Leadership

The Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Head Start Policy Council, and administrative team at Hinds County Human Resource Agency (HCHRA) are committed to the thousands of citizens we serve each year in Mississippi. With strong checks and balances, the Agency’s fiscal integrity remains intact. With visionary leadership from the Board and CEO, creative and clear direction helps maintain focus. With unwavering loyalty and dedication, the Head Start Policy Council ensures quality educational experiences for children. With impeccable professionalism and commitment to the Agency’s mission, the administrative team ensures that the work gets done. This is the leadership of Hinds County Human Resource Agency.

The War on Poverty requires a strong army, and that army is only as strong as its leadership. Fueled by the desire to help others help themselves, the leadership of HCHRA is always looking for new funding sources, creative ideas, and passionate volunteers. Our leaders understand that they cannot do it alone. The CEO serves as the visionary – establishing viable plans on how to attack poverty, and the Board provides general oversight of policy and procedures – ensuring that all plans are within acceptable guidelines and the Agency remains fiscally strong.

Board of Directors

The Hinds County Human Resource Agency’s (HCHRA) Board of Directors is a 15-member policy-making entity that meets on the third Wednesday of each month. Each member of the Board must sign and adhere to a Board Members Code of Ethics and the Agency’s Bylaws. While the CEO oversees the Agency’s day-to-day operations, the Board serves as the CEO’s “supervisor”, providing oversight and ensuring that policies and procedures are upheld. All general Board meetings are open to the public.

Under the leadership of a Board, Chairman, and Executive Committee, the HCHRA Board of Directors is a well-functioning Governing Body that supports the CEO and the Agency. They ensure that all policies and procedures are appropriately upheld and, when necessary, adjusted to meet the evolving needs of the citizens we serve. To ensure effectiveness, the Board operates in accordance with Agency Bylaws. The Board also participates in ongoing board development and training, which helps them keep pace with current trends within the community action arena, the state of Mississippi, and the world.

President & CEO

Chelsea Luster

Chelsea Luster, a proud Head Start alumna, became President & CEO of Hinds County Human Resource Agency in February 2026. Chelsea’s leadership is defined by a profound full-circle journey. This firsthand experience fuels her mission to ensure that every family served by Hinds County Human Resource Agency (HCHRA) receives the same transformative support that empowered her own success.

Since 2015, Chelsea has been a driving force within the agency, rising through the ranks to become President & CEO in February 2026. Her tenure is marked by a deep commitment to the diverse mission of Community Action, overseeing not only the foundational Head Start and Early Childhood programs but also the critical social services that stabilize and uplift the broader community. Her approach blends a “heart for the people” with the rigorous standards of an executive, focusing on creating sustainable systems that promote quality, accountability, and real-world results.

A lifelong learner dedicated to the art of leadership, Chelsea has honed her expertise through the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and the Public Management and Leadership Program at Jackson State University’s Institute of Government. These elite programs, coupled with her foundational degrees from Tougaloo College and Mississippi College, allow her to navigate the complexities of federal compliance and community advocacy with equal skill. For Chelsea, leadership is not just about administration; it is the culmination of her lifelong dedication to empowering the community that raised her.

 

Head Start Policy Council

Pursuant to 45 CFR Section 1304.50 of the Head Start Act, the Hinds County Human Resource Agency Head Start Policy Council consists of 29-35 members and serves as a link to Parent Committees, the HCHRA Governing Board of Directors, public and private organizations, and the communities served. The Council is composed of Head Start parents, representatives from the HCHRA Board of Directors, and citizens from the community. This composition ensures that parents and community representatives have an opportunity and are empowered to actively participate in the shared decision-making process of Hinds County Project Head Start.

The Hinds County Human Resource Agency (HCHRA) acknowledges that it is essential for the Head Start Program to reflect the community as a whole. Therefore, pursuant to 45 CFR Section 1304.50 of the Program Performance Standards for the Operation of Head Start Programs, a formal Policy Council structure was developed to ensure that Head Start parents and other community representatives have accessibility and encouragement to participate in shared decision-making fully. To ensure effectiveness, Policy Council members must participate in various training and assessment activities. HCHRA’s Vice President for Head Start oversees the Council, ensuring all responsibilities are effectively and expeditiously carried out.

Policy Council Officers

Brittany Osborne
Chairman

Emerald Bullock
Vice Chairman

Keandra Singleton
Secretary
 

Policy Council Representatives

Lawrencia Butler
Eulander Kendrick

Deanna Currie
Edwards EHS

Twanna Hubbard
Richard Brandon

Teroneisha Jones
Mary C. Jones

Lecora Massamble
Van Winkle

Keandra Singleton
Oak Forest EHS

Brittney Spells
Gertrude Ellis

LaKierra Thompson
Oak Forest

Whitney Whitlock
Della J. Caugills

Chessica Wilson
Westside

Issie Wilson
Edwards

Policy Council Community Representatives

Shateeka Boyd
Community Representative

Tiara Brown
Community Representative

Emerald Bullock
Community Representative

Bridget Newsome-Funchess
HCHRA Board Liaison

Mary Hamilton
Community Representative

Ralph Jackson
Community Representative

Shamir Lee
Community Representative

Tammy Louvier
Community Representative

Erin Shirley-Orey
Community Representative

Brittany Osborne
Community Representative

Elmira Redd
Community Representative

Executive Management

Hinds County Human Resource Agency’s (HCHRA) leadership includes a highly-qualified team of senior administrators and directors with more than 200 years of professional experience. Areas of expertise include human resources; board and office administration; social work; counseling; psychology; accounting; purchasing and procurement; public relations; and marketing. Because HCHRA is an agency with multiple programs that address a variety of community needs, it is crucial that the leadership has significant experience and a strong knowledge base. This mission-driven and caring group of professionals dedicates themselves to the Hinds County, Mississippi community and re-commits each year to improve the previous year’s efforts.

