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Louisiana Lagniappe is a weekly electronic newsletter produced by Families Helping Families of Greater New Orleans and the Louisiana Parent Training & Information Center, a project of FHF of GNO.

Benefits to be Issued in Phases, Beginning in June

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SUN BUCKS?

Most eligible families will get SUN Bucks automatically, but some parents will need to apply.

The following children are eligible to receive SUN Bucks summer benefits and will be automatically enrolled in the program. There is no need to apply.

• Children whose families received SNAP or TANF benefits during the 2023-24 school year.
• Children receiving Medicaid.
• Children who applied and were individually approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

These children may be eligible to receive SUN Bucks but must apply to determine eligibility:

• Children experiencing homelessness.
• Migrant children.
• Children who receive free or reduced-price lunch, but did not complete an application.

Even if your family doesn’t fall into one of the categories listed above, your child may still be eligible for SUN Bucks based on your family’s income.

How to protect your child’s personal information

Child identity theft occurs when someone fraudulently uses a minor's personal information to apply for benefits or open accounts.

Ways to protect your child from identity theft:

• Before giving anyone your child’s Social Security number, ask why they need it, how they will secure it, and if they can use a different identifier.
• Keep documents containing your child’s personal information in a safe or locked location. This could be everything from their Social Security card to medical bills.
• Shred documents containing your child’s personal information before disposing.
• If you suspect that someone you love is experiencing identity theft, immediately report it at IdentityTheft.gov. 

Each year the LDOE surveys parents of children with disabilities who receive special education services. The purpose of the survey is to seek feedback on how well schools help to involve parents in the education of their children. We use this information to guide our efforts to improve services and results for children with disabilities and enhance family involvement.

This year parents and guardians in the school systems listed below should have received information to participate in the survey from their child’s school. If you received a letter about this survey from your child’s school you can access the survey here.

If your child has an IEP and attends school in one of the districts or charters listed below and you have NOT received survey information, please email specialeducation@la.gov and provide the name of the district or charter where your child attends. Your response to the survey will be anonymous. You will not be asked to provide your name or your child’s name. If your child’s school district or charter school is not included in this year’s survey, but you would still like to participate, please complete the survey here.

School Districts Selected for the Survey

Acadia Parish, Assumption Parish, Catahoula Parish, DeSoto Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, Grant Parish, LaSalle Parish, New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, St. Bernard Parish, Tanipahoa Parish, Winn Parish, City of Monroe

Charter School Selected for the Survey

New Vision Learning Academy, V. B. Glencoe Charter School, Delhi Charter School, Morris Jeff Community School, Collegiate Academies, Linwood Public Charter School, Redesign Schools of Louisiana, Noble Minds, JCFA-East, Lincoln Preparatory, JS Clark Leadership Academy, Bricolage Academy, Einstein Charter at Sherwood Forest

The parent survey is also available in Spanish, Vietnamese, or Arabic.



The Power of Financial Literacy Education

Workforce professionals can check out the latest issue of the LEAD On! newsletter, “The Power of Financial Literacy Education,” for tools, resources and webinar recordings that will help them provide financial literacy education to people with disabilities. By gaining financial literacy skills, job seekers can not only meet their employment goals, but also build lifelong financial skills.

New Website Helping Parents Navigate Life’s Challenges

VIA LINK’s Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana (PCAL) department provides 24/7 emotional support for families, connects people to parenting resources, advocates for children and families, and educates those who care for Louisiana’s children.

Social Security to Expand Access to SSI Program by Updating Definition of a Public Assistance Household

The Social Security Administration recently published a final rule, “Expand the Definition of a Public Assistance Household.” This final rule announces one of several updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) regulations that will help people receiving and applying for SSI. 

Can I Work If I Receive Social Security Benefits?



Find answers to this and other commonly asked questions about Social Security benefits and employment in a new resource from ODEP’s National Center on Leadership for the Employment and Economic Advancement of People with Disabilities (LEAD Center), “Frequently Asked Questions: Social Security Administration, Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.” The resource also provides an overview of Social Security benefits.

During the April 2024 quarterly meeting, the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council (Council) adopted its Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2025 Action Plan, which will begin on October 1, 2024.

