Improving education, health care and social services for Mississippi's children will require the combined efforts of churches, political leaders and concerned citizens.
That was the message delivered Saturday by Sister Donna Gunn, as part of "Mississippi, I Am Your Child."
The program, which is sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Jackson, the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Coalition for Children's Welfare, held a meeting Saturday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church's Parrish Center.
Only 12 people attended the event.
Gunn, who works for Catholic Charities in Jackson, is chair of the Coalition for Children's Welfare, a children's advocacy group.
She said bishops in all three churches have long recognized the need for changes in Mississippi. Four statements on the status of children in the state have been issued down through the years.
"The alarming thing is that nothing is changing. Nothing is changing," Gunn said.
In fact, a 1985 report compiled for the administration of then Gov. Bill Allain, showed virtually identical numbers concerning child poverty as one completed in 2005.
"We have great concern for the children in our state. We consistently rank last in measures of child well-being.
That is a concern for us and that is what is not changing," Gunn said.
Through Congregations for Children, Gunn said, the three churches hope to expand beyond their members.
"We want them to expand their efforts so there are many congregations for children. Baptist congregations, Jewish congregations, Muslim congregations. How can we get the faith community interested in this topic of helping our children?" Gunn asked.
She noted that some progress was made in the early 1980s, however that trend has not continued, she said.
"For some reason, all that stopped. We lost the will," Gunn said.
While the statistics have pretty much stayed the same, the players in the state have changed, she said.
Some issues of importance to children that will be addressed in Jackson in January include:
Fully funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program;
Providing child care services to an estimated 12,000 families that need them on a regular basis;
Supporting early-childhood education;
Increasing the minimum wage, either at the state or national level.
Gunn, a registered lobbyist for the diocese in Jackson, said these issues are prompting many professionals to leave the state altogether.
"The number of people who are no longer going to put up with Mississippi being a Third World state in a First World nation. They want better for their kids. Their kids want better for themselves," she said.
Dr. Bill Ware, a member of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, said the effort to help children will require people coming together.
"These are the kinds of things we need to do to solve the problem. We need to look at ways were we can work collectively," he said.
Gunn said the effort isn't intended to assign blame to any particular political party or state agency. Rather, it's intended bring about a dialogue.
"Let's come to the table and see how we can make a difference," she said.
Gayle Flautt, a member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, said the effort is important for children throughout the state and especially in Greenwood.
"I feel its something that's necessary for survival," she said.
