Invariably, when we hear, “Louisiana found the bottom,” someone responds, “Oh, yeah? Give me a bigger shovel!” Last month, by a vast majority, Louisiana’s citizens rejected four Constitutional amendments. The amendment beaten most soundly across the state would have permitted the Legislature to put children in adult prisons for any crime it chooses. Essentially, with its proposed constitutional amendments, the…
Posts tagged as “louisiana child well-being”
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…
I have gathered a list – a collection of Kid Count headlines – and I will update it because it provides a decades-long mirror into which we in Louisiana can gaze and see how our children have fared. The headlines are from news articles about Louisiana’s Kids Count ranking for child well-being. This may be obvious, but it is important…
This morning I read a Twitter post about the success of Medicaid expansion which reported that 97% of Louisiana’s children now have some form of health insurance coverage. In a state which holds the dubious distinction of holding the average position of 49th for 29 years when ranked for child well-being, 97% coverage for health care is astoundingly significant! Online…
A brief discourse presented to the Louisiana Interchurch Conference’s Fall Board of Directors Meeting, by Rick Wheat, President and Chief Executive Officer, Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services, on September 25, 2017, at St. Xavier Cathedral Catholic Church Complex, Alexandria, Louisiana. Good afternoon! You cannot imagine how excited I am to share a few words with all of you…