Mississippi Delta Children's Partnership

Quitman County Development Organization
Quitman Children’s Village

Robert Jackson             Quitman County Development Organization (QCDO) is a registered 501©3 nonprofit organization and has been in existence since 1977 to address the socioeconomic needs of the rural poor and the low-income population in and around Quitman County, Mississippi. Our mission is to serve the community by enabling and encouraging local residents to develop self-help strategies and solutions that build up and promote leadership, improve the quality of life, increase human and finance capital as assets and empower individual families and organizations. The organization seeks to impact the personal, physical, political, educational, and economical needs of its service area by utilizing multiple self-help programs and strategies.

Pearl Watts             During the past 25 years, QCDO has expanded the field of economic opportunities for African Americans and other low-income residents in the community. The Board of Directors is comprised a Senator, mayors, superintendent, board of supervisors, and community lay persons.
            QCDO offers a range of programs and supports the low-income residents of this rural county where so many are dependent on farm-related jobs. The organization manages a day care center that is located on the grounds of the high school. The organization also operates an Affordable Housing Program, a Micro-Enterprise Development and Loan Program, the Rev. Carl Brown Education Center, QCDO Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) Daycare and Delta Media Arts Program. Programs that specifically focus on children are:

Y.O.U Youth Daycare Center – The daycare center was started in 1994 to serve the children of teenagers who attend classes at the high school or are pursuing their GED. The center serves children six weeks to six years old.
The Smart Talk/Sweet Shop is a youth owned and operated enterprise through which children learn the importance of saving money, how to balance a checkbook, principles of financial accountability, entrepreneurship and worth ethics.
Quitman Teen Information Pregnancy Prevention (QTIPP) reduces the number of teenagers who become pregnant by helping them learn to set goals that enable them to become self-sufficient, make positive career choices, and become productive citizens.
Parent Student Partnership to Improve Public Schools focuses on parent and community organizing for school reform and youth leadership development. The goal of the program is to create an effective school system for all students and to be full partners with parents to restructure the schools and develop a new generation of leaders committed to improving the conditions in their schools and communities.
North Delta Youth Development Center

QCDO has a diverse group of community collaborator that supports their efforts. Partners include: Quitman County School System, local churches, Mississippi Action for Community Services, Save the Children, Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, Mississippi Department of Education and the City of Marks.