May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. It is a time to acknowledge the 463,000 American children and youth in foster care and the family members, foster caregivers, volunteers, mentors, child welfare professionals, and policymakers who help children and youth find permanent homes and connections.  

The theme of this year’s national awareness campaign is “Foster Care is a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents.” The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) embraced this theme in 2017 when it joined the Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) movement.  QPI strives to strengthen foster care by refocusing on quality parenting for all children and youth within the child welfare system.  Research shows children and youth need consistent and effective parenting to thrive. When parents cannot care for their children, another caregiver must step in to provide loving, committed, and skilled care in partnership with the child welfare system.

QPI redefines the expectations of foster caregivers and provides the resources and tools they need. It emphasizes the importance of building a bridge between the foster care system, foster caregivers, and biological parents with the goal of reuniting children and youth in foster care with their families.  Quality foster caregivers open their hearts and homes to children and youth by meeting their daily needs and supporting and encouraging the biological parents as they work toward reunification; this helps to form stronger partnerships with everyone working together to achieve better outcomes for children, youth, and their families.  In Louisiana, two-thirds of children and youth are reunited with their families. This number compares with a little over half (51%) nationwide.

Community support is also crucial in helping caregivers provide quality parenting and support biological families. Individuals and organizations across the state are providing amazing support services for children and families. There are numerous examples in every region of the state that can be found at www.louisianafosters.la.gov.

Become a Foster Caregiver

Quality Parenting in Louisiana has genuinely made a positive difference in the lives of children and families involved in the child welfare system; however, with over 4,000 children and youth in foster care on any given day, there are ongoing needs. One of the greatest needs is for more foster caregivers, especially for older youth.  There are over 1,000 Louisiana teens in foster care. These youth account for approximately 25 percent of the total population of children in foster care in Louisiana but only 4 percent of the state’s current foster families providing homes specifically for teens. When there aren’t enough families available for teens, it causes these young people to leave their schools, friends, activities, and communities. Research has consistently shown that young people who transition from foster care without caring connections and support experience poor outcomes at a much higher rate than their peers in the general population. A stable and supportive home increases a teen’s hope for the future and builds self-esteem and confidence.

Whether you are a foster caregiver for teens, a local business offering discounts to foster families, a church hosting special events for children and families, or providing other services, everyone can do something to support children and families in the foster care system. To learn more about how you can become involved, visit www.louisianafosters.la.gov.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about being a foster caregiver for teens, please email us at LouisianaFosters@la.gov or visit  www.LouisianaFosters@la.gov.  

GARDENING

at the Governor’s Mansion

The newest addition to the Mansion grounds came about early on Good Friday. The First Family, at the request of the Governor, gathered outside to plant vegetables in the newly constructed raised beds. Planting on Good Friday is an Edwards family tradition. Lots of the new plants have already sprouted and are growing fast! The family looks forward to the day they can harvest their work. Fresh vegetables will be a great addition to meals in the family dining room.

LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSIONN

Words from Secretary Ava DeJoie

From the very beginning, this disaster was different. Anyone working in Governor Edwards’ administration or observing Governor John Bel Edwards can immediately sense his military training; it’s even more evident during a disaster. The Unified Command Group on Wednesday, March 11th, 2020, was different from the very beginning. There was not an X hour to impact , a discussion of wind or storm surge, or river crest. This time, our threat was an elusive virus.

Clearly, we were on the precipice of an event that was unlike anything else. Winston Churchill said, “those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” We learned so much from our country’s actions in response to the Spanish Flu, the creation of the modern-day Unemployment Insurance System, the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935, the ingenuity of Louisianians building Higgins Boats and our entire country’s response to WWII.

It was with this historical backdrop in mind that Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) began its response to COVID-19. While the team at LWC are not first responders, it was our call to be the first line of defense, providing some financial assistance in the form of a partial wage replacement through Unemployment Insurance benefits. I urged the LWC team to think of themselves as those working in the production factory or supporting war efforts during WWII because clearly, we are at war with the virus. History would judge our response, and we wanted to be part of the 21st century’s greatest generation.

Resiliency – that word holds weight when describing Louisianians. Even before this COVID-19 outbreak, the people of Louisiana knew what it meant to “bounce back” from hard times. COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of many Louisiana workers, as lay-offs increased to protect employees and consumers.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is continuing to step up for those impacted workers.

The agency has increased staffing in the Unemployment Insurance Division, increased phone, and online capacity to better process claims in a more efficient manner. LWC has extended its call center hours from 8:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

LWC did not shy away from showing up to offset the damage of this pandemic. The agency has witnessed an unprecedented 5000% increase in unemployment claims. In the first week of March 2020, LWC processed all of 1,255 new unemployment claims. By the third week, the team was processing more than 70,000. For the LWC, those are not just numbers or cases; they are real people with real stories who are facing a very real pandemic.

Those who qualify for unemployment insurance benefits during these atypical times are those who are facing a lay-off, a reduction in hours, or those mandated to stay home by an employer, the government or a health professional.

The state unemployment insurance weekly benefit is $247. Louisiana, along with other states, is receiving additional funds from the Federal CARES Act, which pays an extra weekly $600 in benefits. This emergency benefit is available through July 31, 2020.

Another funding source made available is by way of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, paying up to an additional $107 a week. This emergency benefit provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to qualifying individuals. This includes people not otherwise eligible for regular state unemployment benefits, including the self-employed and those who have exhausted their regular and extended benefits.

If COVID-19 has disrupted a person’s employment, they can file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits online at (www.laworks.net) or by calling LWC’s claim center (1-866-783-5567). The agency is encouraging claimants to file online during non-peak hours – 10:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M.

Thanks to Governor John Bel Edwards’ Executive Order 2020-27 and 2020-30, the Louisiana Workforce Commission has suspended the week of waiting along with the job search requirements for those filing for unemployment insurance benefits.

“No matter how bleak or menacing a situation may appear, it does not entirely own us. It can’t take away our freedom to respond, our power to take action.” – Ryder Carroll

Converting agency operations to strictly unemployment insurance (UI), training staff, setting up mobile operations, programing an entire state system to operate new Federal UI assistance, and continuing to operate the state system was a Herculean effort, which at times seemed impossible. Governor Edwards made it clear that failure was not option. Fast forward, and LWC has paid over 400,000 citizens over 1 billion dollars to date.

Fighting the virus, stopping the spread, putting people back to work, restoring the economy, and stopping the senseless deaths remain paramount. Yet, I find comfort in our country’s history. I find hope in Governor Edwards’ leadership. When we are united, we focus on the common good, and with God’s grace, we will succeed. This is our time to be the Next Greatest Generation by doing our part. In providing services to our fellow citizens, LWC has risen to the occasion. LWC will be even more zealous in “putting people to work” because we are the opportunity agency, not the unemployment office. United we will succeed, but we must look to history and learn that only a united response and a united defense can conquer our shared COVID-19 enemy.

LWC RESOURCE LINKS:

http://www.laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_COVID-19_QandA.asp

http://www.laworks.net/Videos/COVID-19_PSA.mp4