DCFS Secretary Harris Leads Lafayette Listening Session Elevating Solutions for the Foster Community

LAFAYETTE, La. — The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) continued its Foster Care Community Listening Tour with its third stop in Lafayette, drawing the largest turnout of the tour so far. Caregivers, community partners, and local advocates gathered at Our Savior’s Church for a session of honest, solution-driven conversations in a setting designed to give participants the space and safety to speak openly about their experiences. A DCFS facilitator guided small-group discussions that produced clear, actionable recommendations to deepen support for children and families in the region and build stronger collaboration across everyone involved in a child’s care. 

The need for continued engagement is evident in the Lafayette region, where 635 children are currently in foster care and 286 foster homes are available, equating to a home-to-child ratio of 0.45 to 1. These numbers highlight the importance of expanding foster home capacity to ensure children can remain in family-based homes within their communities. 

As DCFS continues strengthening collaboration across courts, law enforcement, healthcare partners, and local organizations, insights from Lafayette will help shape statewide improvements aimed at increasing foster parent inquiries, shortening certification timelines, reducing placement disruptions, and decreasing sibling separations. 

“Getting to know foster caregivers here in Lafayette was truly energizing,” said DCFS Secretary Harris. “We created a space where people felt safe to be honest, and that opened the door to some of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on this tour. The ideas and perspectives shared today came from people who know this system, and their voices will play a real role in shaping the changes we make to better support children and families across Louisiana.” 

Here is how the community can help support children and families right now: 

• Become a foster caregiver or explore other ways to help: http://dcfs.la/lahome 

• Track Louisiana’s progress on foster home availability through the "A Home for Every Child": http://dcfs.la/fchomes