Series 2740:  Executive Directors’ Correspondence and Files.  1989-2010.
Dept. of Human Services (formerly Dept. of Public Welfare)  (RG 52).

Series 2740:  Executive Directors’ Correspondence and Files.  1989-2010.
Dept. of Human Services (formerly Dept. of Public Welfare)  (RG 52).

      Correspondence and files from various executive directors of the Department of Human Services, which was created by the Executive Branch Reorganization Act of 1989.  This act consolidated the Department of Public Welfare, the vocational rehabilitation agencies, the Division of Youth Services, the Council on Aging, and Community Services into a single agency reporting to the governor, effective July 1, 1989.  The first accession of this series dates from 1989-1992.  The second accession contains files from 1995-2010, with the bulk of material spanning 2000-2002.  This series includes correspondence, reports, bulletins, audits, grant files, news clippings, press releases, minutes, and general information about each division and their programs.  Files are organized alphabetically by office, with the exception of general files in the original accession, which contain outgoing correspondence arranged chronologically.

Original accession: DHS, Management Information Systems, and Support Services files are related mostly to the functioning of the agency.  Office of Children and Youth correspondence is related to child care initiatives.  Family and Children’s Services correspondence contains material on youth programs and the Oakley and Columbia Training Schools.  Policy and Special Initiatives correspondence deals mostly with the implementation of the federal Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program.  Correspondence from the various vocational rehabilitation offices contain material on an effort to remove the rehabilitation services from under the umbrella of DHS, an effort that ultimately succeeded with the creation of the Department of Rehabilitation Services, effective June 30, 1991.  Social Services Block Grant correspondence concerns the distribution of federal grant money among various Mississippi social service providers.

Second accession: Administrative Services files contain correspondence mostly between the Executive Director and DHS Deputy Administrators, the Attorney General, State Auditor, and Institutes of Human Health.  Office of Communications files contain speeches, photocopied news articles, and correspondence regarding media inquiries.  Division of Community Services files deal with the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative and programs such as weatherization and home energy assistance.  Division of Economic Assistance files are related to food stamps, children’s health insurance, abstinence education, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), and the implementation of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) System.  Correspondence within the Division of Family and Children’s Services deals with foster care, adoption, and child abuse prevention.  The Division of Program Integrity files concern internal investigations and audits.  Files related to litigation involving Oakley and Columbia Training Schools, as well as materials about other programs for delinquent and at-risk juveniles, can be found in the Division of Youth Services.  There may be some overlap of subjects among divisions.  For example, some correspondence regarding EBT also appears in Management Information Systems (MIS), as MIS is responsible for providing information technology services to the agency.  General files include correspondence to and from state agencies, legislators, federal agencies, and organizations whose correspondence may not pertain specifically to one division or office.

See also:
      Series 2739: Meeting and Administrative Files. 1989-1992.
      Series 2741: Office for Children & Youth Files. 1989-1992.

Original accession

Second accession