OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES
Children, Youth and Family Services
Louiaiana Department of Social Services
Serving Claiborne, Webster, and Bienville Parishes
1232 Sheppard Street
P. O. Drawer 1076
Minden, La. 71058-1076
(318) 371-3004
Regional Office: Shreveport
STAFF:
Child Protection Investigators, Family Services Workers, Foster Care Workers, Clerical Staff, and Paraprofessionals.
The Webster Parish OCS office serves the parishes of Webster, Claiborne and Bienville. Services of the agency are provided without regard to income and are extended for the protection of children.
The goal of Child Protection Investigation Services is to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment; and, to ensure their safety through protective investigation, social services provision and legal intervention to remove them from that environment when it seriously threatens their safety and well being.
The Louisiana Children's Code mandates the responsibility for investigating reports of child abuse and/or neglect to the Office of Community Services. Reports of child abuse and neglect can be mandated or permissive. Mandated reporters who have cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect shall report.
Mandated reporters include; health practitioners: mental health/social service practitioners; teachers and other school staff child care providers; law enforcement officials; and, commercial film and photographic print processors.
Permissive reporters (any other persons) who have cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered may report. The law provides that any person who in good faith makes a report, cooperates in an investigation, or participates in judicial proceedings shall have Immunity from civil or criminal liability.
Family Services are social services which are provided to families and children in their own homes in order to address problems of abuse/neglect and promote the safety of the children within the family unit. These services are provided in situations where the abuse or neglect is not assessed to be of the nature and extent which would place one or more of the children in substantial risk of serious harm if services are provided to the family, and in which the parents or responsible caretakers demonstrate a willingness to change the abusive/neglectful behavior or circumstances. This program is based upon the philosophy that each child should remain in his own home if it can offer him safety and meet his basic needs.
Foster Care provides substitute, temporary care for a planned period of time when a child must be separated from his own parents or relatives.
It must be viewed as an interim process to provide care for a child until he is returned with his family or is provided with another type of permanent living situation. The provision of foster care services is based on the belief that every child's most urgent need and right is to have a permanent home and family of his own.
The goals of foster care in order of priority are:
To restore the family so the child can be returned to his own home or to the care of relatives, or in the case of the older foster child, to achieve independent living.
To place the child in a permanent home through adoption.
To provide for each child in foster care who cannot return home or be adopted to a stable and continuous relationship with a nurturing, parenting person or persons through a transfer of legal custody or through a formalized long-term contractual agreement.
COST: All services are free of charge.
FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES OF NORTHWEST LOUISIANA
Louisiana State University
One University Place
Health and P.E Building, Rm 215
Shreveport, Louisiana 71115
P.O. Box 17658
Shreveport, Louisiana 71138
1-318-797-5346
1-888-735-3722
FAX: (318) 798-4139
HOURS: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Families Helping Families (FHF) is an organization of families who, because of their own experiences, are aware of and committed to reaching out to other families who have members with special needs. Special needs include physical, mental, emotional, behavioral and/or educational issues. FHF is a place where families can go for help and understanding by caring people who "have been there" too.
FHF's mission is to assist and strengthen individuals and families with special needs through a coordinated statewide network of resources, supporting aril serving the parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Desoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster. The primary goal is to foster family strength, involvement and education, and to support the work of professionals in the community by providing a voice by and for the family.
COST: All programs are free of charge.
D.A.R.T. of LINCOLN
813 North Trenton
P.O. Box 1223
Ruston, Louisiana 71273
(318) 251-2255
(800) 281-7885
FAX: (318)254-8230
HOURS: 24 hours per day
Mission: To provide safety, shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and options for battered women arid their children in Lincoln and surrounding parishes.
Goals: To provide outreach services to a five parish area including shelter, counseling and legal advocacy.
The program provides a shelter for either emergency or long-term. The agency provides legal advocacy that includes protective orders and accompaniment to court.
Counseling is available for residents and non-residents.
Other services include: weekly support group for battered women. weekly support group for abusers, speakers bureau, and crisis calls handled by trained personnel.
COST: All programs and services are free of charge. Funding is provided through grants and community donations.
THE CENTER FOR FAMILIES
864 Olive Street
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104
(318) 222-0759
(800) 923-2687
FAX: (318)221-0216
HOURS: 8:30 AM -8:00 PM, Mon-Thur, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM, Fri
Counselors work with clients one-on-one or in a group. All counseling is individualized to meet the needs of the persons involved. An individualized treatment plan is developed jointly between client and therapist to guide the way. Confidentiality is strictly maintained at all times. The goal is to solve life's everyday problems, assume control of their lives, learn effective problem solving techniques, and make constructive decisions.
A staff of professionally licensed and/or credentialed counselors is available at The Center to provide help in a wide variety of treatment concerns. Services include:
Marriage/Couples: Conflict resolution, Communication skills, Problem solving techniques
Children: Adolescent adjustment Parent child conflicts, School behavior problems
Other: Dealing with grief, Depression, Alternative lifestyles, Sub-Culture issues, Preparation for marriage
The Center provides a full range of outpatient treatment for those who struggle with issues of addiction and dependency. Treatment is available to help with problems related to drugs, alcohol, gambling, dependency, and compulsive disorders. Including the traditional Twelve Step approach to treatment, The Center staff helps clients address the problems that were present prior to any compulsive behaviors. The holistic, life-oriented treatment approach includes work with the dynamics of the client's entire life system: family, professional, recreational, economic. and spiritual. A "Three Level" program approach assures that treatment is appropriate to each client depending in the extent of addiction.
Through classes, workshops, and school based programs The Center provides parenting education, help to children coping with divorce, intervention, assessment, and consultation to improve parent's skill at this difficult task.
COST: Fees are based on the individual's income and his/her ability to pay. A sliding fee scale according to income is used.
