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People First of Louisiana

People First of Louisiana

People with Disabilites Moving Forward for Change in Louisiana

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People First Meeting Group

Resources

St. Charles People First MembersDisability Services

  • Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council
  • LATAN - Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network
  • The Arc of Louisiana
  • Disability Rights Louisiana
  • Louisiana Citizens for Action Now(LaCan)
  • We Connect Now
  • Accredited Online Colleges and Disability Education

Apply for Services

Department of Children and Family Services
(888) 524-3578

  • http://www.dcfs.la.gov

DCFS’s vision includes: working together to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Young man smiling while making a halloween craft at a People First meetingLouisiana Medicaid
(888) 342-6207

  • Medicaid Website »
  • Apply for Medicaid »

Medicaid provides medical benefits to low-income individuals and families. Although the federal government establishes the general rules for Medicaid, specific requirements are established by each state. In Louisiana, approximately 1.2 million residents receive health care coverage through Medicaid, most of whom are children under 19. The Louisiana Medicaid Program operates within the Department of Health and Hospitals.

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services »

Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) assists persons with disabilities in their desire to obtain or maintain employment and/or achieve independence in their communities by providing rehabilitation services and working cooperatively with business and other community resources.

Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS)
(866) 758-5035

  • http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov »
  • Apply for OAAS Services »

The Office of Aging and Adult Services (OAAS) was formed within the Department of Health and Hospitals as a health care reform initiative, bringing together all of the long-term care programs that serve senior citizens and people with adult-onset disabilities. The Office of Aging and Adult Services aims to develop, provide and enhance services that offer meaningful choices for people in need of long-term care. The office is committed to developing a long-term care system that provides choice, ensures quality, meets the needs of consumers and caregivers, and does so in a fiscally responsible manner.

People First members at a meeting

Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities
(866) 783-5533

  • Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD)
  • Apply for OCDD Services

The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) serves as the Single Point of Entry (SPOE) into the developmental disabilities services system and oversees public and private residential services and other services for people with developmental disabilities. The Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities is committed to ensuring quality services and supports, information and opportunities for choice to people of Louisiana with developmental disabilities and their families.

OCDD conducts an assessment of people who request services to determine the person’s eligibility for system entry. Eligibility is based on the definition of developmental disability contained in Louisiana R.S. 28:451.1-455.2. The community services regional offices and human services authorities/districts serve as the points of entry for individuals to receive services from both the regional offices/human services authorities/districts and the supports and services centers.

Office of Public Health
(225) 342-2540

Office of Public Health

The DHH Office of Public Health is comprised of 1,300 professionals across Louisiana who are charged with protecting and promoting the health of the communities of our state. Engineers, doctors, chemists, biologists, nurses, sanitarians, clinicians, emergency preparedness experts and a host of other professionals work constantly to:

  • monitor the food Louisiana’s residents and visitors eat,
  • keep our water safe to drink,
  • fight chronic and communicable disease,
  • ensure we are ready for hurricanes, disasters and other threats,
  • ensure access to vital records like birth certificates, and
  • offer preventive health services.

Group of People First members in front of a statue/monument outdoorsSocial Security Disability
(800) 772-1213

www.socialsecurity.gov

Social Security pays benefits to people who cannot work because they have a medical condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death. Federal law requires this very strict definition of disability. While some programs give money to people with partial disability or short-term disability, Social Security does not.

Office of Behavioral Health

  • Office of Behavioral Health »
  • Office of Behavioral Health Regional Services Available »

 

Group of People First MembersLegal Resources

  • Exceptional Lives
  • Disability Rights Louisiana
  • American Bar Association
  • The Arc – National Center on Criminal Justice & Disability
  • DBTAC Southwest ADA Center
  • Health Law Advocates of Louisiana
  • Louisiana Appleseed
  • Louisiana Disability Legal Resources
  • PAR Louisiana
  • Louisiana State Legislature

Community-Based Resources

  • Adult Protection Services
  • Office of Social Services
  • GeauxVote
  • The Louisiana ABLE Accounts

Housing Resources

  • HUD Housing
  • Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
  • Administration for Community Living (ACL)
  • Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU)

People First MembersAdvocacy Organizations

  • The Arc of Louisiana
  • Louisiana Developmental Disability Council
  • Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs (GODA)

Other Resources of Interest

  • BIALA
  • Deaf Focus - LAD
  • Exceptional Lives
  • National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)
  • Light House for The Blind

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People First of LouisianaAbout Us

People First of Louisiana is part of a national coalition of organizations for people with disabilities. As a statewide organization, it supports people with disabilities in empowering themselves to become effective decision-makers, gain independence, enjoy life as equal citizens, and actively empower each other to participate in and contribute to their local communities.

Address

People First of Louisiana

600 Colonial Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

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Contact

Office Number: (225 383-1033)
Toll-free: (866 966-6261)
Fax: (225 383-1092)
info@peoplefirstla.org

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