Other Services Provided to Families and Child Care Providers:
1) Training and Technical Assistance
DSS contracts with approved trainers to offer the training that child care providers need in order to maintain a Class A license or registration of a child care facility. Caregivers are also encouraged to obtain training above and beyond the minimum number of hours needed to meet licensing or registration standards. Caregivers are urged to improve their skills and abilities in order to advance in the child care field, to take pride in their accomplishments and view their work as more than just "babysitting". Technical assistance brings the trainer into the child care facility to help staff solve unique problems and see how general theories can be put to work in their specific environment to improve the quality of the care children receive. Listed below are agencies that provide training to child care providers.
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New Orleans and Thibodaux Areas
Agenda for Children
Childcare Resources
(504) 586-8509 (New Orleans area)
1-800-486-1712 (outside New Orleans area)
(985) 446-8330 (Thibodaux area),
1-800-577-8052 (outside Thibodaux area) |
Alexandria and Shreveport Areas
Northwestern State University
NSU Child and Family Network
(318) 677-3150 (in Shreveport area),
1-800-796-9080 (outside Shreveport area)
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Baton Rouge Area
Volunteers of America
Partnerships in Child Care
926-8005 (in Baton Rouge)
1-888-926-8005 (outside Baton Rouge) |
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Statewide
Agenda For Children/Inclusion
1-800-577-8052
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Statewide
Excellence for Children
Infant and Toddler Training
337-332-8551 |
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Covington and Lake Charles
Regions
Louisiana State University
225-578-3329 |
Monroe Region
Children's Coalition For
Northeast Louisiana
1-877-206-0819 |
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Lafayette Region
Excellence For Children
1-337-332-8551 |
2) Resource and Referral
DSS also funds contracts with child care resource and referral agencies which perform a variety of services for the families and child care providers in this state. Resource and referral agencies teach parents what to look for and what questions to ask when choosing a child care provider. They also refer parents to child care facilities operating near their home or workplace. They also help to build the child care supply by encouraging providers to enter the child care market or to expand their operations. A list of Resource and Referral Agencies follows.
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New Orleans, Covington and
Thibodaux Areas
Agenda for Children
(504) 586-8509 (New Orleans area)
1-800-486-1712 (outside New Orleans Area)
(985) 446-8330 (Thibodaux area)
1-800-577-8052 (outside Thibodaux area) |
Alexandria and Shreveport Areas
Northwestern State University
NSU Child and Family Network
(318) 677-3150 (in Shreveport/Bossier areas)
1-800-796-9080 (outside Shreveport area)
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Baton Rouge Area
Volunteers of America
Partnerships in Child Care
(225) 926-8005 (in Baton Rouge)
1-888-926-8005 (outside Baton Rouge area) |
Monroe Area
Children's Coalition for Northeast Louisiana
(318) 323-8775, (877) 206-0819
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Lafayette and Lake Charles Areas
Excellence for Children
(337) 332-8551 |
3) Child Care for Protective Service Cases
The Office of Community Services, in the Department of Social Services, administers a portion of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) to pay for child care for children who may be in danger of abuse or neglect. The department provides a constellation of services to families, including child care, so that children can safely remain in their homes instead of being forced into the overcrowded Foster Care system.
4) Child Care and Development Fund Advisory Council
This Council, appointed by the governor, makes recommendations to DSS about activities that can improve the quality of child care in Louisiana.
5) Licensing and Monitoring
One of the goals of the CCDF is to assist states in implementing health, safety, licensing and registration standards of child care facilities to ensure the health and safety of children in out-of-home care.
6) Quality Incentives
Class A child care centers which are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) can receive an incentive payment each calendar quarter for the care they provide to children subsidized by the Child Care Assistance Program.
Family Child Day Care Home (FCDCH) providers which participate in the Department of Education Child and Adult Care Food Program can receive an incentive payment each calendar quarter for the care they provide to children subsidized by the Child Care Assistance Program.
7) Repair and Improvement Grants
Grant amounts ranging from $600 for FCDCH providers to a maximum of $10,000 for Class A providers are available to child care providers to allow them to make repairs or purchases that would help them to meet licensing or registration requirements or that would improve the quality of child care services. Application is made through the OFS Family Assistance parish offices. (View the listing of the OFS Family Assistance parish offices).
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