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State Continues to Request Access to BP's Claims Database
June 15, 2010
06.15.10 - Four days after BP promised to provide needed claims information to the state in a meeting with the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) and the Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), BP has yet to honor the agreement by providing any of the crucial data. At the Friday meeting, BP agreed to provide a list of all large loss claimants, including amount of claims and number of days in the system, a data dictionary of BP's claims and answers to a list of specific questions about the claims processes. To date, BP has not provided the state with any of the agreed upon items.
State of Louisiana Makes Repeated Requests to BP with No Action from BP
June 04, 2010
06.04.10 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) and Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC), along with the Louisiana Attorney General's office, are requesting that BP allow the state access to the oil giant's claims database and procedures for approving or denying claims, paying claimants and closing cases related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
State Agencies Request $300 Million from BP to Mitigate Short, Long-term Impacts of Oil Spill on Communities and Businesses
May 29, 2010
05.29.10 - Multiple Louisiana state agencies have submitted a letter requesting that British Petroleum create a fund with an initial $300 million to provide critical resources to mitigate the immediate, short- and long-term impacts on affected businesses and individuals. The Louisiana Departments of Social Services, Health and Hospitals and Wildlife and Fisheries along with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Recovery Authority and Louisiana Economic Development developed the request.

Residents Encouraged to Pre-Apply for Disaster Food Stamps to Prepare for Hurricane Season and Other Disasters
May 28, 2010
05.28.10 - With the 2010 Hurricane Season just days away, Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services Secretary Kristy Nichols encouraged residents to pre-apply online for Disaster Food Stamps in preparation for hurricanes and other disasters like the oil spill currently in the Gulf of Mexico.

BP responds to DSS, Second Harvest, Catholic Charities request for aid
May 18, 2010
05.18.10 - Responding to a request issued by the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) three weeks ago, BP today donated $1 million to two New Orleans based non-profits to provide food aid, direct cash assistance and other services to families and individuals impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
DSS Implements Emergency Rules to Assist Louisiana's Coastal Families Affected by Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
May 12, 2010
05.12.10 - In an effort to aid fishermen and shrimpers affected by the oil spill, the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) issued an emergency rule today revising what income and assets can be counted to determine eligibility for the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and other cash-based aid.
DSS Announces Temporary Registration Sites for Regular SNAP in Six Coastal Parishes
May 11, 2010
05.11.10 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) is operating temporary registration sites for the regular Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, in Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, St. Tammany, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes to assist individuals and families impacted by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill apply for needed benefits.
Department of Children & Family Services Requests Immediate Food Commodity Assistance for Impacted Families from USDA
May 07, 2010
05.07.10 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) today submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting immediate food commodity assistance for individuals and families in 14 coastal parishes impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Newborn safely relinquished through Safe Haven law
May 07, 2010
05.07.10 - The Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) announced today that a female newborn was successfully and safely relinquished through Louisiana's Safe Haven law last month at a New Orleans area hospital. The baby is the twelfth child relinquished in the state utilizing the Safe Haven law since 2004.
DSS and Second Harvest Request $250,000 for Immediate Food Assistance for Impacted Families, BP Partially Funds
May 06, 2010
05.06.10 - In response to a letter sent Wednesday from the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services and Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, BP provided a $100,000 check today to Second Harvest to support food assistance for families in St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes impacted by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.