DFPS Hurricane Relief Update
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is working in cooperation with other Texas Health and Human Services agencies and the Louisiana Department of Social Services to come to the aid of Hurricane Katrina victims.
“When a tragedy like this strikes our nation, we must all work together to help our neighbors,” said DFPS Commissioner Carey Cockerell. “DFPS is doing everything in its power to assist vulnerable children and adults who are arriving from states devastated by the hurricane. Our concern is making sure people get the services they need as quickly as possible."
The DFPS Response:
- Adult Protective Services (APS) and Child Protective Services (CPS) have a presence at each of the major shelters service hurricane refugees to help assess needs and offer assistance.
- More than 400 CPS and 100 APS workers are working on the front lines to help hurricane victims.
- DFPS’ Child Care Licensing (CCL) program is expediting efforts to set up day-care operations near the many shelters housing hurricane evacuees.
- DFPS has identified hundreds of spaces in foster care and residential child-care facilities that can accept displaced children from Louisiana.
- CCL will actively monitor any placements in foster homes or residential facilities to ensure the safety of these children.
- DFPS is working with the Louisiana Department of Social Services (LDSS) to offer assistance wherever possible.
- DFPS staff are personally helping in many ways including, providing food and drink to walk-in evacuees.
Services for hurricane victims
Foster families and children
- Louisiana foster families should call 1-800-259-3428 to notify Louisiana Social Services of their location and situation.
- Texans inquiring about becoming foster parents should call the Texas foster/adopt inquiry line at 1-800-233-3405.
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Texas Early Childhood Intervention Services for birth-to-3 year old children with developmental delays or disabilities
Other Assistance
- Call 211 from anywhere in Texas to get 24/7 hurricane evacuation, shelter and other information. The toll-free hurricane evacuation number is 1-888-312-4567.
- For help from the Salvation Army, 1-888-363-2769.
- For help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), register for assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA or online at www.fema.gov
- For Red Cross Assistance, 1-800-HELP-NOW, Spanish 1-800-257-7575 or www.redcross.org.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com
How you can help
Relief and charity efforts for the victims of Hurricane Katrina began immediately after the hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast area. Shortly thereafter, web sites began to appear which were designed to defraud unsuspecting users, so choose a charity carefully.
Instead of responding to solicitations sent via email or on the web, contact known reputable organizations to assure victims receive the benefit. The following links will take you to credible charities:
- Red Cross: 1-800-HELP-NOW or www.redcross.org.
- Americares: www.americares.org
- Salvation Army: 1-800-SAL-ARMY or www.salvationarmyusa.org.
- Operation Blessing: www.ob.org or 1-800-436-6348.
- America’s Second Harvest: www.secondharvest.org or 1-800-344-8070.
- Adventist Community Services: www.adventist.communityservices.org or 1-800-381-7171.
- Episcopal Relief and Development: 1-800-334-7626 or www.erd.org.
- United Jewish Communities: 1-800-554-8583 or www.ujc.org
- Network for Good: www.networkforgood.org.
- Catholic Charities: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
- National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: www.nvoad.org.
- Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: 1-800-848-5818.
- Church World Service: www.churchworldservice.org www.churchworldservice.org or 1-800-297-1516.
- Lutheran Disaster Response: 1-800-638-3522.
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 1-800-872-3283.
- Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief: 1-800-462-8657 Ext. 6440.
- United Methodist Committee on Relief: 1-800-554-8583
- Doctors willing to volunteer--contact Gayle Love Harri, Texas Medical Association, 512-370-1670
- Nurses willing to volunteer--contact Claire Jordan, Texas Nurses Association at 512-452-0645
- Other medical personnel (paramedics, anesthetists, etc.)--contact James Bryant, DSHS Volunteer Services at 512-458-7111, ext. 6643
For additional information on hurricane relief try:
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