Mississippi Public Health Institute

10/21/2026

💊 Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet. Help Keep Our Communities Safe!

Join us on Saturday, October 24, 2026, for DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day!

This is an opportunity to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications and help prevent prescription drug misuse, accidental poisoning, and overdose.

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Walgreens Pharmacy
1606 Highland Colony Parkway
Madison, MS

Every medication safely disposed of is one less opportunity for misuse. Together, we can help protect our families and build safer, healthier communities.

💙 Keep them safe. Clean them out. Take them back.

Can't make it to Madison? Find a collection site near you at www.DEATakeBack.com

For more information, contact Toni Lloyd at [email protected].

10/09/2026

United Against Gun Violence: Building Safer, Stronger Communities!

The Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI) and the University of Mississippi Medical Center's Mississippi Center for Violence Research (MCVR) proudly participated in National Night Out 2026 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi!

We joined community members, law enforcement, and local organizations to strengthen relationships, share valuable resources, and promote safer neighborhoods.

Preventing gun violence takes all of us working together. Through community engagement, education, and collaboration, we can help create safer environments where individuals and families can thrive.

Thank you to the organizers, community partners, and residents who came together to support this important initiative!

United Against Gun Violence. United for Safer Communities.

09/30/2026

📣 WE'RE HIRING: Program Specialist, Congregational Recovery Outreach Program (CROP) 📣

Are you passionate about connecting faith communities with behavioral health resources? The Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI) is looking for a full-time, organized, relationship-driven professional to join our team! 🙌

About the role:
CROP is a faith-based behavioral health initiative funded by the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. As our Program Specialist, you'll be the key point of coordination between MSPHI, partner churches, behavioral health providers, and community stakeholders across the state.

What you'll do:
⛪ Recruit and build relationships with churches and congregations statewide
🤝 Partner with mental health providers and recovery programs to expand CROP's reach
📋 Coordinate daily program operations and support grant reporting
🎤 Help plan events, including the annual Mental Health–Faith Based Summit
📱 Work with our communications team to keep CROP's message strong and visible

What we're looking for:
✅ 1–2+ years in program coordination, community outreach, case management, or a related role
✅ Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Public Health, Human Services, Healthcare Administration, or a related field preferred (equivalent experience considered)
✅ Experience with faith-based organizations, behavioral health providers, or nonprofits is strongly preferred
✅ Strong organizational and communication skills
✅ Cultural humility and a real commitment to serving underserved communities, including faith-based and African American communities in Mississippi
✅ Valid Mississippi driver's license and reliable transportation (statewide travel required)
✅ Availability for occasional evening/weekend events

What we offer:
💰 $60,000 – $65,000 annually
🏥 Health insurance, personal leave, and a 401(k) retirement plan
💙 A supportive, mission-driven workplace grounded in respect, equity, and community

⏰ Applications close October 9, 2026.

👉 Apply here: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=18f6f9e5fe79e2cb&from=appshareios

Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them or share this post! 💬

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09/28/2026

📣 **We’re Hiring: Community Engagement Specialist**

Do you have a passion for building strong community relationships and helping ensure local voices are heard?

The **Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI)** is seeking a **Community Engagement Specialist** to support the **Center for Optimizing Maternal Outcomes (COMO)**.

In this role, you’ll work directly with communities, healthcare partners, families, and organizations across Mississippi to strengthen engagement around maternal and infant health. You’ll help facilitate listening sessions, focus groups, stakeholder meetings, and other activities that ensure community perspectives help guide planning and decision-making.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

✅ 5+ years of experience in community engagement, public health, healthcare, stakeholder engagement, or program management
✅ Strong relationship-building and facilitation skills
✅ Experience working with diverse community and healthcare partners
✅ The ability to make complex information clear and accessible
✅ A passion for improving maternal and infant health outcomes

📍 **Location:** Madison, Mississippi
🚗 Regular engagement with communities throughout Mississippi, with occasional travel

If you believe meaningful change starts by listening to the communities we serve, this could be the opportunity for you.

**Join MSPHI and help strengthen the connection between communities, healthcare, and better maternal health outcomes across Mississippi.**

Indeed Link
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d8efe2bc7b3c473f&from=shareddesktop_copy

09/28/2026

📣 **We’re Hiring: Senior Program Manager**

Are you an experienced public health or healthcare leader ready to help make a meaningful impact on maternal and infant health in Mississippi?

The **Mississippi Public Health Institute (MSPHI)** is seeking a **Senior Program Manager** to provide strategic leadership for the **Center for Optimizing Maternal Outcomes (COMO)**.

