Louisiana’s child welfare data showed that many families involved with the child welfare system historically live within the same neighborhoods. Louisiana judges and legal and child welfare stakeholders agreed to seek the voice of residents in these neighborhoods to find out what community-based programs and supports they felt families needed to access critical services that were supportive, racially equitable, culturally relevant, and built on the strengths of their community. Four parishes with high numbers of children entering foster care were chosen to pilot MCC: Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Rapides. Fourteen priority neighborhoods were identified within those four parishes. Over the past four years, MCC has partnered with thousands of families in these communities to assess opportunities and challenges and co-design solutions with them to prevent children from entering or remaining in foster care.
The mission of MCC is to strengthen families and support communities.
MCC envisions communities where all children and families are healthy and safe and have equitable access to services and supports.
Spark community organizing and engagement
Connect families to each other and services and supports; and
Provide individual family support
For family support, please click below to complete the needs assessment
MCC neighborhood, parish, and state teams meet regularly to improve communication between community members and agency partners, identify and remove barriers to quality services, advocate for change, promote racial and socio-economic equity, and build a network of services and supports unique to each community. To learn more about these teams click the links below.
Civil and legal aid is eligible to Louisiana residents living within 200% of the poverty line
who are directly referred by Volunteers for Youth Justice/My Community Cares.
The types of cases handled may include:
Domestic Violence and Family Law:
Domestic Violence/TROs/POs, Separation, Contested Divorce, Uncontested Divorce, Custody/Visitation, Adoption, Tutorship/Guardianship, Name Change, Child Support, Other Family Law, Wills and Successions.
Public Benefits:
Administrative Law, Medicare Benefits, Unemployment Compensation, Worker’s
Compensation, Veterans Benefits, Social Security, SSI, AFDC/Other Welfare, Immigration
Housing:
Real Estate and Housing, Home Ownership/Real Property, Landlord/Tenant, Public Housing, Other Housing, Public Utilities, Loan Modification, Debt Relief, Foreclosure Prevention and Mediation, Foreclosure Relief, Principal Reduction, Refinancing, Wrongful Foreclosure
Consumer Health and Protection:
Collection/Repossession/Garnishment, Contracts/Warranties, Liens/Installment Purchase, Unfair Sales Practice, Other Consumer/Finance, Income Maintenance, General Law/Tort Defense, Mental Health, Physically Disabled Rights, Other Health, Job Discrimination, Wage Claims, Other Employment, Civil Rights, License/Acts/Other
Disclaimer: Please note that a referral to an attorney does not guarantee representation. The attorney may provide legal advice and guidance based on the information provided. However, the attorney reserves the right to accept or decline any case at their discretion.
To be eligible, you must be at 187.5% of the poverty guidelines and you must have children living in your home. For those who are eligible, please click below to complete the intake form.
For more information please contact Kreesha Bennett.
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