View
Mississippi Health Advocacy Program
800 N. President Street
Jackson, MS 39202
601-353-0845
http://mhap.org/
The Mississippi Health Advocacy Program (MHAP) strives to be a strong, effective voice for improved health care for all throughout the state of Mississippi, especially those whose health is threatened by poverty, racism, malnutrition and violence. MHAP will work with communities to identify health needs and formulate strategies for change, and will research, analyze, propose and promote policies that will enhance the health status of every person, regardless of financial status.
MHAP has been serving the state of Mississippi since 1992 and been instrumental in many advocacy processes including welfare reform, the Kellogg Devolution initiative, CHIP, and Medicaid. MHAP was able to quickly coordinate an effort in response to the Medicaid cuts of elderly and disabled Mississippians in 2004. The actions taken by MHAP resulted in reversal of the cuts and national media attention including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and PBS.
Moreover, the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program has made a difference in the state by empowering citizens to enter the policy process and by opening access to the necessary information and analysis. MHAP has strengthened the bonds of common interest among groups of different race and class backgrounds by keeping the focus of social policy debate on the core issues of community needs and citizen participation. By working within partnerships and building consensus about low-income issues, MHAP presents a unified front to legislators and public administrators. As a result, MHAP has shaped the debate on issues of welfare reform and health care that affect low-income families in MS.
