People in Louisiana know family is everything. It’s the key to keeping our communities strong and vibrant. That’s why we put so much effort into our Youth and Family Services. Each one is designed to build up the next generation and help restore family life.
CRISIS SUPPORT SERVICES
In times of emotional distress or mental health crises, immediate support can make all the difference. Our Crisis support services are dedicated to providing compassionate, 24/7 assistance for individuals (youth up to 20 years of age) facing acute mental health challenges, substance use emergencies, or suicidal thoughts.
Mobile Crisis Response
Are you or someone you know experiencing a mental healthor substance use crisis?
Our Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) is here to help, 24/7. Our trained professionals come directly to you, providing immediate, on-site support during difficult moments.
We offer:
- rapid response to your location
- expert assessment by mental health professionals
- de-escalation and stabilization techniques
- connection to community resources and follow-up care
- a compassionate alternative to emergency room visits or law enforcement involvement
MCR is designated for individuals facing:
- acute mental health symptoms
- severe anxiety or panic attacks
- substance use emergencies
- suicidal thoughts or behaviors
- other behavioral health crises
Our goal is to resolve crises safely in the least restrictive environment possible, helping you regain stability and connect with ongoing support.
Community Brief Crisis Support (CBCS)
When you're facing a mental health crisis, Community Brief Crisis Support (CBCS) is here to provide continued support and stability.
Our services include:
- 24/7 availability
- care coordination
- de-escalation of behavioral health needs
- face-to-face support
- referrals to treatment and local providers
Our team of licensed professionals works to:
- connect you with long-term resources
- maintain your stability at home
- prevent unnecessary ER visits
Following an initial crisis intervention, CBCS ensures you're not along in your journey to recover. We're here to provide the ongoing support you need to regain balance and move forward.
Match Mentoring (Mentoring, Advising, Tutoring, Counseling, and Helping
Ask any successful person their life story, and they will usually point to a mentor who helped guide them through the storms of life. Without that mentor, their struggles may have led to a downward spiral of bad decisions.
The MATCH program, for children and adolescents in Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes, provides the sort of guidance that can change their lives. It teams youth from ages 6-12 and 16-22 with a college student that can help guide them.
It focuses on youth with needs that stem from struggles with diagnosed mild to moderate intellectual development. These young people have been assessed as at risk for juvenile delinquency, victimization, academic failure, and poor employment prospects.
But MATCH provides a way out.
Mentors provide youth with real-life examples of success and perseverance. They also offer guidance that youth can relate to when faced with a difficult situation.
Adolescents must be referred by the Metropolitan Human Services District-Development Disabilities Services Office for this program.
Therapeutic Foster Care
Sadly, society still struggles with the problem of abused, neglected, and troubled children. The problem is compounded when a child suffers from a physical or mental issue. Often, through no fault of their own, these children must be separated from their homes. It’s a critical time in their life, a time that can make or break their future.
That is why we contract with the Department of Children and Family Services to help children temporarily placed in their custody.
We find specially trained foster parents who open their homes and offer temporary care to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. They offer hope in a therapeutic, caring environment when a child must be temporarily separated from parents or relatives.
More about Therapeutic Foster CareLecirque Mentoring
Funded by the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, this mentoring program provides mentoring for youth in Terrebonne Parish. Our family of skilled caseworkers provides structured individual and group activities, all designed to help children get the help needed to succeed.
Our staff provides assistance with life skills, homework, and socialization skills. They also offer recreational and educational outings to broaden the horizons of children in the program.
The end result is a strong set of fundamental skills that help children succeed.
Short-Term Respite
Families and caregivers of a youth with a severe emotional disorder can struggle to maintain their own well-being. But sometimes, it just takes a little outside help to restore relationships and regain some harmony.
Our Short-term Respite Care Program can help de-escalate stressful situations and environments by offering temporary direct care and supervision for youth in their own home or community settings.
One of our skilled care providers can create a mental buffer for children in an environment where they feel comfortable. It can be in their own home or a public place such as a park, any place that will improve the situation. Please note, however, this program cannot be provided in a facility-based setting.
We realize that sometimes situations escalate quickly, so we offer help on an emergency basis. Our team keeps the program flexible, offering services after school or at night and providing assistance with transportation to and from school appointments, medical appointments, and community activities.
Short-term Respite can be a great way to restore balance and bring hope and healing to family relationships.
To learn more about Short Term Respite Care, click on the link below:
Life Skills Training
Children in grades 3—6 are at a pivotal age in their development. Helping them deal with problems makes life better for them and their community. That’s why Life Skills training is a fantastic opportunity to help youth who might be at risk for substance abuse, physical abuse, addiction, compulsive gambling, and other destructive behaviors.
The program, funded by the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, is an 8-10 week course that uses real-life examples to help students avoid high-risk behaviors.
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDTP
Children with physical limitations stemming from injury or illness can get the care they need through this Medicaid-funded program. Our trained caregivers can help with eating, bathing, dressing, or taking care of other physical needs.
It is available for people from infancy up to age 21 who meet the medical criteria. While it does not cover medical tasks like giving medication, tube feeding, placing catheters, ostomy, or tracheostomy care, it does cover the following:
- Basic personal-care, toileting and grooming activities.
- Assistance with bladder and/or bowel requirements or problems.
- Assistance with eating and food preparation.
- Performance of incidental household chores, only for the recipient
- Accompanying, not transporting, recipient to medical appointments.
