Family Services Forum Selected New Co-Chairs
The group held its inaugural meeting in Jackson to address services for youth and families.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in People
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The Family Services Forum officially launched at the Gartin Justice Building in Jackson. Members elected Tiffany Kilpatrick and Angela Cockerham to serve as the organization's inaugural co-chairs.
Why it matters
The forum was established to fulfill a legislatively mandated mission of improving support systems for children, youth, and families. The new leadership will focus on maximizing funding from various public and private sources.
The forum consists of 30 members representing 10 different agencies. This group was convened following the passage of the Youth Court Reform Act.
The players
Tiffany Kilpatrick
Tiffany Kilpatrick is a judge based in Oxford who was selected to co-chair the Family Services Forum.
Angela Cockerham
Angela Cockerham is a representative based in Magnolia who was selected to co-chair the Family Services Forum.
The details
Members gathered to discuss strategies for increasing resource allocation from federal, state, and philanthropic organizations. The forum also plans to develop a statewide directory of community-based services for at-risk families.
Timeline
The Youth Court Reform Act created the forum in July 2026.
The forum held its first meeting on Sept. 15, 2026.
Market Landscape
The establishment of the forum follows the implementation of the Youth Court Reform Act, which sets the foundation for this organizational change. This initiative consolidates efforts across 10 agencies to streamline service delivery for at-risk populations.
Residents may see improved access to resources as the forum coordinates services for at-risk youth and families. The creation of a new statewide directory will eventually help families navigate available support programs more effectively.
The takeaway
The creation of this forum signals a shift toward more centralized management of state family services. Stakeholders should monitor upcoming reports for details on the progress of the planned statewide resource directory.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest leadership developments in People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Oxford Eagle.
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