Programs

Lending Library: Supported by the LA Department of Education, FHF maintains a lending library of books, VHS tapes and DVDs on disability-specific information and also general information related to education, parents rights, etc.  Our library is open during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Any FHF staff may assist you, please visit our library soon!!

Educational Liaisons: Valerie Balser, valerie_fhfacad@hotmail.com; Sabrina Hagan, sabrina_fhfacad@hotmail.com; and Connie Amos, conniea_fhfacad@hotmail.com

Promotes collaboration between families, LEA Special Education Programs and related services, and general education personnel. The parent contract addresses educational issues which result in improvements in school curriculum, referral and staff collaboration.

First Touch/Parent to Parent:

This is a mentoring program that matches parents of newly-diagnosed children with trained volunteer support parents for emotional support and education.

We are looking for families that have children with special needs and have adjusted to the daily stress and demands of parenting a special needs child to become support parents.  Interested parents can contact Families Helping Families of Acadiana for more information.  

Childrens Special Health Services, Parent Liaisons:  Yacira Ledet, yacira_fhfacad@hotmail.com; Leah Qeusnel-Bruce, leah_fhfacad@hotmail.com

Parent Liaison - A Parent Liaison is a unique person who is able to deal with her own child's special needs while offering support, information, and referrals to other parents of children with disabilities.

SIBSHOP, Bernadette Myers, bernadette_fhfacad@hotmail.com - SIBSHOP is a support group for children who have a sibling with a disability and/or chronic or terminal illness. SIBSHOP is a place where children ages 8-16 can meet to talk about what it is like to have a sibling with different needs and a place to have fun. This group will meet monthly and will have a variety of speakers and activities. Older SIBS are welcome to apply as volunteers.

Early Steps Community Outreach Specialist: Connie Amos, conniea_fhfacad@hotmail.com

The Part C Parent Liaison will coordinate on a regional level activities related to the support of parents and families served by Louisiana's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with special needs under Part C of the Inividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  Will be responsible for assisting families in accessing Part C services.  Will refer to Systems Point of Entry.  Part C Regional Parent Liaison will assist in outreach, and will also be responsible for providing information to families of young children about Part C services.

ECSS (Early Childhood Supports & Services) - Bernadette Myers, bernadette_fhfacad@hotmail.com, Facilitator

The Early Childhood Supports & Services projects encompass those families who reside within the Lafayette Parish area.  One of the goals of this initiative is to develop a local integrated, comprehensive system of care for preschool children and their families.  The process will function much like an Interagency Service Coordination (ISC) in that needs will be identified and supportive services explored and offered through participation of the core group of agencies and others who may offer appropriate services.  It is expected that OCS utilitzes this process for eligible foster children as well as for any child and familily identified within our Family Service population.

There are three (3) components of ECSS:
ECSS Staffing - The staffing consists of CORE members (15-18) agencies that attend meetings on a regular basis. 
Emergency Funds - Temporary Assistant to Needy Families (TANF).
Infant Mental Health Program - Service children age 0-5 and their caretakers.

PROMPT - Parents Reaching Out Model for Parent Training; Valerie Balser, valerie_fhfacad@hotmail.com

Project PROMPT provides information and training to parents of children with disabilities, on the rights and responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilitites Education Act (IDEA), and related federal and state laws.

Project PROMPT is a program of Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and has been funded by a grant from the United States Department of Education since September 1986

Project PROMPT is commited to parent training of children with disabilities to become full participants in their children's educational process.

For more information, please go to www.projectprompt.com.

LaSIG - Louisiana State Improvement Grant:  Yacira Ledet, yacira_fhfacad@hotmail.com

In August 2001, the Division of Special Populations in the State Department was awarded a State Improvement Grant through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The primary purpose of the LaSIG is to improve Louisiana's educational system in ways that better meet the needs of all students by improving special education services within the overall context of general education reform initiatives. The Project seeks to achieve the following broad outcomes in participating schools and districts and transfer these local accomplishments to other schools and districts:

• Increase the number and quality of general and special education teachers, related service personnel, administrators and other staff.
• Increase the access to and participation of children and youth with disabilities and their families in appropriate and effective education services and supports.
• Increase and improve the learning results of children and youth with disabilities.

note: Vermillion Parish schools are the only schools in our area receiving this grant at this time.