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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.
DSS Employee Receives Emergency Preparedness Award
May 06, 2009
05.06.09 - Christine McGraw, a regional manager with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, an agency within the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS), received the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association's Dedication Award for leadership and service at the association's 30th annual conference in Lake Charles on Tuesday.
DSS Office, Employees Honored by Federal Agency
May 05, 2009
05.05.05 - Louisiana’s Disability Determinations Service (DDS), a part of the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS), and four of its employees have earned high honors from the Social Security Administration for outstanding work on behalf of the state’s disabled population.
DSS Urges Providers to Prevent Flu in Child Care Centers
May 01, 2009
05.01.09 - Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols said today that child care centers should take appropriate steps to prevent the spread of flu by sending sick children home and temporarily closing child care centers if a H1N1(Swine Flu) flu case is confirmed or if there is a link to a confirmed H1N1 flu case.
DSS Legislative Package Aims to Increase Protections from Sexual Predators, Realign Business Practices
May 01, 2009
05.01.09 - Reducing the threat of sexual predators, increasing educational stability for foster children and allowing the state to use public facilities during an emergency are part of the nine bills that make up the Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Legislative Package that Louisiana lawmakers will consider during the current legislative session.
DSS Announces Appointment of Assistant Secretary of Office of Community Services
April 24, 2009
04.24.09 - Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols today announced that Kaaren Hebert has been appointed assistant secretary of the Office of Community Services (OCS) and will lead the office in implementing recently announced steps to help ensure the safety of children in the state by focusing on safety, technology, training and workforce retention. She has served as interim assistant secretary of OCS since November 2008.
National Company Teams Up with DSS to Hire Individuals with Disabilities
April 16, 2009
04.16.09 - PRIDE Industries, a national service company with a mission to create jobs for people with disabilities, has partnered with the Department of Children & Family Services’ Louisiana Rehabilitation Services to fill more than 60 contract jobs at Fort Polk located near Leesville. “The Department of Social Service is excited to forge a relationship with PRIDE Industries,” said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols. “This is an avenue to enhance our state’s workforce development efforts while creating employment opportunities for citizens with disabilities that can result in self-sufficiency and independence.”