Political Attention and Political Support are not the same thing. We believe the chart below is evidence of the difference. Louisiana’s legislature gives steady attention to the Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”). Senators and Representatives, individually and in committees, have focused intently on DCFS because they desire the best for Louisiana’s children. Reports of children dying during the…
Posts published in “Louisiana DCFS”
Because we cannot yet look back in hindsight, it is impossible to know whether abolishing or reinvigorating the Department of Children and Family Services (“DCFS”) is the Louisiana Legislature’s better choice. With only a two-year renewal of its sunset bill, the matter is still on the legislature’s radar. Their concern is safety, especially regarding the deaths of children when DCFS…
In the Senate Health and Welfare Committee’s April 15, 2026 discussion of Senate Bill 265 regarding the proposed abolishment of DCFS, we heard that Louisiana is “only one of seven states that has a standalone department of children and family services.” Having followed child welfare matters across the country for several decades, that statement did not sound like an accurate…
Data makes it clear that the number of Louisiana children in foster care is increasing. Louisiana does not have enough foster homes available to handle what lies ahead. Each month, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services updates a statistical block on its website titled “DCFS By the Numbers.” At any point, the numbers indicate only the latest reporting…
Recently, Andrea Gallo, writing for The Advocate, asked a most important question about Louisiana’s Child Welfare System: Louisiana is flush with cash. Why is child welfare still ‘woefully underfunded’? This is a question that must be answered by the Governor and Legislature. We understand that how an individual spends money speaks loudly about their character. The same is true for…
This morning I read an appeal for help on Twitter regarding Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) from a Louisiana legislator: when “something catastrophic happens; a (sic) under compensated, overworked staffer loses their job, yet, the six figure earners remain in the ivory tower gainfully employed. No accountability at the top. Help it make sense?!” I believe I…
As it often does regarding the Department of Children and Family Services, former Governor Jindal’s name popped up in Louisiana news this week in stories about children poorly protected by DCFS. We did not get here today, it’s been a long decline. It is hard to dispute the Jindal administration’s drastic impact on Louisiana’s child welfare system, but in my…