Be There for Children and Families

Even a small deed can make a huge impact on children and families in your area. Whether it’s checking on neighbors, cooking a meal, helping with childcare, picking up a child from school, offering a ride to work, or even showing someone how to call 211 for assistance, these small actions can be the lifeline that helps a family stay afloat.

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

Explore the resources below to help you discover meaningful ways to BE THERE for families near you.

FINANCIAL Assistance

FOOD Assistance

HOUSING Assistance

UTILITIES Assistance

MEDICAL Assistance

Additional Resources

Find Community Resources: Louisiana 211

211 connects individuals with information about critical health and human services available in their community. These services can include basic human needs resources like food, clothing, shelter and financial assistance; physical and mental health resources; employment support; and support for children and families, such as child care, family resource centers, mentoring and tutoring. For more information, visit Louisiana211.org.

To access the 211 network, call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211.

Emotional Support for Parents: Louisiana Parent Line

VIA LINK offers the Louisiana Parent Line where specialists offer emotional support, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and plans for coping. Follow-up calls can be arranged to increase parents' circle of support.

To reach a counselor, call 833-LA-CHILD (833-522-4453) or text (225) 424-1533.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Information Center

Louisiana Grandparents Raising Grandchildren is an organization dedicated to offering both information and support to grandparent and other relative caregivers and their families. Learn more at lagrg.org or call (225) 810-3555.

Community and Family Support System

Community and Family Support (CFS) offers a wide range of services to families of children with disabilities and adults with disabilities, including developmental disability services, behavioral health, aging and adult care.

My Community Cares

My Community Cares (MCC) is a neighborhood-driven, community-focused initiative designed to strengthen families and support communities. The goal is to ensure that every neighborhood in Louisiana has access to the services and supports they need to be healthy and safe.

Partner with us in these efforts! Complete the MCC Partner Form or reach out to the MCC Agency in your region of the state. A list of MCC agencies, with their contact information, can be found here.

Report Child Abuse or Neglect

DCFS investigates cases of child abuse or neglect where the parent or caretaker is believed to be culpable in, or responsible for, the abuse/neglect.

How to Report Child Abuse/Neglect

Call 855-4LA-KIDS (855-452-5437) toll free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if you know a Louisiana child is being abused or neglected, or is a victim of juvenile sex trafficking. All calls are confidential. Trained specialists determine if the reported information legally constitutes a report of child abuse, neglect or juvenile sex trafficking.

Recognize the Signs

The first step in helping abused or neglected children is learning to recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect. The presence of a single sign does not prove child abuse is occurring in a family; however, when these signs appear repeatedly or in combination you should take a closer look at the situation and consider the possibility of child abuse. More information on the signs and symptoms of child abuse/neglect.

What Is Abuse? What is Neglect? What is a Caretaker?

The Louisiana Children's Code provides the following definitions of abuse and neglect by a parent or caretaker.

"Caretaker"

"Caretaker" means any person legally obligated to provide or secure adequate care for a child, including a parent, tutor, guardian, legal custodian, foster home parent, an employee of a public or private day care center, an operator or employee of a registered family child day care home, or other person providing a residence for the child.

"Abuse"

"Abuse" means any of the following acts which seriously endanger the physical, mental, or emotional health and safety of the child:

The infliction, attempted infliction, or, as a result of inadequate supervision, the allowance of the infliction or attempted infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child by a parent or any other person.
The exploitation or overwork of a child by a parent or any other person, including but not limited to commercial sexual exploitation of the child.
The involvement of the child in any sexual act with a parent or any other person, or the aiding or toleration by the parent, caretaker, or any other person of the child's involvement in any of the following:
- Any sexual act with any other person.
- Pornographic displays.
- Any sexual activity constituting a crime under the laws of this state.
- A coerced abortion conducted upon a child.
- Female genital mutilation as defined by R.S. 14:43.4.

"Neglect"

"Neglect" means the refusal or unreasonable failure of a parent or caretaker to supply the child with necessary food, clothing, shelter, care, treatment, or counseling for any injury, illness, or condition of the child, as a result of which the child's physical, mental, or emotional health and safety is substantially threatened or impaired. Neglect includes prenatal neglect. Consistent with Article 606(B), the inability of a parent or caretaker to provide for a child due to inadequate financial resources shall not, for that reason alone, be considered neglect. Whenever, in lieu of medical care, a child is being provided treatment in accordance with the tenets of a well-recognized religious method of healing which has a reasonable, proven record of success, the child shall not, for that reason alone, be considered to be neglected or maltreated. However, nothing herein shall prohibit the court from ordering medical services for the child when there is a substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare. For more information on prenatal neglect, substance-exposed newborns and the associated reporting procedures, click here.