Louisiana DCFS plans child-focused future in restructuring

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) outlined its vision for the future Friday as the agency undergoes sweeping changes under a new state law.

Ashley Sias, Chief of Staff at DCFS, filled in for Secretary Rebecca Harris at a community meeting, where she presented the department’s priorities as it transitions thousands of employees to other state agencies.

“We all know the pressures facing this department. We’ve been through legislative changes, oversight and structural shifts, and public scrutiny,” Sias said.

Under the “One Door” law, more than 1,500 staff members from economic stability and disability services will move to the Louisiana Department of Health, while about 100 will shift to the Workforce Commission. The transition, expected to be complete by Oct. 1, 2025, will leave roughly 2,000 staff members at DCFS focusing solely on child welfare and child support.

Officials said the restructuring is meant to streamline services and improve outcomes for children and families.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine DCFS as truly a child-centric agency,” Sias said.

She also shared eight key commitments in the department’s business plan, including ensuring proper staffing levels, offering competitive pay using modern technology. Plans include adding a second-shift team to cover evenings, weekends and holidays — a move Sias said will better protect children and reduce staff burnout.

Other initiatives include shortening the onboarding process for foster parents by more than a month, improving training through a new online platform and cutting sibling separations in foster care by half.

“In our vision is a future where every child thrives in a safe, stable and loving environment, supported by empowered families and resilient communities,” Sias said.

Latest News