How You Can Help

Thank you for your interest in helping children and families in your community. There are many ways in which you can help make a difference.

  • Consider adopting a child in the foster care system.
    Currently in Louisiana, there are 485 children available for adoption.
  • Consider becoming a foster parent.
    Foster parents can be single, married or divorced; homeowners or apartment dwellers. They can have a job outside the home. They can be as young as 21, or they can be retired.
  • Join the effort to prevent child abuse and neglect in Louisiana.
    Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana is a statewide organization dedicated to this purpose. For information on how you can help abused or neglected children call the Wendy’s KidsLine at 1-888-833-KIDS.
  • Support teens transitioning into adulthood.
    Few adolescents in our society are able to support themselves immediately upon graduating from high school. Yet each year in Louisiana, approximately 150 adolescents reach the age (usually 18) at which they must leave foster care and live independently.
  • Support children and youth in foster care.
    Children and youth are entering foster care today with far more complicated needs, often without adequate external support. Some ways you can help include tutoring a child, donating sporting goods, bicycles, computers or educational materials.
  • Support Foster Parents.
    Taking care of children is a 24-hour-a-day job for any parent. In return for their services, licensed foster care parents do receive a modest reimbursement, but it frequently falls short of the actual cost of caring for children. As a result, too often, even the most caring foster parents may eventually become overwhelmed by the financial and emotional burden and are forced to stop fostering.
  • Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the system.
    CASA is an organization that provides volunteer advocates to speak for the best interests of foster children in the court system. You don't have to be a lawyer. For more information call 888-567-CASA.

For Information on becoming a volunteer at a
Foster & Adoptive Parent Resource Center:

Alexandria Region
318-442-8026

Baton Rouge Region
225-928-9398

Covington Region
504-230-0405

Jefferson Region
504-822-0800

Lafayette Region
318-237-0508

Lake Charles Region
800-814-1584

Monroe Region
318-342-1453

New Orleans Region
504-568-7448

Shreveport Region
318-861-5978

Thibodaux Region
504-447-9172

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