Press Releases

Hot Weather, Unattended Vehicles Can Prove Deadly for Children

June 19, 2009

06.19.09 - With the official beginning of summer only days away and daily temperatures across Louisiana hovering in the mid to upper 90s, the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) reminds parents of the deadly consequences of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.

DSS Food Stamp Program Recognized With Award for Accuracy

June 18, 2009

06.18.09 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services' Food Stamp Program recently received the Program Integrity Award for its commitment to payment accuracy at the 2009 Tri-Regional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Conference. DSS had fewer errors in making payments to Food Stamp recipients, closing existing Food Stamp cases and denying Food Stamps to an applicant than any other state in the USDA's Food and Nutrition Services' (FNS) Southwest region.

DSS Holds Employee Briefing on H1N1 Virus After Results Confirm Five Cases in Iberville Building

June 17, 2009

06.17.09 - This afternoon, the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) will hold an information session for agency employees on the H1N1 virus. The meeting was called following the Department of Health and Hospitals confirming that five people in the Iberville Building tested positive for the H1N1 virus, after experiencing flu-like symptoms.

DSS Employee Retires After 32 Years with Agency

June 12, 2009

06.12.09 - She’s served under six governors over a span of more than three decades. Paula Braxton, who is retiring today after 32 years with the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS), says DSS has changed for the better from when she started her career.

DSS Offers Pre-Application for Disaster Food Stamps

June 01, 2009

06.01.09 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services today announced that Louisiana residents can now pre-apply online or by phone for Disaster Food Stamps in order to prepare for hurricane season, save time, and avoid long waits in the event of a disaster.

DSS Computer Error Causes Early Issuance of Food Stamps for June

May 29, 2009

05.29.09 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services today announced that all 282,748 regular Food Stamp recipients inadvertently received their June benefits days early and should take the appropriate steps to budget accordingly to ensure those benefits last until July.

State Officials Urge Changes to Federal Nutrition Program

May 21, 2009

05.21.09 - Several Louisiana officials sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today urging him to combat obesity in America by make policy changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program many Louisiana households rely on to feed their families.

May Declared Foster Care Month

May 14, 2009

05.14.09 - With 4,853 children currently in Louisiana's foster care program, cared for by more than 2,000 foster families, Governor Bobby Jindal has declared May as Foster Care Month in Louisiana.

The foster care program is one of the most important missions of the Department of Children & Family Services,” said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols.

DSS Fellowship Program Will Develop Leadership, Foster Innovation in Social Service Delivery

May 08, 2009

05.08.09 - Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols today announced that the agency, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will fund a six month fellowship program and leadership academy as part of a set of new initiatives to develop leadership and foster innovation in the social services arena.

DSS, GOHSEP Announce 50,000 Shelter Spaces Available to House Evacuees in Case of Emergency

May 06, 2009

05.06.09 - The Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) today announced that for planning purposes five states have agreed to shelter up to 26,000 Louisiana residents who do not have the resources to evacuate on their own before a storm.