HCHRA employs approximately 400 staffers. While the CEO has general oversight, senior staff manage day-to-day departmental operations.

Department of Family Opportunties (DFO)

Hinds County Human Resource Agency (HCHRA) created an internal division called the Department of Family Opportunities (DFO). It was developed to meet all HCHRA’s desired case management outputs and outcomes. In addition to providing access to our internal services, HCHRA plans to maintain current partnerships and linkages with other community service providers and, whenever possible, identify and solidify additional opportunities to leverage more support for the families we serve.

HCHRA is engaged in extensive planning, training, engagement, and customization process requiring regular attendance, consensus building, and model development. The elements of the standard operating procedure include:

  • Standardized policies for service delivery, including common language and definitions.
  • Data models are organized by domains identifying services and outcomes and how they are associated for purposes of service delivery, reporting, and evaluation.
  • Assessment scales for measuring client progress and documenting achievement of outcomes.
  • A standardized case management process.
  • Service delivery map or flowchart.

Fiscal Department

HCHRA operates at the highest level of integrity and fiscal responsibility. Since 1996, HCHRA has consistently received a clean audit. For 21 consecutive years, auditors have reviewed our financial statements and found our records to be accurate, complete, and per Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

HCHRA is a public, non-profit organization that fully complies with all IRS requirements. This includes filing and providing for public inspection the Form 990. For more detailed financial information, visit our reports & plans. Hinds County Human Resource Agency strives to ensure that its operations are carried out in a highly ethical, transparent, and trustworthy manner. The vast array of community services and programs HCHRA provides is made possible by public and private donations, local, state, and federal grants and contracts.

Head Start/Early Head Start

HCHRA administers the Head Start Program offering comprehensive child development services to more than 1,900 preschool children in Hinds County. The program has experienced exponential growth since its start in 1986, with 800 children enrolled. HCHRA operated 13 Head Start centers and 7 satellite classrooms that serve three and four-year-olds, and 4 Early Head Start centers which serve expectant
mothers and infants and toddlers from birth to age three.

HCHRA’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve around 2,345 children (including 75 who received special education) during an average school year. HCHRA staff attends to the developmental needs of these children in 106 classrooms, 5 days a week, for a minimum of 6 hours each day, with Head Start children attending school 168 days during the school year, and Early Head Start students attend 201 days.

While education is the principal focus, promoting health and stability in the homes of our Head Start families is just as important. The Head Start program helps qualifying children succeed educationally by providing activities to help them grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically. The Head Start program is designed to educate three- and four-year-olds and prepare them to be developmentally ready to transition into kindergarten.

Personnel Department

Hinds County Human Resource Agency’s (HCHRA) Personnel Department handles various critical functions to help meet the agency’s needs, managers, and staff. Personnel assists all departments in hiring and training employees, implementing company policies and procedures, ensuring fair labor laws are followed, and much more.

Three of the primary functions of the Personnel Department are to recruit, hire, and train new employees. The staff members in the personnel department must advertise new positions as they become available, interview qualified candidates, and hire the best people for the job. Once hired, new employees must fill out payroll forms, select healthcare packages, benefits, and complete other orientation paperwork. All of this information is kept on file in the Personnel Department.

The department also handles employee-relations issues. HCHRA employs almost 400 staff members, and inevitably, problems arise. When there are misunderstandings or disputes between employees, our personnel leadership team helps mediate the situations.

Company training opportunities, tuition assistance, workers’ compensation claims, maternity leave requests, and employee orientation is also handled through the Personnel Department. All personnel staff’s duties are designed to ensure that HCHRA functions as successfully as possible.

Planning & Development

Planning & Development Department

The Planning & Development Department creates and manages plans, support activities, and grants to help agency programs achieve their goals. This includes preparing strategic, departmental, and program-specific plans, as well as overseeing the full grant process—coordinating receipt of key documents, writing, preparing, and submitting grants. The department also produces major reports, including the Community Strengths and Needs Assessment, Annual Report, Community Action Plan, and Strategic Plan. Planning & Development also comprises the Divisions of Communications and Development and Quality Assurance, each playing a vital role in supporting HCHRA’s mission.

Communications & Development Division

The Communications & Development Division manages agency communications, including marketing materials, media relations, event planning, fundraising, and outreach to professional and civic groups. They produce ads, update the website, create documents, and recruit speakers and participants for events while maintaining HCHRA’s image and message.

Quality Assurance Division

The Quality Assurance Division ensures effective compliance with Head Start Performance Standards by continuously monitoring data from all service areas. This division implements and maintains an ongoing quality assurance and performance process to measure, evaluate, and ensure the quality and performance of the Head Start program in accordance with the Office of Head Start Review Monitoring and the Head Start Performance Standards.

Property Management & Accountability

The Department of Property Management and Accountability is responsible for developing and enforcing policies, standards, and metrics that guarantee effective management, control, and accounting of Agency property while maintaining high accountability.

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