|
Governor's Office of Disability Affairs
March 2023
| |
2023 Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs Conference Call for Speakers is now OPEN! | |
|
Proposals to speak at the 2023 GODA Annual Conference are due by April 24, 2023. Complete the form in its entirety. If you have multiple ideas, please submit a separate proposal for each. Priority selection will be given to proposals that include people with disabilities. The Annual GODA Conference is scheduled for July 24 - 27 to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Contact KJ Henry, Assistant Director of Disability Affairs, at keandria.henry@la.gov or 225.936.1742 if you have any questions or confirm your intent to submit a proposal.
| |
|
A Partnership with Louisiana’s Office of the Governor, the Lamar Foundation,
Louisiana State University, Southern University and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation
The Governor’s Fellows Program in Louisiana Government is an opportunity for college and university student leaders to experience public policy in action, learn the rich history and current affairs of Louisiana government, and earn three hours of academic credit through LSU’s Department of Public Administration.
Each Fellow is assigned to a cabinet-level agency in Baton Rouge. Fellows will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by collaborating with agency leaders on existing projects, observing firsthand the Governor’s leadership strategies and learning how state policies are developed.
Fellows will also participate in a weekly speaker series, regular academic courses scheduled by LSU, and trips through Louisiana designed to enhance their overall experience and understanding of state government and current affairs.
To learn more about this program, click the link below:
Governor's Fellows Program in Louisiana Government
To apply to become a Governor's Fellow, click the link below:
2023 Governor's Fellows Application Portal
| |
OCDD Post Public Health Emergency RoadshoAws | |
Julie Foster Hagan with the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD) will be heading out across the state to discuss the ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) and what they foresee moving forward. More importantly, she will discuss what the end of the PHE means for the exceptions and flexibilities put in place for our DD population. | |
|
3/1/2023
Region 6 | 1pm -3pm
Kees Park Community Center
2450 LA-28, Pineville, LA 71360
3/2/2033
Region 7 | 1pm -3pm
Shreve Memorial Library Hamilton/South Caddo Branch
2111 W Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118
3/3/2023
Region 8 | 1pm -3pm
West Monroe Convention Center, East Conference Room
901 Ridge Avenue
West Monroe, LA 71291
3/6/2023
Region 3 | 1pm -3pm
Terrebonne Parish Library
Main Branch
151 Library Dr., Houma, LA 70360
| |  |
|
3/7/2023
Region 2 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
East Baton Rouge Library Bluebonnet
9200 Bluebonnet Blvd.,
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
3/8/2023
Region 4 | 1pm -3pm
Clifton Chenier Auditorium
220 W Willow St Building A, Lafayette, LA 70501
3/13/2023
Region 1/10 | 9am – 11am
Jefferson Parish Library
East Bank Regional Branch
4747 West Napoleon Ave.
Metairie, LA 70001
3/15/2023
Region 9 - 1pm -3pm
Livingston Parish Library
Albany-Springfield Branch
26941 LA-43, Hammond, LA 70711
| |
President Biden Signs Executive Order to Strengthen Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Across the Federal Government | |
Federal Administration Highlights | |
Are Civil Rights and Disability Rights Connected? | |
|
ExeceptionalLives: Empowering Families. Accelerating Success. has released its 2023 February Newsletter. View Leslie Grover, Ph.D. of Assisi House, discussion on topics including: What lessons can we take from the Civil Rights Movement in our work for disability rights and How do we address oppression based on race and disability?
To access this newsletter, click the link below:
Exceptional Lives 2023 Feb. Newsletter
| |
DentaQuest Case Management | |
Brain Injury Association of Louisiana / Louisiana Chapter of United Spinal Association | | |
|
|
Event Details:
Location:
DoubleTree New Orleans Airport
Address:
2150 Veterans Memorial Blvd
Kenner, LA 70062
Start:
March 24, 2023,
7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
End:
March 25, 2023,
7:45 AM - 3:45 PM
| |
|
Join the Brain Injury Association of Louisiana / Louisiana Chapter of the United Spinal Association (BIALA) for their 14th Annual Conference: Partners In Progress!
Click HERE for more information about this conference, regarding the following:
- Conference Rates
- Hotel Booking Information
- Event Itinerary
- Presented Sponsors
- Sponsorship Opportunities
- Exhibitor Opportunities
To register for this conference, click the link below:
BIALA 14th Annual Conference: Partners In Progress
| |
Louisiana Mental Health Association's Public Policy Summit | |
|
Interested to learn more about current mental health issues affecting Louisiana and how to effectively advocate for them?
