LaCAN Accomplishments

Major Accomplishments:

Passage of Act 378 in 1989 that establishes Louisiana’s Community and Family Support System.

Passage of Act 481 in 2007 which provides a recurring source of funding for New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) slots.

Appropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars for Waiver Services and State Funded Individual and Family Support Services.

Summary of Accomplishments:

 8,682 NOW slots are currently funded.

Almost 2,000 families receive a monthly cash subsidy to assist with the extraordinary costs they incur to care for their children with severe disabilities.

Individuals with adult-onset disabilities and mental health needs across the state are living successfully in their own homes with state funded individualized supports.

Approximately 2,500 children and adults with developmental disabilities are receiving state funded supports in their own homes regardless of their Medicaid eligibility.

These accomplishments will move Louisiana forward in reducing its reliance on an outdated system of institutional care to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Accomplishments in 2010

• 150 additional New Opportunities Waiver (NOW) Slots
• The closure of Northeast Supports and Services (Developmental) Center
• The downsizing of the remaining developmental centers by 20%
• 425 Children’s Choice Waiver Slots
• $4.2 Million to be used to speed up the processing of waiver slots and for one-time expenses for individuals with DD and their families (These funds were deposited into the Community and Family Support Fund from the sale of Metropolitan Developmental Center)

Click here to see a list of LaCAN’s accomplishments from 1988 – 2010

  “One Person can make a difference. Every person should try.” John F. Kennedy