Mississippi Thrive! Child Health Development Project

About

Mississippi Thrive! (Teacher Resource Portal) is a statewide early childhood development initiative created through a partnership between the University of Mississippi Medical Center (Children’s of Mississippi) and Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center. The project provides childcare providers, teachers, and early educators with practical tools, training, and evidence-based strategies to foster brain development and track developmental milestones in young children:
Brain-Building Strategies: Offers practical tools and "serve and return" interaction techniques (using everyday routines like snack time, carpet time, or diaper changes to build brain architecture).
Milestone Tracking Tools: Provides CDC-aligned milestone checklists (covering ages 0–5) and guides to help early educators celebrate growth and recognize developmental delays early.
Family Engagement & Communication Guides: Delivers structured toolkits to help teachers talk with parents in a supportive, constructive manner about their child's progress, strengths, and developmental concerns.
Screening & Intervention Referrals: Connects teachers to free screening resources (such as ASQ-3 assessments via Help Me Grow MS) and early intervention networks like Child Find and local Inclusion Centers.

Essential details

Who is eligible

Childcare providers, preschool teachers, home visitors, and early childhood educators working with infants, toddlers, and young children (ages 0–5).

Spanish language support