Audit Reports
Local Government Reporting

211 Louisiana Statewide Network

What is 211?

211 is an easy to remember telephone number providing a single access point for every day needs and in times of crisis. For example, 211 can offer access to the following types of services:

  • Basic Human Needs Resources: Food, clothing, shelter and financial assistance.
  • Physical and Mental Health Resources: Medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, rehabilitation, health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health and children’s health insurance programs.
  • Employment Support: Unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs.
  • Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities: Home health care, adult day care, congregate meals, respite care, transportation and homemaker services.
  • Support for Children, Youth and Families: Quality childcare, after school programs, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
  • Volunteer Opportunities and Donations

For more information, visit the Louisiana 211 website

Behavioral Health/Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities

Louisiana Department of Heath

  • Louisiana’s Coordinated System of Care (CSoC) creates a single point of entry for families of children who have complex behavioral health needs and are either in or at risk of being in out-of-home placement (e.g. group homes, juvenile detention facilities, residential treatment centers) by combining resources of the State's four child-serving agencies: Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, Department of Health and, Office of Juvenile Justice.
  • Bureau of Family Health, Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) works to ensure that children and youth with special health care needs in Louisiana have access to the health care and social services they need. These services are designed to minimize their disabilities and maximize their ability to enjoy independent and self-sufficient lives, including 1) direct health care services, 2) care coordination, 3) youth health transition, and 4) developmental screening. More information can be found on the Louisiana Department of Health's Local Resource Guides page.
  • Office of Behavioral Health-Mental Health Services (OBH) provides statewide authority and accountability for all behavioral healthcare, including mental health treatment services, for Louisiana citizens. The law mandates that the local administration of the Louisiana behavioral healthcare system, including both community and residential services, is operated by independent health care districts or authorities:
  • The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) is responsible for providing services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities in Louisiana. OCDD serves as the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) into the developmental disabilities services system and oversees public and private residential services and other services for people with developmental disabilities. The human services districts/authorities serve as the points of entry for individuals to receive services.
    • Early Steps provides services to families with infants and toddlers, through two years of age, who have a medical condition likely to result in a developmental delay, or who have developmental delays.
    • Flexible Family Funds provides monthly stipends to families of eligible children with severe or profound developmental disabilities from birth to age 18 to help their families meet extraordinary costs. These subsidies are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. To submit an application, contact a human services district or authority.
    • Home and Community Based Services offers community-based services and support for people who are disabled through the Medicaid Home and Community-based Waiver programs. These waiver programs allow Louisiana citizens to have greater flexibility to choose where they want to live, and the waiver services and support that best suit their needs, while still receiving Medicaid State Plan benefits. OCDD offers the following waiver services:
      • Children's Choice Waiver offers supplemental support to children through age 20 who currently live at home with their families or with a foster family.
      • New Opportunities Waiver offers people age 3 and older, who otherwise would require the level of care of an Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled (ICFs/DD), services that allow them to remain in their communities. Services are based on the need of the recipient and are developed using a person-centered process to formulate an individualized plan.
      • Residential Options Waiver offers people of all ages services designed to support them to move from ICFs/DD and nursing facilities to community-based settings, and to serve as an alternative to institutionalization.

Families Helping Families

There are ten Families Helping Families organizations in Louisiana. These are each non-profit resource centers organized and directed by family members of individuals with disabilities. Families Helping Families Community Resource Specialists provide assistance accessing services, navigating referrals to support services, connecting with other parents, and more. Contact the local Families Helping Families organizations and request to speak with a Community Resource Specialist.

More information on each of the Families Helping Families organizations in Louisiana can be found on the Louisiana Department of Health's website here.

Disability Rights of Louisiana

In 2020, the Advocacy Center of Louisiana changed its name to Disability Rights of Louisiana (DRLA). The agency is a non-profit organization that protects and advocates for the human and legal rights of people with disabilities of all ages. More information can be found on their website.

Exceptional Lives

Exceptional Lives is a non-profit organization that encourages and guides families and providers caring for children with disabilities by offering information, resources, skill-building tools, and connections to other caregivers. More information can be found on their website.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

NAMI Louisiana is a non-profit organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Together, we advocate for better lives for those individuals who have a mental illness. More information can be found on their website.


Child Welfare

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is the state agency responsible for keeping children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient and providing refuge during disasters. The Division of Family Support administers the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps), Workforce Development (SET for Success), Child Support Enforcement, Disability Determination Services, and federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. The Child Welfare Division manages Child Protection Investigations, Family Services, Foster Care and Adoption Services. Through its Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response, DCFS supports the state's disaster response and recovery functions that involve evacuation, sheltering, emergency food assistance and human services.

