ABOUT US / PROGRAMS
The Center for Children and Families is redefining the way children in crisis are being served in communities throughout Louisiana. What began in 1999 as a tiny back room office, has now grown into a thriving, nationally recognized non-profit agency that stands as a beacon of hope for those in crisis situations. Our mission is to promote safe, healthy environments through advocacy, counseling, education and prevention.
Our agency consists of five programs: Therapeutic Services, CASA of Northeast Louisiana, The Children's Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana, Brokers of Hope, and Family Support & Youth Transition:
Our agency consists of five programs: Therapeutic Services, CASA of Northeast Louisiana, The Children's Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana, Brokers of Hope, and Family Support & Youth Transition:
THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
The Center for Children and Families has developed innovative treatment programs that specifically target fractured family relationships. Services are delivered in the natural environment to ensure that the therapist is able to fully participate in activating resources available to families. Our ultimate goal is to empower families to build an environment that promotes family stability through a process of utilization and creativity that incorporates indigenous family and community strengths.
The treatment programs serve families that are faced with the most challenging conditions and circumstances in our region. Our clients-- who are referred from agencies including the Department of Children and Family Services, the Office of Juvenile Justice, school systems, local courts, and other treatment providers-- are often at risk of being removed from their homes because of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or other criminal behavior. The Northeast Louisiana region is considered one of the most impoverished areas of the United States, which creates an added need for treatment aimed at social justice, advocacy, and resourcefulness.
The treatment programs serve families that are faced with the most challenging conditions and circumstances in our region. Our clients-- who are referred from agencies including the Department of Children and Family Services, the Office of Juvenile Justice, school systems, local courts, and other treatment providers-- are often at risk of being removed from their homes because of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or other criminal behavior. The Northeast Louisiana region is considered one of the most impoverished areas of the United States, which creates an added need for treatment aimed at social justice, advocacy, and resourcefulness.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES
When a child is removed from his or her home due to abuse or neglect, a CASA is appointed to serve as the voice for this child, acting as the eyes and ears for a judge and giving insight to what is in the child’s best interest. A CASA volunteer can make the difference between moving from temporary houses to a safe, permanent home, between dropping out and completing school, between unemployment and success, between serving time and serving the community as a happy, productive member of society. Our trained staff are there every step of the way supporting, educating, and empowering each advocate.
THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER
The Children's Advocacy Center of Northeast Louisiana (CAC) is designed to provide a unified approach to conducting forensic interviews for child and mentally challenged adult victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, human trafficking, or witnesses to violent crimes. We are then able to connect them with counseling services to begin the process of healing.
Before the CAC, these victims would have to talk about their experience to several different agencies and officials. The victim could be moved all over the region to numerous different locations in order to fulfill all of the required examinations, interviews and assessments. Now, the CAC works to collaborate the efforts of all the agencies and officials who are involved in child victim cases in order for the process to be less traumatizing to the innocent.
All of the necessary steps— assessments, forensic interviews, medical exams, and victim support services, are conducted in one location. Everyone works together for one common goal of protection and healing. It is through this process that the CAC hopes to relieve some of the strain and trauma from those who have suffered through no fault of their own. **CAC services can only be accessed through law enforcement or social services.
Before the CAC, these victims would have to talk about their experience to several different agencies and officials. The victim could be moved all over the region to numerous different locations in order to fulfill all of the required examinations, interviews and assessments. Now, the CAC works to collaborate the efforts of all the agencies and officials who are involved in child victim cases in order for the process to be less traumatizing to the innocent.
All of the necessary steps— assessments, forensic interviews, medical exams, and victim support services, are conducted in one location. Everyone works together for one common goal of protection and healing. It is through this process that the CAC hopes to relieve some of the strain and trauma from those who have suffered through no fault of their own. **CAC services can only be accessed through law enforcement or social services.
BROKERS OF HOPE
Brokers of Hope is designed to provide hope in Union Parish to families in crisis, and create a pathway to a community ready to help. This is achieved through counseling and crisis intervention, the development of a resource network of community members, organizations, and churches willing to provide support to impoverished families with assessed and valid needs. Brokers of Hope coordinates with local citizens to provide opportunities for the community to connect with families in meaningful and empowering ways.
FAMILY SUPPORT & YOUTH TRANSITION
The Family Support and Youth Transition Program (FSYTP) is a statewide program that works in coordination with the Office of Juvenile Justice. FSYTP works with youth who are in danger of being incarcerated, are currently incarcerated, or have recently been released from incarceration.
Our goal is to prevent incarceration by working with a youth on life skills and helping them find appropriate ways of meeting his or her needs. If a youth is incarcerated, the goal is to help them transition back into their family, back into school, and back into the community, with as little shock as possible.
Our goal is to prevent incarceration by working with a youth on life skills and helping them find appropriate ways of meeting his or her needs. If a youth is incarcerated, the goal is to help them transition back into their family, back into school, and back into the community, with as little shock as possible.
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