Children & Teens

• DCFS has partnered with the National Safe Haven Alliance (NSHA) to offer a 24/7 hotline staffed by highly trained crisis response experts using a holistic approach to help parents who are considering relinquishing their baby under Louisiana’s Safe Haven Law.
• New parents may believe they are unable to parent their child due to extenuating circumstances. NSHA’s experts can help callers navigate those challenges and prepare for parenthood or, if desired, connect them with adoption providers within the state. If neither parenting nor adoption is an option, the team can help the parent prepare for a safe and legal relinquishment of the baby to an authorized Safe Haven site employee.
• Safe Haven 24/7 Crisis Hotline
  • 1-888-510-BABY (2229)
  • Text: SAFEHAVEN to 313131
  • Web: nationalsafehavenalliance.org/
• If you find yourself with no other alternative and are considering abandoning your baby, Louisiana's Safe Haven Law provides a safe place for your child. If you are unable to care for your baby and the baby's well-being is in danger, you can bring the newborn up to 60 days old to an emergency designated facility or Safe Haven site. By leaving the baby in the care of an employee at a Safe Haven facility, parents can give up custody of the newborn with no questions asked.
• Parents who would like to give up custody of their child, but whose child is not in immediate danger of harm, are encouraged to use a planned, permanent adoption through an adoption agency that accounts for medical and genetic history.

• Health Information for Parents, Families and Caregivers 
• Healthy pregnancy
• Healthy baby
• Safe sleep and learn how you can help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Baby and child development milestones
• Children’s feelings and behavior

• Children at risk for entering or re-entering foster care
• A child whose family has substance abuse issues
• Siblings of children in foster care who live at home
• A child with psychological or behavioral health needs whose parent/caretaker needs additional support
• Parenting or pregnant youth who are in foster care or have recently exited care
• A child living with a relative or kin caregivers

• Child protection investigation is the investigation of child abuse and neglect, as well as the provision of short-term, concrete services to children and families. These services are legally mandated, specialized investigations and social services for children who are alleged to be neglected, abused, exploited or without proper custody or guardianship.
• To report suspected child abuse, call 1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-855-452-5437) toll-free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Open a bank account and budget your money
• Find the services and programs you may need, including health care, food stamps, etc.
• Find a place to live
• Get ready to find a job
• Find training for a job
• Apply for a job
• Find a job
• Continue your education