JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) provided an update on the state welfare programs to House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday. Regaining the trust of the public is at the top of their list.
Ever since Bob Anderson took over MDHS as executive director, he adopted a name for his tenure: Operation Restore Trust.
In the aftermath and amidst the ongoing investigations into the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) scandal , Anderson said the department is getting closer to achieving this goal. He flipped through a slide show during a joint Public Health Committee meeting and explained the ins and outs of how the agency is focused on providing for Mississippi’s need population.
“We’re in the helping business. You know, we, our purpose is to bring hope to families who are in need. And that’s what we do,” he said.
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Anderson also came with a few asks of the Legislature, most notably one for funding the modernization of the department’s antiquated computer system. Up to date computer systems were not the only thing MDHS was lacking. The first hire Anderson made once appointed executive director was a compliance officer.