What We Do:  Our Programs

Northshore Families Helping Families (NFHF) has many ongoing programs in St. Tammany, Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Helena and Washington Parishes.  The following are our ongoing programs, but we offer much more.  For more information, please call us.

• One on one peer support through the Developmental Disabilities Council (DDC) and Florida Parishes Human Services Authority (FPHSA), formerly Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities (OCDD). The Peer to Peer Support Program is designed to give support to families of children with disabilities, chronic or terminal illness, prematurity or rare disorders. New families are “matched” to a trained volunteer Support Parent.
  
• Parent Liaisons with Children’s Special Health Services (CSHS) attend clinics & are available to parents to provide emotional support, orientation material, information on available services, referrals, and/or transition planning.
  
• Parent to Parent mentoring through the Families Can’t Wait Program
  
• Parent training, consultation, and IEP Facilitation on Special Education Rights (Section 504 and IDEA) through LOUISIANA Parent Training and Information Center  formerly Project PROMPT and Louisiana State Department of Education Parent Grant
  
• Project Transition through the Louisiana State Department of Education
  
• Individualized goal setting and achievement by adults with developmental disabilities through Project SAGE, Self Advocates Getting Empowered, through FPHSA
• A multi-agency network that identifies, screens and refers eligible young children and their family to the appropriate agency for assistance with identified needs through Early Childhood Supports and Services (ECSS) program.
  
• LaSIG - Louisiana State Improvement Grant - is to support improvement efforts at the district level and in some cases at the school level. Also it will expand authentic family engagement and partnerships, and improve access to professional development for all stakeholders (educators, students, families and community members).
• KKan program, Kids Kan Advocate Now
  
• Referral to community and state services; presentation on IDEA, and the IEP, behavior issues in the school setting, manifestations of specific disabilities, community and family involvement in school settings and other topics as requested by parents and professionals
  
• Educational forums
  
• Quarterly Newsletters
  
• Autism Network for parents and adults in St. Tammany and Livingston Parish.
  
• Lending Library with an on-line computer for use by parents and consumers
  
• Louisiana Citizens for Action NOW (LACAN)--This is a statewide grassroots network of individuals & families who have worked together since 1998 advocating for a service system that supports individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes, and communities and not have to reside in a facility in order to receive needed services. Specifically, they have advocated for implementation of Louisiana’s Community & Family Support System Plan.
  
• Regional LACAN teams include parents, individuals with disabilities, & advocates for individualized supports. Team members are linked by telephone tree and the internet to mobilize when communication with state policymakers is necessary.
  
• Parent Stipend--This program provides funding for parents and/or individuals with disabilities to attend workshops, conferences, and trainings. Expenses for childcare, mileage, hotel, and registrations may be included. Please call NFHF for more information.
• Family to Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC) - This program provides support to families whose children have special health care needs.  We provide information to families on their child's health care challenges and on navigating the health care financing maze.  For more information and resources.