A former caseworker at the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services calls the environment within the state agency as toxic. Stacy McPherson left her job as a Rapides foster care worker in July because her supervisors failed to address their repeated complaints…
McPherson testified in front of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee who plans to hold future meetings to look at how they can improve the agency.
Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Rhenda Hodnett also testified she says they are doing what they can to increase the number of case workers…
Cut 12 (12) “…higher gear.”
The state agency is facing criticism for the mishandling of cases, including the overdose death of a two-year-old.
In the first month that the three-digit 988 National Suicide Hotline was launched the crisis number received more than 1,400 calls in Louisiana. And Dr. Robyn Thomas, Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the department of health says the response rate for answering local calls increased significantly.
Cut 3 (12) “…connected to services.”
The State Fire Marshall’s Office wants to remind you not to have an open flame around oxygen tanks. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says over the weekend a 32-year-old wheelchair-bound woman in St. Martinville who was known to be a smoker was killed in a house fire.
Oxygen tanks should be kept at least five feet away from anything flammable.