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Celebrating Mental Health Awarenes Month with GCSS!

Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Gulf Coast Social Services CEO’s Corner Newsletter.

May was another meaningful month across Gulf Coast Social Services, as we continued hosting special events throughout the state to recognize our clients, families, employees, and community partners. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, a time when organizations across the country work to fight stigma, educate the public, and advocate for wellness, support, and access to care. At GCSS, this mission connects directly to the work we do every day to support individuals and families across Louisiana.

This month, we also paused to celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Darlene Talley, who served as a Therapeutic Foster Care Parent with GCSS for more than 40 years before her untimely passing. Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to children and families left a lasting impact on our organization and the many lives she touched.

In this edition, you’ll find highlights from across the state, including

community events, open houses, job fairs, client celebrations, staff spotlights, GiveNOLA Day outreach, and special moments with our clients and teams in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Northshore, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Houma.

Thank you to our employees, families, foster parents, clients, and community partners for continuing to support the mission of Gulf Coast Social Services. To learn more about Gulf Coast Social Services and the programs we provide across the state, please visit www.gcssla.org.

Thanks,

Willie Green, MPA

President/CEO

Strengthening Connections, Celebrating Milestones, and Making an Impact this May!

May was a month filled with connection, celebration, and community engagement across Gulf Coast Social Services. From open houses in Lafayette and Lake Charles to community resource fairs, job fairs, mental health events, and outreach opportunities throughout the state, our teams continued to build relationships and increase awareness of the programs and services available to individuals and families in Louisiana. Staff also participated in events such as GiveNOLA Day, a Mental Health Expo, and Autism Acceptance outreach efforts, helping connect community members with valuable resources and support.

Across our programs, consumers enjoyed a variety of enriching activities and special celebrations. Participants toured Baton Rouge Fire Station 1, created Mother's Day cards and greeting cards, attended Jazz Fest, enjoyed music-filled karaoke and movie nights, celebrated birthdays and graduations, and took part in community gatherings that foster friendship, creativity, and independence. These moments not only create lasting memories but also help strengthen confidence, social connections, and overall well-being.

Whether through outreach, advocacy, education, or celebration, these events reflect the dedication of our staff and the spirit of the individuals we serve. Every activity, partnership, and milestone helps advance our mission of empowering people with mental, physical, behavioral, and other challenges to improve their quality of life and live as independently as possible in the community.

Celebrating the Life of Darlene Talley

With May being National Foster Care Month, we want to take a moment to remember a foster care legend we recently lost at Gulf Coast Social Services. Last month, GCSS’s longest-running Therapeutic Foster Care parent and one of the first TFC parents that the agency ever had passed away. Mrs. Darlene Talley was entering her 40th year as a foster parent in the New Orleans region, along with her husband, Mr. Daniel Talley. Mrs. Talley cared for hundreds of children in her home over the years. From those who called her “Mom” to all the other TFC children that she provided respite care for over the years, to give the other TFC parents in our program a much-needed break, Mrs. Talley’s impact was far and wide.

Mrs. Talley always kept the children busy with various arts-and-crafts activities, games, movie nights, holiday parties, camping trips, etc. When visiting the Talley home, former TFC children were always dropping in or calling on the phone to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Talley – a testament to the long-lasting impact they had on the children who passed through their home.  

Mrs. Talley said she always wanted to be a foster parent, and she was an active foster parent up until the day she passed away, with three current TFC children making her home their home. Mr. Talley ("Mr. D") was a TFC parent with Mrs. Talley every step of the way for all of those years, doing the ripping and running with the children and making a great team with Mrs. Talley. Mr. D is now continuing to care for these children and honoring the legacy that his wife left at Gulf Coast Social Services. We will forever be grateful for all that Mrs. Talley did for the children in our program and for our agency over the decades. Gone, but never forgotten. Thank you, Mrs. Talley.

GCSS Employee Spotlight on Shena Edwards!

We are proud to spotlight one of our outstanding team members from the Respite Department in the Lake Charles Region, Shena Edwards, who has been a valued part of our organization for the past five years. Throughout her time with us, she has consistently demonstrated dedication, compassion, and a strong commitment to the youth we serve. She has a remarkable ability to connect with young people, supporting them in building positive communication, strengthening social skills, and developing effective problem-solving strategies. Her work also focuses on fostering self-esteem and empowering youth to feel confident and capable in their daily lives.

Her professionalism, reliability, and passion for making a difference truly set her apart. She is an essential part of our team, and we are grateful for the positive impact she continues to make every day.

Remembering Davie C.

Gulf Coast Social Services remembers Davie C., a long-time waiver client in the Hammond Region with an infectious smile who recently passed away. We want to thank his dedicated Direct Service Worker, Betty Housley, for her services to Davie and to our agency over the years. Rest in Peace, Davie.

Job Opportunities: Explore our Careers section for the latest job openings and find your next opportunity to join our team!

Upcoming Events

Houma:

• October 17 - Houma Mac and Cheese Fest, Click to Get Your Tickets Now!