Welcome to our new website developed for the foster/adoptive parents in the Covington Region!  We hope the information on the website is helpful.  If you have any ideas or suggestions on information that you would like to be included on the website, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-256-1918.

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FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATIONS

Foster parent associations provide support networks, training, learning opportunities, resources, and advocacy to foster parents.  Listed below are the meeting dates and times of the Foster Parent Associations in the Covington Region:

TANGIPAHOA PARISH

The Tangipahoa Parish Foster Parent Association meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Amite OCS Office. Elmer Snell is the acting president of the Tangipahoa Foster Parent Association. 

Please contact Margie Rogillio at (985) 789-0071 for additional information.

WASHINGTON PARISH

The Washington Parish Foster Parent Association meets on the 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at Wesley Ray Elementary School Gym in Angie, LA. Wanda Patton is the newly elected president of the Washington Parish Foster Parent Association.

For additional information, please contact Wanda Patton at (985) 839-6894.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH

The St. Tammany Foster Parent Association meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.  Keith Smith is the president of the St. Tammany Foster Parent Association.

Please contact Keith Smith for additional information.

LIVINGSTON PARISH

The Livingston Parish Foster Parent Association meets on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Livingston Parish OCS Office.

Babysitting is available if notified prior to the meeting.  At most meetings, there are guest speakers to earn training hours. Yearly dues are $15.00 per individual and $25.00 per couple. 

Please contact Deborah Carter at (985) 878-6427 or e-mail at cart8530@bellsouth.net  for additional information.

FOSTER PARENT FELLOWSHIP MEETINGS

WASHINGTON PARISH

Fellowship meetings for foster/adoptive parents are held on the 1st Thursday of every month at the Washington Parish OCS Office.  The meetings are at lunch time and everyone is asked to bring a dish with the recipe to the meetings to create a cookbook. There are guest speakers at each meeting offering an opportunity to earn training hours.

Please contact Nicole Penton at (985) 732-6800 to RSVP or for additional information. 

TRAININGS

Annual training for foster/adoptive parents is required for re-certification.  Foster/adoptive parents must complete a minimum of 15 hours of approved in-service training each fiscal year from July 1st through June 30th.

This website will be used to update you on in-service trainings that are being offered in the Covington Region.

Additional training resources include the following:

• Trainings offered on-line at internet websites, www.fosterclub.com or www.fosterparents.com. The courses are written by professionals and focus on foster and adoptive children.
• Training/instruction periods between foster parents and case managers can be considered for six hours of the required 15 annual hours.  The only applicable hours during these training/instruction periods will be when the worker provides information on: behavior management techniques; child development; cultural competency; attachment issues, and managing child-parent visitation. 
• Foster parent consultations with a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Professional Counselor for the purpose of implementing an individualized behavior management program or other therapeutic treatment on behalf of a child placed in the home.
• Formal training received from a medical provider, which is required for the foster parent to meet the physical needs of a child placed or to be placed in their home, is applicable in meeting in-service training hours.
• The Annual Foster Parent Conference sponsored by the Louisiana Foster and Adoptive Parent Association provides 15 hours of in-service training and an opportunity to network with other foster parents statewide.

Please contact your Home Development worker at 1-800-256-1918, if you have any questions or need any additional information regarding training requirements.

UPDATES TO POLICY- WHAT’S NEW

The website will also be used to update you on changes to policy and procedures.

To access an updated version of the Foster Parent Handbook on the internet, go to http://www.dss.state.la.us . Under the Offices heading, click the words, “DSS Policies”. This will bring you to the DSS Policy Management System web page.  Click the OCS tab near the top of the page. Under the Chapters heading on the left of the page, click on Foster Parent Handbook.

Monthly Board Increase for Foster/Adoptive Parents

Section 6-1605 of the Foster Care Policy and Part 11. Reimbursement of the Foster Parent Handbook will be updated to show the new allotments of the average monthly board payment, which is still based on a thirty day month.

CHILDREN FREED FOR ADOPTION

The Covington Region currently has 13 children that are freed for adoption that do not have adoptive placements. Please visit the Louisiana Department of Social Services Website at http://www.dss.state.la.us/ under special “Special Features” click on LA’s Children Available for Adoption to see all of the children in Louisiana that are in need of an adoptive home. Please contact your Home Development worker at 1-800-256-1918, if you have any questions or need any additional information.