Department Programs

Working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters

Child Support - DCFS offers parent locator and paternity establishment services, as well as assistance to establish and enforce child support orders and collection and distribution of child support payments. Access and visitation assistance is also offered.

Delinquent Payors - The most wanted delinquent payors are individuals under a legal obligation to pay child support who have not made a payment in the last six months and owe at least $10,000.

Child Welfare - The Child Welfare Division works to meet the needs of Louisiana's most vulnerable citizens.

Adoptive Parenting - Allows prospective parents to gather information on the process of adoption, orientation schedules in their region to learn more and learn about the children available for adoption.
Adoption Profiles - This tool features some of the Louisiana children freed for adoption.
Central Intake - 1-855-4LA-KIDS - Report Child Abuse and Neglect- Those who witness or suspect child abuse or neglect are urged to report and disclose any information. This toll-free hotline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Mandated reporters are required by law to report any abuse or neglect.
Child Protection Investigations - Child protection investigation is the investigation of child abuse and neglect, as well as the provision of short-term, concrete services to children and families. These services are legally mandated, specialized investigations and social services for children who are alleged to be neglected, abused, exploited or without proper custody or guardianship.
Family Services - Family Services are social services provided to families and children in their own homes to address problems of abuse/neglect and promote the safety of the children within the family unit.
Family Team Meetings - The purpose of Family Team Meetings is to keep children safe, promote children's well-being and support families.
Foster Parenting - Foster parents provide for the daily needs and care of the child, creating a family-like environment fand offering supervision, discipline, guidance and nurturing.
Safe Haven - Parents who are unable to care for a baby less than 60-days-old can bring the child to an emergency designated facility, or Safe Haven. By leaving the baby in the care of an employee at a Safe Haven facility, parents can give up custody of a baby with no questions asked.
Safe Sleep - Provides information on the safest place for a baby to sleep.

Emergency Preparedness - DCFS is responsible for managing state Critical Transportation Needs Shelters, Medical Special Needs Shelters, Sex Offender Shelter, and Unaccompanied Minor Shelter while providing staff and resources to General Population Shelters (GPS) upon request.