Join the Louisiana Mental Health Association for its annual Public Policy Summit.
Take advantage of hearing from state legislators, policy makers, and leaders as they teach you how to be a mental health advocate.
Date: Mar 2, 2023
Time: 08:00 AM
Register HERE.
| | |
| | |
|
|
Event Details:
Location: Louisiana State Capitol Building
Address: 900 North 3rd Street, Baton Rouge, LA,
Start: May 4, 2023,
9:00 AM CDT
End: May 4, 2023,
4:00 PM CDT
*Lunch will be provided.*
To register for this event, click the link below:
Louisiana Behavioral Health Day
| |
|
The Louisiana Behavioral Health Day brings together passionate volunteers to advocate for state policy changes that will improve mental health and prevent suicide. We will meet with our state legislators as part of the event to:
- Share with them why suicide prevention and mental health is important to YOU and to your community
- Educate them about the work being done in your community to increase access to mental health care and prevent suicide
- Teach them what more must be done to improve mental health and prevent suicide.
The event will include a press conference and brief training session on the basics of an effective advocacy visit and current policy issues impacting mental health and suicide prevention. Following, advocates will have the opportunity to attend meetings with state legislators that will be scheduled ahead of time.
| |
Families Helping Families Region 7 | |
Advocacy: Raise Your Voice
Guest speaker, Rashad Bristo, Motivational Speaker, will be empowering and educating individuals and families with disabilities to "Raise their Voice" in Self-Advocacy.
Date: March 10, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM
To register for this event, please click on the link below:
Advocacy: Raise Your Voice Webinar
| | |
|
Where Will I Be
When I Turn 3?
Learn what resources and options you have when your child turns 3 and leaves EarlySteps.
Presented by Monica Stampley and Trinity Cole, EarlySteps Community Outreach Specialists, and Nancy Howard, Intake Specialist, with Northwest Louisiana Human Services District.
Details are listed below:
Date: March 9, 2023
Time: 11:00 AM
Register by clicking this link: Where Will I Be When I Turn 3
| | |
Working while Receiving SSI Benefits Webinar | |
|
Date: March 16, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
| |
|
Work Incentives, Reporting and Avoiding Overpayments PART 2
Join guest speakers:
Rose Angelocci, CWIC
Donald Leger, CWIC
Sue Killam, CPWIC
As they discuss the second part of work incentives, reporting, and avoiding overpayments for those that are working while receiving SSI Benefits.
| |
|
Families Helping Families
of Acadiana
| | |
|
|
Waivers Made Simple
Families Helping Families of Acadiana invites you to join OCDD Deputy Assistant Secretary-Services, Amy E. Greer, Ph.D., as she presents on "Waivers Made Simple" Dr. Greer will teach about the Louisiana OCDD Screening for Urgency of Need (SUN) and Tiered Waiver Process.
Date: March 28, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM
Register by clicking this link:
Waivers Made Simple
| |
LaCAN 2023 Legislative Roundtables | |
|
The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council’s 2023 Legislative Advocacy Agenda will be shared across the state at virtual LaCAN Regional Roundtables. Individuals with disabilities, family members and advocates are encouraged to attend to learn more about the advocacy agenda and how to get involved in the Council’s other advocacy opportunities like legislative visits, yellow shirt days and public testimony.
Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to receive valuable information about advocacy and connect with your regional legislators virtually.
Roundtables are free to attend, but you must pre-register via the links below. If you have any questions, please contact your regional LaCAN leader or FHF Center today.