Services for Children

  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
    Court Appointed Special Advocates for children advocate in court for the best interest of abused and neglected children. CASAs are volunteers from the community who are trained and supervised by CASA program staff, appointed by a judge and assigned to one child who is in court due to having been the victim of child abuse or neglect. For more information and to find a local program please see the CASA website.
  • Children's Advocacy Center
    The Louisiana Alliance of Children’s Advocacy Centers is the state association of the Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Louisiana. CAC’s conduct forensic interviews in a child sensitive setting for child victims of abuse. Through the CAC, child victims and their families have access to therapy and resources as part of the investigative process.
  • Child Care Assistance Program
    The Louisiana Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is under the Louisiana Department of Education. It is designed to support all families in accessing high quality child care by providing financial assistance to low-income families while they are working or attending school.
  • Bright Futures
    The American Academy of Pediatrics provides resources to protect and promote a child's health by increasing knowledge of children's health issues, providing assistance on partnering with health care providers, and linking to helpful organizations and tools.

Services for Families

  • DCFA Family Services
    Family services are provided to families in which an allegation of child neglect and/or abuse has been validated, and the family is thought to need more long-term services. In some limited situations, families can voluntarily elect to participate in these services even though abuse or neglect has not been validated. Family services are provided to children and their parents for a time-limited period, generally six months. More information can be found on the DCFS website here.
  • Louisiana Parent Line
    Louisiana Parent Line (833- LA-CHILD) provides parents with free, confidential, 24/7 access to a live specialist for emotional support and resource referrals.
  • My Community Cares
    My Community Cares (MCC) is a neighborhood-driven, community-focused initiative, designed to strengthen families and support communities. MCC serves as a single point of contact in communities for families in need of supports before (or when) crisis hits. MCC connects families to other families and/or agencies for support and resources as well as connects agencies with other agencies to improve coordination, quality, and availability of services and referrals. Connections are made to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing. Additional help is provided to identify root contributors of “the crisis” and find resources for employment, housing stability, parenting support and education, financial management, mental health, etc. Local contacts can be found here.
  • Family Resource Centers Network
    There are nine resource centers in the state that make up the Network - Services include Parenting Education, Family Skills Building, Kinship Navigator, and My Community Cares program.
  • Partners for Family Health Louisiana
    Partners for Family Health Louisiana provides two services, Family Support and Coaching Services which are offered through two different models—Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) and Parents as Teachers (PAT). NFP pairs first time moms with a registered nurse during the second or third trimester to help guide moms through pregnancy and newborn care. PAT pairs families who are expecting a baby or have young children with parent educators who provide support, help families navigate services, and keep children on track with their health and development.

Services for Foster Families

Foster care is a temporary, court-monitored service provided by the state to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth. The Federal government supports Louisiana’s foster care services through program funding and legislation. Foster caregivers undergo licensing and training so that they are well-equipped to provide children and youth with shelter, support, and care.

  • Foster Care Navigator
    DCFS has gathered the information necessary to become a foster parent in the Foster Care Navigator which should answer questions about the expectations of fostering. Additionally, there is a guide to Court Processes and Legal Rights of Foster Parents on the website.
  • AdoptUSKids
    AdoptUSKids     is a national project working to ensure that children and teens in foster care get safe, loving, permanent families. The Agency assists families by answering questions from families who are exploring foster care and adoption online and over the phone, connecting families online, and providing support for fostering families.
  • National Foster Parent Association
    National Foster Parent Association is dedicated to providing support to Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents who are working hard to provide caring, healing homes to children in care.
  • Louisiana Foster Care Support Organization
    Louisiana Foster Care Support Organization is a project of the Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, Inc., the support organization provides a directory of resources and support organizations available by region.

Services for Grandparents and Kin Caretakers

  • Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center of Louisiana
    Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Louisiana is an organization dedicated to offering both information and support to grandparent and other kinship caregivers and their families.
  • Grandfamilies.org
    The information compiled on this site provides aid and information in a variety of relevant topics, updated regularly to give grand-families the information they rely on.
  • Kinship Navigator Program
    The Kinship Navigator Program (KNP) serves as an information and referral network for kinship caregivers who are providing full-time care to children other than their own.
  • Kinship Care Subsidy Program
    The Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP) provides cash assistance each month for each eligible child who resides with a qualified relative other than a parent.