Mississippi Delta Children's Partnership

The Mississippi Delta Children’s Partnership consists of five (5) community non-profit organizations located in Issaquena, Sharkey, Tallahatchie, Quitman and Washington counties. Each of the five (5) sites has an after school and summer program focused on enrichment of children’s academic, social, and cognitive development and cultural heritage. The program serves more than 23 small isolated communities in the Mississippi Delta.

Parental engagement is a vital part of each Children's Village and provides parents, grandparents, and guardians with a support structure for exploring and enhancing their parenting knowledge, skills and practices. Through the use of Appreciative Inquiry, parents share their experiences, hopes and dreams for their children. Local strengths are mobilized through social capital strategies and the use of natural helpers.

This initiative is theoretically grounded in the Ecological Model of Human Development and includes explicit measurable outcomes children, families and their communities. It is under girded by a theory of change that focuses on indigenous strengths and community collaboration. Training, technical assistance, evaluation and monitoring is provided as part of the support system.

VISION
The vision is one in which individuals from diverse backgrounds in the Mississippi Delta work collaboratively to assure the optimal growth and development of all children in the region

MISSION
To create and maintain family, school and community norms, practices, and environments which support and foster the growth, development, and positive socialization of children in the Mississippi Delta.

The Authentic Voice of Children in the Mississippi Delta

Guiding Values and Beliefs

People have an innate capacity for healthy functioning and are therefore capable of exercising control over their environment.
Factors which negatively impact the early development of children are multi-faceted and therefore solutions must be multi-systemic with child, family, school and community level interventions.
People's basic needs must be met before they can focus on attaining and creating the life they most desire.
Collaboration, which requires inclusion, is a powerful and effective means of improving communities.
Healthy communities focus on their assets.
Equity and high expectations must under gird the education of all children at all levels.
Capacity building and access to resources are essential to successful community change.
The Mississippi Delta has values, customs, and experiences which are unique to the region.