(AP) — Mississippi has seen a consistent rise in the number of families accepting public assistance for child care since lawmakers banned abortion in almost all circumstances, with the sharpest increase coming after a child support policy change in May, the state human services director said Friday. They also said that when parents couldn't find child care, it prevented them from getting back to work. Delbert Hosemann, also a Republican, disputed the idea that the abortion ban has had an impact on child care voucher enrollment. “It’s clear to me it’s not the Dobbs decision. It’s the fact that we made this policy decision that’s been approved by the governor and that you’re seeing thousands of people become eligible because of that,” Hosemann said.

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Persons: JACKSON, Bob Anderson, Dobbs, ” Anderson, Roe, Wade, Tate Reeves, couldn't, Delbert Hosemann, “, it’s, that’s, ” Hosemann, they’re, Reeves, ”, Cory Custer, ” ___ Michael Goldberg Organizations: —, Mississippi Department of Human Services, Jackson, Health Organization, U.S, Supreme, Gov, Republican, Child, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Miss, — Mississippi, Mississippi, @mikergoldberg