Family Assistance

Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana
Programs, classes, and events focusing on childcare and development. Connections to childcare facilities and healthy living.

Community & Preventative Health
This program through the Louisiana Department of Health helps families find state programs to meet their needs.

Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana
This local food bank serves Ouachita Parish and the surrounding parishes.

LaCHIP
The Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP) provides health coverage to uninsured children up to age 19. It is a no-cost health program that pays for hospital care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, shots and more.

Louisiana Believes
A service from the Louisiana Department of Education designed for educators and parents. It features information on early childhood, teaching, learning, graduation pathways, and school choice.

Louisiana DCFS
The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) offers a variety of information and services to parents and families. Programs include SNAP, adoption services, foster parenting, child welfare reporting, and grandparents-as-caregivers resources. DCFS is also responsible for establishing and enforcing child support.

Louisiana Medicaid, Healthy Louisiana
Medicaid provides medical benefits to low-income individuals and families. This site allows users to apply for and renew Medicaid benefits, as well as find healthcare providers that accept Medicaid.

Louisiana WIC
The Women’s, Infant, and Children’s Program, commonly known as WIC, is a part of the Louisiana Department of Health. WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, as well as children under five years old. WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition information, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health and social services.

OMCAP
Ouachita Parish Multi-Purpose Community Action Program (OMCAP) serves as an anti-poverty agency in conjunction with government and community organizations. OMCAP provides assistance with food, finances, housing, utilities, and prescription payments. OMCAP also provides resources for community health, such as screenings, self-defense lessons, exercise classes, senior activities, and family planning counseling. OMCAP can provide help with Medicaid and government program enrollment.

Salvation Army of Monroe, LA
The local office of the Salvation Army provides a community kitchen, food pantry, disaster services, and holiday assistance. The Salvation Army also runs a shelter located in downtown Monroe.

The Wellspring
The Wellspring is an umbrella organization with a variety of programs: domestic violence services for abused children and adults, youth empowerment through mentoring and workshops, counseling services geared towards children and survivors domestic violence and sexual assault, services for the homeless and underhoused, and supervised visitations between non-custodial parents and their children.

Housing Assistance

Christopher Youth Center
A Safe Place for youth (ages 11-24) looking for emergency or transitional housing.

Habitat for Humanity of Ouachita
Habitat for Humanity assists families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

Louisiana Housing Corporation
The Louisiana Housing Corporation administers a variety of programs that assist renters, homebuyers, owners, developers, nonprofit groups, local governments and other stakeholders in creating safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing.

Monroe Housing Authority
A local, government housing program that offers support to families, retirees, and people with disabilities.

OMCAP
Ouachita Parish Multi-Purpose Community Action Program (OMCAP) serves as an anti-poverty agency in conjunction with government and community organizations. OMCAP provides assistance with food, finances, housing, utilities, and prescription payments. OMCAP also provides resources for community health, such as screenings, self-defense lessons, exercise classes, senior activities, and family planning counseling. OMCAP can provide help with Medicaid and government program enrollment.

Ouachita Parish Police Jury Section 8 Housing
Ouachita Parish Police Jury Housing program provides housing assistance throughout Ouachita Parish.

Resources for People with Disabilities

ARCO
ARCO offers a wide variety of services including supported living and supported work for people with disabilities. ARCO also runs a Children’s Center for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana
This non-profit organization provides information and resource referrals, education and training, and peer-to-peer support to individuals with disabilities and their families.

Louisiana Believes
Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) resource site for students with disabilities. Information includes sources for students, families, educators, and administrators.

Louisiana Law Help
A free resource from Louisiana’s nonprofit Civil Justice Community that offers resources for legal assistance specific to people with disabilites.

Monroe Paratransit
Monroe Transit System offers a paratransit service for people with disabilities. For application, click here.

National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), a part of the Library of Congress, administers a free national library program that provides braille and recorded materials to people who cannot see regular print or handle print materials.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline for the Deaf/hard of hearing
1-800-799-4889 The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Northeast Delta Human Services Authority
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NDHSA), an independent state entity, provides services and treatment to people diagnosed with major mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorders throughout 12 parishes in northeastern Louisiana.

Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), serves as the single point of entry into the developmental disabilities services system and oversees public and private residential services and other services for people with developmental disabilities.

State Library of Louisiana Talking Book and Braille Library
TBBL provides free public library service to Louisiana residents of all ages who cannot easily read standard printed materials due to a visual impairment, physical disability or a reading disability whether it is permanent or temporary.

Unemployment Assistance

Louisiana Workforce Commission - LA Works
Louisiana’s one-stop site for filing for Unemployment Insurance, job postings, job fairs, vocational rehabilitation services, and workers’ compensation.

OMCAP
Ouachita Parish Multi-Purpose Community Action Program serves as an anti-poverty agency on behalf of government and community organizations. OMCAP provides resume help and job training. OMCAP can provide help with Medicaid and government program enrollment.

Utilities Assistance

Louisiana Housing Corporation
The Louisiana Housing Corporation administers a variety of programs that assist renters, homebuyers and owners, developers, nonprofit groups, local governments and other stakeholders in creating safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing.

OMCAP
Ouachita Parish Multi-Purpose Community Action Program serves as an anti-poverty agency on behalf of government and community organizations. OMCAP provides housing assistance and utility bill assistance, as well as help with Medicaid and government program enrollment.