New initiatives in the Council's Action Plan include:

• Provide financial support and technical assistance for Partners in Policymaking alumni reunion.                                   
• Provide financial support to produce and provide information, including videos and other visuals, a website overhaul, plain language materials, and rebranding of materials important to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through a variety of electronic and social media (Council website, Facebook, and LaDDC News).                                        
• Provide financial support and technical assistance and collaborate with the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities to educate and train individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities on abuse, neglect, and exploitation. 
• Collaborate with the LSU Human Development Center to bring more awareness to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).                             
• Collaborate with LSU Human Development Center and provide financial and technical assistance to establish, plan, and implement training for professionals and families of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities on treatment of youth with FASD.                              
• Provide financial support and technical assistance for training students with intellectual and developmental disabilities on transitioning to adulthood to include but not limited to financial literacy, health, waivers, employment, and voting.

The plan also includes funding to continue training and/or technical assistance initiatives for Youth Leadership Forum, People First, Navigating Developmental Disability, Behavioral Health & Managed Care Organization Systems, and systems change advocacy.

Comments on the FFY 2025 Action Plan may be sent to Stephanie Carmona at Stephanie.Carmona@la.gov and will be received until June 10, 2024. Comments submitted before the deadline will be reviewed and addressed by the Council's Executive Committee during the July 2024 quarterly business meetings.

Our learning opportunities are designed to help empower parents and self-advocates to become brighter and stronger advocates for themselves or their child with a disability.

What is Support Coordination? 

Monday, May 13, 2024

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

When Parents and Schools Disagree 

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Introduction to Special Education

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Basics of Educational Plans

Thursday, May 16, 2024

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

A collaboration between Disability Rights LA and the Network of Families Helping Families Resource Centers.

Placing Your Employment Future on the Front Burner

May 15, 2024 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

In-person and Virtual Options

Bayou Land Families Helping Families

286 Highway 3185, Thibodaux, LA

Finding a job may just be the toughest job you'll ever have in life. This training will teach you about the current state of employment for people with disabilities in Louisiana. The information shared will not only give you the knowledge of what supports and resources are available, but, more importantly, how to think about employment through the successes of others. There will be a lively discussion, thought-provoking ideas, and you will leave with a greater understanding about the possibilities for meaningful employment.

Autism Acceptance Webinar Series for Parents by the Michael Boh Center

Virtual and free webinar series.

Professionals will share their knowledge and evidence-based strategies to further support children and encourage positive behavior function.

All webinars will occur during lunch from noon – to 12:45 PM Central Standard Time (CST)

May 14: Talking Dating and Sexuality: A Real-Life Love on the Spectrum - Claire Burns, PhD, and Caroline Turner, LCSW

*Webinar ID: 940 9674 9451

May 20: ABA Q&A with Boh Center ABA team

*Webinar ID: 926 9827 5599

May 21: Vocational Social Skills for Teens - Nicole Lasserre, PhD, BCBA-D

*Webinar ID: 933 6609 2063

Last year, President Biden signed an Executive Order increasing access to home and community-based care and improving support for caregivers. In response, DOL and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a workgroup to identify critical gaps in data and knowledge about this important caregiving workforce. In April, DOL and HHS jointly released an issue brief describing the workgroup’s findings and recommendations and, on May 21, 2024, at 12:00 PM, will hold a webinar to discuss this work.

The 2024 Teacher Leader Summit is an annual professional learning conference that brings together Louisiana birth to grade 12 educators and content experts. Educators participating in the event will share their knowledge, learn new skills, and prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. This year’s Teacher Leader Summit will focus on our ability to lead the next level of our Vision for Success.

• The Teacher Leader Summit will take place from May 28 - May 30, 2024, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC).
• Registration for this event will be on a first-come, first-served basis. As space is limited, it is encouraged to register early.

More information on the Teacher Leader Summit can be found in the Teacher Leader Overview document.

Division of Early Childhood Conference

September 17-20, 2024 | Hilton Riverside New Orleans 

Creating a diverse and inclusive world for people with disabilities requires that we recognize events and organizations that help bring acceptance and awareness to the wide variety of annual health, disability awareness, and inclusion campaigns. One of the biggest tools we have is the power of human connection. That's why awareness months, weeks, and days are so important: They rally us together to spread ACCEPTANCE, and awareness, and show support.

Many activities are going on. Check out what's happening and how you can participate in promoting acceptance and awareness.