laure Bell, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Lindsay Bergman, Choices Coordinated Care Solutions
- Teaira Blackburn, Mississippi Department of Health
- Carrie Bode, Mississippi Department of Mental Health
- Ruby Brenner, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Nicole Briceno, Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center
- Shelly Brooks, United Way of Northeast MS
- Daphne Brown, Focus on Excellence Early Learning Consulting
- Bianca Bullie-Thompson , Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Carol Burnett, Mississippi Low-Income Child Care Initiative
- Kaysie Burton, Level Up Learning Center
- LeeEsther Butler, Mississippi Families for Kids
- Susan Buttross*, UMMC Center for the Advancement of Youth
- Amanda Camp, Kingdom Kids Learning Center
- Gina Carr, MSU Early Head Start
- Katie Cassidy, University of MS Medical Center Dept. of Occupational Therapy
- Erica Cattenhead, UMMC Pediatric Psych
- Nadeane Cattrell*, Mississippi Families for Kids
- Michelle Chane, Excel by 5
- Peggy Clark, Friends of Children of MS
- Connie Clay, The Center for Early Childhood Policy Advancement
- Amanda Cooley, Greater Expectations Children Learning
- Michele Connelly, United Way of West Central MS
- Margaret Cotton, Community Member
- Jamesia Wilson Cox, Women Unite
- Melissa Cox, MS Dept of Health Early Intervention
- Valecia Davis, Community Member
- Cindy DeFrances, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
- Tabitha Depriest, Children’s Workshop
- Cheryl Dexter, Children’s Foundation of Mississippi
- Edy Dingus, MS Farm to School Network
- Joy Duncan, MDHS Division of Early Childhood Care & Development
- Lauren Elliott*, UMMC Center for the Advancement of Youth
- Michelle Gaither, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Sophia Garcia-Rose, Special Olympics Mississippi
- N’Kila Garner, Stepping Stones Group
- Kamila Gayden, Kangaroo Pouch Learning Center
- Tabitha Gibson, St. Andrews Episcopal School
- Cathy Grace, The Center for Early Childhood Policy Advancement
- LaTasha Hadley, Waterford.org
- Felicia Hampton, Copiah-Lincoln Early Childhood Education program
- Heather Hanna, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Shana Harper, Be Undefeated Therapeutic Solutions, LLC
- Biz Harris, Mississippi Early Learning Alliance
- Carolyn Harris, East MS Community College
- Tockie V. Hemphill, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Redonna Hendry, MS LIFT Resource & Referral Network
- Joy Hogge*, Families as Allies
- Malcolm Huell*, MSU’s Social Science Research Center
- Shea Hutchins, Canopy Children's Solutions
- Ettamarie Jackson, Heaven’s Angels Academy
- Ashley Jenkins, Mississippi Families for Kids
- J. J. Johnson, MSU Extension Head Start
- Stacia Johnson, MSU Extension Head Start
- Cantrell Keyes, Agape Christian Academy World
- Luci Leffler, Mississippi Early Learning Alliance
- Regina Lewis, Restoring Hope
- Julianna Lieb, MS Dept of Education
- Nancy Lindsey, MS LIFT Resource & Referral Network
- Toni Alicia Linton, Southwest MS Children’s Advocacy Center
- Avis L Lloyd, Jackson Public Schools Pre-K
- Bradley Long, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Lisa Long, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Melissa Luckett*, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Amy Lyon, United Way of Southeast Mississippi
- Penny Mansell, The W’s Center for Education Support & Excel by 5
- Heather Martin, Excel by 5
- April May, Mississippi Early Learning Alliance
- Cindy McCarley, Good Shepherd Community Center/Preschool
- Kennetha McClain, MS Department of Education
- Taryn McDonald*, Mississippi Families for Kids
- Alexandra Melnick, Operation Shoestring
- Gina Rico Mendez, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Joann Mestayer, Bay Waveland School District Early Learning Center
- Joann Mickens, Parents for Public Schools
- Marion Minton, Marion Blessings & Hope Family Home Childcare
- Alexandria Moore, MS Dept of Child Protection Services (CPS)
- Henry Moore, Families As Allies
- Jade Muzzi, Desoto County Schools
- Arazais Oliveros, MS State University Dept of Psychology
- Mary Overton, Black Women's Roundtable
- Melissa Overton, Black Women's Roundtable
- Mackenzie Pearce, The W’s Center for Education Support
- LaTonya Pittman, Parent
- Callie Poole*, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Kayla Prestridge, The Children’s Workshop
- Coreaner Price, Families as Allies
- Ona Ray, Grandmother
- Roslyn Reed, MSU Early Head Start
- Capucine Robinson, Madison County Schools
- Danishica Robinson, mother
- Suzanne Ryals, Lafayette County School District
- Kristina Schoenthaler, MSU PhD student
- Alexandria Scott, Mississippi State Department of Health
- La’Toya Scott-Hammett, Holy Family Academy & Natchez-Adams School District
- Juanita Seals-Jones, CAREE Academy and On The Right Track, Inc.
- Katerina Sergi, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Kristy Simms, UMMC Office of the Vice Chancellor
- Kathy Smith, Summa School
- Samantha Smith, Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center
- Kelly Stafford, Department of Mental Health
- Desiree States*, Mississippi Families for Kids
- Lori Staton, Trauma-Informed Parenting & Professional Strategies at MSU Extension
- Sheterica Swanigan, Mississippi State Department of Health
- Candice Taylor, Mississippi Department of Education
- Rachel Tyrone, UMMC Center for the Advancement of Youth
- Nell Valentine*, MSU Social Science Research Center
- Amy Walker, UMMC- Center for Advancement of Youth
- Teairra Watson, Day Care
- Stephane Watts, New Vineyard Community Development Center
- Linda West*, Mississippi Families for Kids
- Veronica West, Friends of Children of MS
- Mark Wildmon, MSU School Psychology
- Monica Wimberley, MS Dept of Education
- Sara Withrow, UMMC Center for the Advancement of Youth
- Amanda Yingling, Choices Coordinated Care Solutions
*Members of the ECDC Planning Team
Questions about anything early childhood? We provide free connections to resources, research, and data.
One Dial Supports a Child: 1-800-241-KIDS (Press 2 to reach the ECDC)
MSECDC@mffk.org
Check out our socials!
Community Partners
We are honored to acknowledge our community partners for their valuable contributions and exceptional efforts to support the advancement of early childhood development initiatives in Mississippi.
