The federal government's dereliction allows states to fall short on meeting minimum child welfare standards. Below is information specific to Louisiana.

CFSR Results Summary: In its Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process, HHS determines whether each state is in substantial conformity with 7 specific outcomes (pertaining to the areas of safety, permanency and family and child well-being) and 7 systemic factors (relating to the quality of services delivered to children and families and the outcomes they experience).  In the first two rounds of the CFSR, HHS has concluded that Louisiana was:

Round 1 (2004)

• NOT in substantial conformity with 6 of the 7 Outcomes
• in substantial conformity with 7 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Round 2 (2010)   

• NOT in substantial conformity with 6 of the 7 Outcomes
• NOT in substantial conformity with 2 of the 7 Systemic Factors

Although federal law mandates that any state found not to be operating in substantial conformity during an initial or subsequent review must begin a full review within two years after approval of the state's program improvement plan, HHS has announced that Louisiana will not undergo Round 3 of the CFSR until FY 2018 (see CFSR Technical Bulletin #7 (March 2014)).

Documents from the U.S. Health & Human Services Children's Bureau

• Child and Family Services Review Reports and Results
  
  
  • Louisiana Performance Improvement Plan (Round 2)
  • Final Report: Louisiana Child and Family Services Review, 2010 (Round 2)
  • Louisiana Performance Improvement Plan (Round 1)
  • Final Report: Louisiana Child and Family Services Review, 2004 (Round 1)
• Title IV-E State Reports and Program Improvement Plans (PIPs)
  
  
  • Initial Primary (FY 2001)
  • Primary Review (FY 2004)
  • PIP
  • Secondary Review (FY 2007)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2011)
  • Subsequent Primary Review (FY 2014)
• Other Documents / Reports
  
  
  • Louisiana AFCARS Assessment Review (2013)
  • Louisiana section from HHS' Child Welfare Outcomes, 2009-2012, Report to Congress

Child Welfare In the News**

• Why would anyone not want child abuse exposed? (Opinion) (Shreveport Times - December 11, 2014) I've turned this question over in my mind every way but loose. The only conclusion that I can draw is that such a one may not want to be exposed for their own misconduct or they lack the ability to care and step into the child's shoes.
• Advocates say budget cuts hurting foster care (Includes video) (WWL 4 - November 19, 2014) A statewide legislative auditor's report found that the number of DCFS case workers decreased by 19 percent from 2009 to 2013. At the same time, caseloads increased by 18 percent and funding for DCFS dropped from nearly $87 million to $63.5 million, a 26.7 percent decrease.
• New Orleans mayor vows to reopen hundreds of rape and child abuse cases mishandled by police (Associated Press - November 18, 2014) The mayor of New Orleans promises that a team of officers will reopen hundreds of rape and child abuse cases that went largely ignored by five city detectives over a three-year period.
  

**news summaries taken from daily newsfeed service of HHS' Child Welfare Information Gateway