Developmental Disabilities

Mississippi Contacts

State Agency Responsible for Providing Services to the Developmentally Disabled

The Mississippi Bureau of Mental Retardation has the primary responsibility for the development and implementation of services to meet the needs of individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities. This public service delivery system is comprised of five state-operated comprehensive regional centers for individuals with mental retardation/developmental disabilities, a state-operated facility for youth who require specialized treatment and have mental retardation/developmental disabilities, 15 regional community mental health/mental retardation centers, and other nonprofit community agencies/organizations that provide community services. The concept of making available comprehensive services on a regional basis offers a high degree of local input into program development.

State Agency Responsible for Overseeing Employment Opportunities for the Developmentally Disabled

It is the mission of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services to provide appropriate and comprehensive services to Mississippians with disabilities in a timely and effective manner. Programs and services assist individuals with disabilities to gain employment, retain employment and/or to live more independently. The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation provides services to assist eligible individuals in overcoming the limitations imposed by physical or mental disabilities while maximizing their potential for employment.

Sheltered Employment

The Mississippi Bureau of Mental Retardation regional centers provide a wide array of services to individuals with developmental disabilities including vocational training and sheltered and supported employment. Many individuals with disabilities need ongoing support services in order to maintain their employment. The goal of sheltered workshops is to support and assist consumers with disabilities to live and work in their communities.

Competitive Employment

AbilityWorks, a network of vocationally oriented community programs, is a division of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation. AbilityWork's mission to clients is "to improve the quality of life, employment opportunities, and integration of people with disabilities into the community." AbilityWorks is a network of community rehabilitation programs that provide vocational assessment, job training, and actual work experience for individuals with disabilities. This is possible through a wide array of contract and subcontract services provided to local business and industry.

Health and Safety

The Center for Safety and Health (CSH), Mississippi State University, is the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Consultation Program for Mississippi. The purpose of the CSH is to provide assistance to the employers or managers of small and medium size high-hazard businesses in Mississippi by helping them come into compliance with the regulations of OSHA. The services provided by the CSH are free of charge, confidential, and conducted only at the request of the business employers.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Mississippi Area Office provides safety and health protections to most private sector workers and state and local government employees within the state. OSHA investigates complaints about workplace safety and health hazards.

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

The Mississippi Department of Human Services is designated as the state Agency to conduct investigations and/or evaluations pending the receipt of a report that a vulnerable adult, residing in a private home setting, is in need of protective services. The responsibility has been organizationally assigned to the Division of Family and Children's Services. Adult Protective Services includes the process of investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults residing in private home settings, as well as any follow-up services provided to those vulnerable adults as a result of the investigations. Report abuse occurring in home settings or unlicensed facilities (e.g. unlicensed boarding homes) by calling the local county Division of Family and Children Services or the Child/Adult Abuse Hotline at 1-800-222-8000. Report abuse occurring within licensed care facilities (nursing home, personal care homes) to the Mississippi Department of Health at 1-800-227-7308 and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Office of the State Attorney General, at 1-800-852-8341.

Protection and Advocacy

The mission of the Mississippi Protection and Advocacy System, Inc. (MPAS) is to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of all persons with disabilities and to assist them with full inclusion in home, community, education and employment. MPAS has six different programs, each serving a slightly different purpose in the over-all scheme of serving all individuals with disabilities.