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State Agencies Take Steps toward a Coordinated System of Care for Children with Behavioral Health Needs
11.19.09 - As part of Governor Bobby Jindal's strategy to reform the health delivery system to improve coordination of care, measurably improve outcomes and reduce costs to taxpayers, four state agencies met today with a Stakeholder Committee to discuss implementing a coordinated system of care for children with behavioral health needs.
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14 Defendants Indicted in Food Stamp Fraud Case
11.16.09 - Initial arrests were made today in the cases of 14 current and former state employees recently indicted as a result of a year-long joint investigation by the Baton Rouge Office of the United States Secret Service and the Louisiana Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Fraud and Recovery Section into fraudulent activity during the Disaster Food Stamp Program in St. Mary Parish.
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DSS Web Cast Next Wednesday to Focus on Child Welfare Best Practices
11.12.09 - The Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a Web cast Wednesday, November 18, focused on Best Practices in Child Welfare. It is the third in a series of monthly Web casts and part of the agency's efforts to foster leadership and innovation in social service delivery, increase savings and efficiencies and improve client outcomes.
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Residents Encouraged to Pre-Apply for Disaster Food Stamps in Preparation for Hurricane Ida
11.09.09 - With Hurricane Ida expected to enter the Gulf of Mexico later today, Department of Social Services Secretary (DSS) Kristy Nichols today encouraged residents to pre-apply online or by phone for Disaster Food Stamps to prepare for a possible impact by the storm, as well as save time, and avoid long waits in the event of a disaster.
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DSS Kicks Off Adoption Month With Celebration at Governor's Mansion Today
11.06.09 - The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) will celebrate the 451 families who made adoptive commitments to 582 Louisiana children over the past year at the 11th Annual Adoption Celebration today (Friday, November 6) beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Governor's Mansion.
Governor Bobby Jindal has proclaimed November Adoption Awareness Month, noting that adopted children come "to know the benefits of the permanence that is central to a sound home life provided by a loving family."
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Former Owner of Ferriday Child Care Center Sentenced for Fraud in Federal Court
11.05.09 - A former child care center owner was sentenced today to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised probation for committing mail fraud after defrauding the Department of Social Services (DSS) Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
Pamela Gorden, the former owner and operator of Gorden’s Daycare and Learning Center in Ferriday, was also ordered by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to pay full restitution of $220,697 to DSS. Gorden will report to a designated federal prison in December.
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DSS Provides Update on Child Care Licensing Reform
11.03.09 - As part of the child care licensing reform efforts announced in September, Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols today announced that an initial 90-day assessment of a select number of child care centers has been completed and has resulted in the revocation of 12 operating licenses. Each of the 12 child care centers either previously had the license revoked and a new license issued or had deficiencies on record that raised risk or safety concerns.
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DSS Provides Update on Internal Disaster Food Stamp Fraud
10.30.09 - The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) announced today that the agency has recovered more than 60 percent of identified losses due to employee fraud in the Disaster Food Stamp Program after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Of the 1,330 employee cases reviewed, 319 were deemed eligible for the program, with another 937 cases ruled inadvertent household or administrative error. DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols said the agency has only 11 cases left to review.
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Louisianians with Disabilities in Houma Area Can Connect with Employers at Job Fair Thursday
10.28.09 - Louisianians with disabilities who are seeking jobs in the Houma area will have a chance to meet with potential employers on Thursday. The final stop of the 2009 Louisiana Job Fairs is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Evergreen Cajun Center at 4695 West Main Street.
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New Orleans Stop of 2009 Louisiana Job Fairs Slated for Tuesday
10.19.09 - As part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Department of Social Services will host the New Orleans stop of the 2009 Louisiana Job Fairs on Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 9am - noon at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Avenue in Metairie. The job fairs are aimed to help move job ready citizens with disabilities toward greater self-sufficiency by connecting them with the business community
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DSS to host second monthly Web Cast Wednesday, October 7
10.02.09 - The Department of Social Services (DSS) will host a Web cast Wednesday, October 7, focused on best practices in the development of a coordinated system of care for children served in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. It is the second in a series of monthly Web casts and part of the agency's efforts to foster leadership and innovation in social service delivery, increase savings and efficiencies and improve client outcomes.
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DSS Awarded $1.2 Million Grant for Adoption Program Achievements
10.02.09 - The Louisiana Department of Social Services (DSS) has been awarded more than $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for exceeding past years' efforts to move the state's foster children into permanent adoptive homes.
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USDA Awards DSS $1.8 million Bonus for Application Processing Rate
10.02.09 - he Louisiana Department of Social Services is one of six states to receive a bonus award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for having the best application processing times in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps.
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DSS Announces Appointment of Assistant Secretary of Office of Family Support
09.30.09 - Department of Social Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols today announced that Deidria Bolden has been appointed assistant secretary of the Office of Family Support (OFS) bringing to the agency broad experience in helping people reach self-sufficiency, including working in the program areas of food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, child support enforcement and providing workforce training and education to increase employment opportunities. Bolden will assume the post of OFS Assistant Secretary on October 12.
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