The date, times, and registration information are listed below:
Region 1/10
Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, & St. Bernard Parishes
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 11:00am | Register
Christina cmartin@lacanadvocates.org | (504) 943-0343 | (877) 243-7352
Region 2
Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, & West Feliciana Parishes
Friday, March 17, 2023 | 11:00am | Register
April ahampton@lacanadvocates.org | (337) 522-6363 | (866) 216-7474
Region 3
Assumption, Lafourche, St. James, St. John, Terrebonne, St. Charles, & St. Mary Parishes
Thursday, March 16, 2023 | 10:00am | Register
Julie jsmith@lacanadvocates.org | (985) 447-4461 | (800) 331-5570
Region 4
Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, & Vermilion Parishes
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 | 1:00pm | Register
Kristie kcurtis@lacanadvocates.org | (337) 492-3110 | (337) 984-3458
Region 5
Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, & Cameron Parishes
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 | 10:00am | Register
Mylinda melliott@lacanadvocates.org | (337) 436-2570 | (800) 894-6558
Region 6
Avoyelles, Concordia, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, Vernon, & Winn Parishes
Monday, March 20, 2023 | 10:00am | Register
Kristen kreed@lacanadvocates.org | (318) 641-7373 | (800) 259-7200
Region 7
Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Claiborne, Sabine, & Webster Parishes
Thursday, March 2, 2022 | 9:30am | Register
Mimi mwebb@lacanadvocates.org | (318) 560-3629 | (877) 226-4541
Region 8
Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, & West Carroll Parishes
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | 1:00pm | Register
Konstance kcausey@lacanadvocates.org | (318) 547-9379 | (888) 300-1320
Region 9
Livingston, St. Tammany, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, & Washington Parishes
Thursday, March 9, 2023 | 11:00am | Register
Karen or Odessa info@fhfnorthshore.org | (985) 875-0511 | (800) 383-8700
| |
Stakeholder Input on IDEA Funding Priorities | |
|
Each year the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) submits a grant application to the U.S. Department of Education for funding through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The LDOE is seeking feedback from members of various Special Education stakeholder communities.
This feedback will help the LDOE better understand what activities the public views as important as we develop the comprehensive IDEA grant application for the 2023-2024 school year.
This survey should take you no more than five minutes to complete and does not request any personally identifiable information.
Please complete this survey by Friday, March 10, 2023.
To complete this survey, click the link below:
IDEA FFY 23 State Level Funding Feedback Survey
| |
Louisiana Children's Trust Fund | |
|
The Louisiana Children's Trust Fund (LCTF) is pleased to announce their annual child abuse prevention conference.
The Conference will be held at the Marriott in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on April 11, 2023. There will be two keynote sessions and 9 breakout sessions offered to attendees.
The Opening Keynote will be Lynn Riemer, from Act on Drugs. Lynn brings a fresh and frank discussion about street drugs and youth. She will open your eyes!
To register for this conference, click the link below:
LCTF 2023 Conference
| |
|
Sexual Health Resource Toolkit | |
|
Sexual Health Resource Toolkit for Parents and Caregivers of Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Promising Youth Programs has released a Sexual health resource toolkit for parents and caregivers of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This toolkit covers the following topics:
- Parent-child communication
- Adolescent development
- Internet safety and healthy online relationships
- Sexual abuse prevention
View this toolkit by clicking the link below:
PYP: Sexual Health Resource Toolkit
| |
|
GODA SPOTLIGHT:
MASON McGUIRE
| |
|
|
Mason McGuire, a self-advocate and an individual with autism, proudly reigned as Jr. Shot of Africa for the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club for the 2023 Mardi Gras Season. Mason, who is known as "Mace Mac", said that he had a great time during his reign.
He encourages all who wish to be a part of Mardi Gras to do so and wishes that everyone who chooses to enjoy Mardi Gras should be able to do so. "It was a lot of fun", he said. His father Zulu Big Shot of Africa 2023 made sure that his reign was purposeful by engaging in community service efforts by raising funds for NAMI New Orleans during the NAMI walk and directing donations to Families Helping Families of GNO.
See photos of Mason above as Jr. Shot and with Governor John Bel Edwards during the signing of LA PIE into law in July of 2022. Because of the April Dunn Act, Mason graduated from Northshore High School in Slidell in 2021 and now attends Northshore Technical College where he is studying Information Technology.
| | | | |
![FIND A DENTIST Get the dental care you need with MCNA and the Adult Waiver Program. Go to the Dentist Every 6 Months Get a Dental Checkup Choose or Change Your Dentist 1-800-494-6262, ext. 022 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find Your Member ID Card Look in Your Welcome Packet from MCNA Toll-Free: 1-855-702-6262 • TTY: 1-800-846-5277 • Web: https://www.mcnala.net MCNA_LA-M_AWP-CHOOSE-DENTIST-FLYER[1.0]](https://files.constantcontact.com/fb24524c601/894a898a-ae18-4eb9-b081-d87c87beb23b.png)
