A. The purposes for which the office of children and family services of the Department of Children and Family Services is created shall be set forth in this Section.
B.(1) The office of children and family services shall perform the services of the state relating to public assistance programs to provide aid to dependent children and to adults, who due to age, disability, or infirmity, are unable to adequately meet their basic needs. It shall also administer child support programs, establishment of paternity programs, disaster relief grant programs for individuals and families, and such other programs as assigned by the secretary. The office is authorized to enter into interagency agreements with other state agencies to conduct eligibility determinations. The office shall provide for the public child welfare functions of the state including but not limited to prevention services that promote, facilitate, and support activities to prevent child abuse and neglect; child protective services; voluntary family strengthening and support services; making permanent plans for foster children and meeting their daily maintenance needs of food, shelter, clothing, necessary physical medical services, school supplies, and incidental personal needs; and adoption placement services for foster children freed for adoption. It shall also perform the functions of the state relating to the licensing of facilities regulated under Chapter 14 of Title 46 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The office shall issue and monitor domestic violence services contracts.
(2) After July 1, 1999, the office shall not provide for the administration of any programs related to Aid to Families with Dependent Children, public assistance, or the food stamp program except as provided under the welfare reform program required in R.S. 36:474(G) if such program is adopted by the legislature.
NOTE: §477 eff. Oct. 1, 2027. See Acts 2025, No. 477.
§477. Offices; purposes and functions
A. The purposes for which the offices of the Department of Children and Family Services are created shall be set forth in this Section.
B. The executive office of the secretary shall provide for the general oversight and supervision of the department. The executive office of the secretary includes a bureau of audit, bureau of general counsel, and a bureau of communications and governmental affairs.
C. The office of child welfare shall provide for the public child welfare functions of the state including but not limited to centralized intake; child protective services; human trafficking programs; making permanent plans for foster children and meeting their daily maintenance needs for food, shelter, clothing, necessary physical medical services, school supplies, and incidental personal needs; adoption placement services for foster children freed for adoption; prevention services that promote, facilitate, and support activities to prevent child abuse and neglect, including but not limited to voluntary family strengthening and support services; and such other programs as assigned by the secretary. The office shall also issue and monitor domestic violence services contracts.
D. The office of child support shall provide for the administration of child support programs pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, including but not limited to enforcing, collecting, and distributing support obligations; establishing paternity; obtaining and modifying child and medical support orders; and such other programs as assigned by the secretary.