Press Releases

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.

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.