Post on 30-Dec-2015
description
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Children’s Cabinet Recommendations
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
DSS Mission
Effectively and efficiently guiding individuals, children and families toward
independence and safety through integrated quality services and
partnerships in an environment of opportunity and accountability.
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Office of Family Support
OFS continuation budget allows for prevention services:
Improvement in Quality Day Care
TANF supported initiatives
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Anti-Poverty Strategies
Earned Income Tax Credit-Outreach Project OFS Strategic Plan-Inclusion of Poverty Reduction
as Agency Objective– Focus on Collaboration as Strategy
Community Mobilization and Outreach-New Project Focused on Deputy Assistant Secretary and Regional Community Specialists
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Early Learning and Care
Child Care and Development Fund
Head Start
Quality Initiatives
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
DSS has prioritized the Office of Community Services Needs
Mental health servicesResidential treatment Foster Care Board Rate and Adoption
Subsidy equalizationFull funding of OCS T.O.
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Prevention and Early Intervention Services
Legislative Mandate
Focus on Prevention
Need for Early Intervention Services
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Below Average FosterCare Board Payments
USDA average cost for urban south = $570 per month
Current foster care board rate = $374 per month
Adoption subsidy rate is 80% of board rate = $299 per month
A disincentive to adoption
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Residential Treatment
The percent of Louisiana’s foster care population requiring residential care is increasing significantly without the resources to adequately support such treatment
Approximately 1,762 foster children are served annually in OCS residential facilities, most needing mental health services.
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
After Care andTransition Services
Children’s mental health needs continue even after leaving foster care whether they are:– Returning to family– Adopted– Placed in custody of relatives or others– Moving into independent or semi-independent living
situations such as vocational school or college programs
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Reduction in Staff Funding
OCS has lost 255 positions over the last 5 years This impacts:
– Timeliness of investigations– Provision of services necessary to move children into permanent
families in a timely manner– Provision of support services to foster and adoptive families– Loss of prevention services staff
Currently 3 staff positions are dedicated to prevention services
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
Critical Priorities
Increased funding for residential treatment, mental health and substance abuse services
Increased foster care board payments and adoption subsidy
Increased salary dollars for T.O. authority to allow for growth of prevention services and to adequately address current need
We will build a stronger Louisiana by helping individuals, children and families to achieve safer and more independent
lives.
OCS Budget Request
Continuation budget allows for expansion of Family Group Decision Making, Infant Mental Health programs, Circle of Security
New and Expanded budget requests funding for new infant mental health program for foster care parents and staff