Covington Foster Care Community Meets with DCFS Secretary Harris to Discuss Strengthening Services

Covington, La. — As Louisiana recognizes National Foster Care month, the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) continued its Foster Care Community Listening Tour with a stop in Covington. The event was attended by Louisianans who have a variety of experiences with the foster care system, including caregivers, advocates, and community partners, for conversations on strengthening supports for children and families.

The session emphasized the shared responsibility communities carry in helping children remain safe, connected, and supported during difficult transitions. Participants discussed the day-to-day realities of caregiving, the importance of clear communication with DCFS staff, and the need for resources that help keep children close to their homes, schools, and communities.

Participants also offered insight into ways to strengthen collaboration among DCFS staff, schools, healthcare providers, emergency responders, and the courts—stressing that when partners work from the same information and toward shared goals, children experience greater stability. Caregivers highlighted the value of timely support and relationships built on trust.

There are 517 children currently in foster care, supported by 290 certified foster homes in the Covington region. During the past year, local foster caregivers helped 269 children safely reunify with their families and finalized 119 adoptions. These numbers highlight both the dedication of regional caregivers and the necessity to increase the number of available homes to meet children's needs.

In the Covington region, the current home-to-child ratio is 0.56-to-1, meaning that more foster homes are needed to support children and meet the goal of a 1-to-1 ratio of homes to children put forth by the Administration for Children and Families’ “A Home for Every Child” initiative. Foster care recruitment, outreach, and stronger community resources support Governor Landry’s Executive Order 25-130 to modernize the state's child welfare system and address critical needs, including the regional foster home shortage.

“Families on the Northshore are telling us what is working and what is not," said DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris. "What we hear is shaping how we strengthen Family Services, expand support for Foster Caregivers, and bring HomeReady online so children reach safe, stable homes faster. Policy that does not reflect what is happening in Covington is policy that fails kids."

DCFS is committed to building a foster care system that prioritizes stability, family, and the voices of those with lived experience in and around the system. With the support of caregivers and partners, Louisiana can ensure that every child has a path toward healing.

Here is how the community can support children and families right now:

• Become a foster caregiver or explore other ways to help: http://dcfs.la/lahome
• Track Louisiana's progress on foster home availability through the "A Home for Every Child" resource page: http://dcfs.la/fchomes