In this role, you’ll help lead complex initiatives, build partnerships across healthcare and public health, oversee grants and program operations, manage multidisciplinary teams, and help turn collaboration and data into action.

✅ Master’s degree in a related field
✅ 7+ years of public health or healthcare program management experience
✅ Experience managing federal grants and budgets
✅ Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills

📍 **Location:** Madison, Mississippi
✈️ Occasional statewide and national travel

If you’re passionate about strengthening healthcare systems and improving outcomes for mothers, infants, and families, we’d love to hear from you.

**Join MSPHI and help build healthier communities across Mississippi.**

Indeed Link
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=2cca09ecb2aa91f3&from=shareddesktop_copy

Mississippi Public Health Institute

09/25/2026

https://www.wlbt.com/2026/09/24/er-recovery-new-pilot-program-supports-jackson-gunshot-survivors/

The pilot program is a partnership between UMMC, the People’s Advocacy Institute, Operation Good and the Mississippi Public Health Institute, and it treats the aftermath of a shooting as more than a medical issue.

09/24/2026

Thank You for an Incredible 4th Annual Mississippi Linking Solutions to Violence Summit, hosted by the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Mississippi Center for Violence Research (MCVR)! 🧡

Today, community members, healthcare professionals, violence prevention partners, law enforcement, advocates, and other leaders came together for the 4th Annual Mississippi Linking Solutions to Violence Summit at the Jackson Convention Complex.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in meaningful conversations and training on conflict resolution, mental health, crisis intervention and de-escalation, intimate partner violence, storytelling, and community data, all with a shared goal of identifying solutions to help prevent and reduce violence in our communities.

One of the most important parts of the summit was bringing different voices and perspectives into the same room. Through shared experiences, interactive discussions, and our gallery walk, participants had opportunities not only to learn, but also to contribute their ideas about where we go from here.

A special thank you to our speakers, presenters, community partners, resource vendors, volunteers, and everyone who attended and helped make this year's summit a success.

The summit may be over, but the work continues. Together, we remain United Against Gun Violence and committed to linking solutions that help build safer, healthier communities throughout Mississippi. 🧡

09/23/2026

Jan Dawson meets with Lindsey Beckham to discuss the "Every Response Matters: Building Pathways to Recovery in Mississippi" summit in Biloxi this Friday Septermber 25th at the Golden Nugget.

The event, which is open to the public, focuses on collaboration between professionals from healthcare, faith-based organizations, law enforcement, the court systems and the recovery community and how stigma can create barriers for recovery.

Participants will discuss collaboration and how language and stigma can create barriers to recovery.

Please register for the event at www.msphi.org/register26

https://www.youtube.com/live/cG8S3MYqmao?si=ZzkPaIjZ5L_NFfRf

09/21/2026

A Successful Day of Community, Health & Resources!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Community Health & Resource Fair at the Jackson Medical Mall on September 16!

The Mississippi Public Health Institute & University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Mississippi Center for Violence Research (MCVR), in collaboration with LIFE of Mississippi and the Center for HOPE, was proud to bring community members together with organizations providing valuable health information, resources, services, and support.

A special thank you to the incredible vendors and community partners who helped make this event possible:

Awakening Love MS
Capitol Police
Hinds County Sheriff's Office
Converge
Mississippi Votes
Mississippi State Department of Health – Opioid/Substance Abuse
Serenity Trauma Center
JSU-Continuing Education Learning Center
Harbor House Chemical Dependency Services
Mississippi Department of Corrections – Victim Services
AllHealth Choice
The MIND Center at UMMC
Central MS Continuum of Care
Walgreens Pharmacy
UMMC ACT Center
G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center
Chiropractic Body Works
Center for HOPE
Devoted (Medicare)
Catholic Charities, INC. of Jackson
LIFE of Mississippi
New York Life

Your time, resources, and commitment to serving Mississippi communities helped make the day a success. Thank you for showing what’s possible when organizations come together to support healthier, safer, and stronger communities.

We appreciate everyone who participated, shared resources, and helped connect community members with services that can make a difference.

09/20/2026

Our very own Jan Dawson appeared on the Gerard Gibert SuperTalk program “Middays.” It’s a great interview where Jan discussed the important, upcoming “Every Response Matters. Building Pathways to Recovery in Mississippi” summit in Biloxi.

Jan Dawson(Director - Substance Use Prevention, Control, & Educatio...