R Louisiana » Systems integration

Agency integration, 2016

• Child welfare

  Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

  Centralizes child welfare administration services at the state level.

• Integration level

  One or all are decentralized

• Juvenile corrections

  Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Youth Services, Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ)

  Does not centralize administration of delinquency services at the state level.

Coordination, 2014

• Uses for coordination
• Does not use for coordination

• Data sharing

  Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.

• Committees or advisory groups

  Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.

• Formal interagency MOUs

  Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts

• Informal interagency agreements

  Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.

• Statute and/or rules

  Rules that mandate systems integration efforts

Summary

The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) administers child protection services in Louisiana. DCFS is a state administered system, with child welfare offices in each Parish. In addition to children's services, DCFS also includes broader welfare/human services functions, including child support enforcement and early childhood development. Juvenile justice services are administered by a combination of state and local agencies. Specifically, five urban jurisdictions fund and administer local juvenile services departments and the remainder of the state parishes are covered by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ).

A state statute enacted in 2013 requires the Deputy Secretary of OJJ to develop a plan for integrated case management services under the 'Improved Outcomes for At-Risk Youth Act'. Thus Louisiana is actively considering policies for improving systems integration for youth with dual status in delinquency and child welfare systems as well as those receiving services from additional agencies, particularly those receiving or in need of mental health services. Prior to the act, any coordination that occurred was on a local basis and largely informal between either state or locally administered juvenile probation counselors contacting state DCFS social workers (or DCFS contacting probation) when a dual status issue is raised by their clients.

Reported data