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Department of Children & Family Services Announces Closing Date for Disaster Food Stamp Program
September 23, 2008
09.23.08 - The Department of Children & Family Services has announced that Disaster Food Stamp application sites around the state will end operations on Monday, September 29. DSS has been accepting applications since September 9 in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav and recently added 14 parishes to the list of those eligible for this benefit meant to help families replenish food supplies lost to the storms.
Disaster Food Stamp Program Has Provided More Than $150 Million in Benefits to Louisiana Families (Corrected)
September 22, 2008
09.22.08 - The Department of Children & Family Services reported today that 434,716 eligible households have been provided federal Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits and were issued cards with $152,875,137 in benefits.
DSS Releases Initial Emergency Sheltering Improvement Plan
September 22, 2008
09.22.08 - Department of Children & Family Services Interim Secretary Kristy Nichols announced today an initial five-point plan to improve the agency’s emergency sheltering operations after a preliminary review found deficiencies in the response to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Governor Bobby Jindal requested the review in order to make immediate changes to the state’s emergency sheltering procedures.
Secretary Nichols Announces More than $105 Million in Benefits on Cards
September 19, 2008
09.19.08 - The Department of Children & Family Services reported today that 275,227 eligible households have been provided federal Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits and issued cards with more than $105 million in benefits as of 11 AM today.
DSS Interim Secretary Surveys Disaster Food Stamp Application Sites
September 19, 2008
09.19.08 - Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Interim Secretary Kristy Nichols visited four of the eight new Disaster Food Stamp application sites today. Nichols traveled to Lake Charles, DeRidder, Jennings and Leesville to see the operations at food stamp application sites firsthand throughout the day.
DSS Prepares to Open New Disaster Food Stamp Program Sites
September 18, 2008
09.18.08 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services has received approval from the USDA for approval to open Disaster Food Stamp application sites in Washington and Franklin parishes for residents impacted by Hurricane Gustav and to open sites in six new parishes due to damage from Hurricane Ike. Those additional parishes are: Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Sabine and Vernon.
Disaster Food Stamp Program Has Now Helped 204,629 Families
September 18, 2008
09.18.08 - The Department of Children & Family Services reported today that 204,629 eligible households have been provided federal Disaster Food Stamp Program benefits and issued cards with more than $80 million in benefits.
Department of Children & Family Services Announces Site Changes for Disaster Food Stamp Program
September 18, 2008
09.18.08 - The Department of Children & Family Services announced the relocation of sites available to accept disaster food stamp application. As DSS nears the close of its second week of operation, some local agencies have requested that sites be moved due to scheduling conflicts. The Department has worked to develop as smooth a transition as possible between sites, coordinating efforts between staff, volunteers, local authorities and contractors.
DSS Prepares to Extend Disaster Food Stamp Program to Residents Impacted by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike Department
September 17, 2008
09.17.08 - The Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services has submitted a request to the USDA for approval to expand the parishes eligible for Gustav disaster food stamps. With federal approval Washington and Franklin parishes would be granted Gustav benefits. Both parishes meet the FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) requirement. Including newly eligible parishes, DSS estimates that 396,000 families are eligible for these benefits as a result of Hurricane Gustav.
DSS Addresses Computer Error Affecting Some Food Stamp Electronic Benefit Cards
September 16, 2008
09.16.08 - Today, the Department of Children & Family Services announced that a computer program error in the disaster food stamp processing system, which caused an estimated 22,000 applicants to erroneously receive duplicate benefits, has been corrected and measures have been put in place to prevent future system errors and also increase DSS staff to speed up the processing of the applications and the uploading of benefits onto electronic benefit cards.