Mississippi Joins Trump Foster Care Pilot Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2026

CONTACT:
press@govreeves.ms.gov

Governor Tate Reeves Announces Mississippi Participating In The Trump Administration’s “A Home for Every Child” Pilot Initiative

JACKSON, Miss . – Governor Tate Reeves today announced that Mississippi is participating in the Trump Administration’s “A Home for Every Child” pilot initiative. The initiative directly supports President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump’s Executive Order “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families.” Additionally, the initiative is a collaborative effort designed to ensure that every child in foster care has access to a safe and stable home. Governor Reeves made the announcement alongside Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) Commissioner Andrea Sanders and Administration for Children and Families Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams.

The initiative reflects a state and federal partnership focused on strengthening the foster care system by expanding the number of available foster homes, increasing kinship placements, and strengthening prevention services that help families remain safely together whenever possible.

Through the pilot initiative, Mississippi will work to ensure a foster home is available for every child in care by:

• Targeting recruitment and retention of foster families using data-driven strategies, reducing unnecessary red tape, and strategically matching children with the most appropriate homes.
• Expanding the licensing of extended relatives and fictive kin homes, allowing children to remain connected to trusted family members or adults in their community.
• Strengthening prevention services that support families earlier and reduce unnecessary entries into foster care. Mississippi has already begun laying groundwork for these efforts by improving the use of data to identify placement needs and recruitment gaps across the state. MDCPS will launch a statewide foster parent engagement campaign designed to recruit, engage, and support foster families.

These efforts align with Mississippi’s commitment to improving outcomes for children while ensuring taxpayer resources are used efficiently and effectively.

“ Mississippi is proud to partner with the Trump Administration to help ensure that every child in our foster care system has a safe, loving place to call home,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Our state is uniquely positioned to move forward with this initiative, and we already have strong data that shows we are ready for the next phase of this work. By recruiting more foster families, supporting kinship care, and removing barriers that slow foster care processes, we are making our child welfare system stronger and more responsive. It’s another important day in Mississippi.”

Commissioner Sanders highlighted the work already underway within MDCPS to prepare for the initiative and strengthen the foster care system across Mississippi.

“Mississippi is committed to ensuring that every child who enters our care has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and loving home,” said MDCPS Commissioner Andrea Sanders. “Through the ‘ A Home for Every Child’ initiative, MDCPS will prioritize strengthening our recruitment and support of foster families, continue expanding kinship placements, and investing in prevention services that keep families safely together whenever possible. We are grateful for the leadership of Governor Reeves and the partnership with the Administration for Children and Families as we work together to build a stronger foster care system for Mississippi’s children.”

Federal partners with the Administration for Children and Families also recognized Mississippi’s readiness to participate in the pilot and the state’s commitment to strengthening child welfare systems through innovation and partnership.

“By joining ‘ A Home for Every Child,’ Mississippi is demonstrating their commitment to children and families across the state,” said Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families Alex J. Adams. “The Trump Administration is grateful for Governor Reeves’ leadership to ensure less children enter foster care and more loving families are licensed to take care of those who are. By cutting red tape and sharing real-time data, we will make meaningful improvements to Mississippi’s foster care system.”