Much of the Calcasieu information is being provided by KPLC and the American Press, many thanks to their hard work and dedication to getting this information to the citizens of SW Louisiana.
Details about Red Cross Assistance
Red Cross assistance is designed to provide for the emergency needs of food, water, shelter and emotional support, until more long-term help is made available by the federal government. Financial assistance ranges from $360 for an individual to $1,565 for a family of five or more. click here for full story
Notebook
Mayor's Ministry Coalition
Charged with the responsibility of clergy care and counseling, the ministers of Lake Charles met on Friday, September 2, 2005. They met at City Hall and organized themselves into teams of five to minister to the needs of displaced persons in Lake Charles. Teams were assigned to the Civic Center, Burton Coliseum, church and home-based relief systems, Sam Houston State Park, worship programs, and school systems. These teams will provide a spiritual presence and ministry each day of the week.
They will meet as five-member teams once a week to debrief, regroup and coordinate resources and services. The entire ministry coalition will meet every two weeks to debrief and redirect ministry as needed and to keep us all focused and appropriately assigned.
The efforts of the Mayor's Ministry Coalition will be coordinated through the District Office of The United Methodist Church. Doug Ezell is the District Superintendent and his assistant is Colleen Jordan. They can be reached by phone: (337) 439-2982 and e-mail: lcdistrict@lcdumc.com.
The coordinator, Doug Ezell, will keep open communications with the Southwest Louisiana Katrina Relief Task Force of which the Mayor's Ministry Team is a part. A database of all teams and their ministry and needs is being set up. Also a phone tree is being implemented to assist in communications with all ministers on the Mayor's Ministry Coalition.
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Relief Counseling Coalition
The Counseling Coalition has also been deployed under the guidance of the Coordinator of Clergy Care and Counseling, Doug Ezell. He has solicited Betty Jeanne Cayton to coordinate the counselors and assign them to appropriate sites. Betty Jeanne will also oversee the schedule for counselors at Burton Coliseum and the Civic Center. Her phone number is 475-5136. Kathy Chovenec, head of the Southwest Area Licensed Professional Counselors is also supporting this effort. This schedule of rotation will provide a counselor on site morning and afternoon of each day and at night as needed. This schedule will be posted with the Red Cross so that they will know when to tell the people seeking counseling when the counselors will be available. This will give stability to the counseling program, and it will reduce emergency calls. When people know they will be attended to they can usually wait until the appointed time. However in the case of an emergency, Betty Jeanne Cayton may be contacted or the person in crisis can be transported to a local emergency room if they are a danger to self or others. If Betty Jeanne Cayton cannot be reached the Coordinator can be called at 439-2982. All of these counselors are Licensed Professional Counselors, licensed psychologists or licensed social workers.
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Families Helping Families of SWLA
announces a new program funded
by the Louisiana
Developmental Disabilities Council
Outreach Program to Enable
Empowerment
The goal of Project HOPE is to identify
persons with developmental disabilities and
their families who have been displaced or
otherwise affected by the hurricanes and
connect them to the necessary supports and services
which will assist them to resume their lives.
We are currently formulating a packet of information
and will soon begin outreach activities in
our five parish area.
For more information please call:
1.800.894.6558 or 337.436.2570
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Calcasieu Parish Long-Term Community Recovery Plan
The Calcasieu Parish Long-term Community Recovery plan is part of the Louisiana Recovery Authority. It is designed to identify long-term recovery goals in a variety of areas, including infrastructure, environmental, coastal, economic development, public services and housing.
For additional information, please call 337-497-0132 or 337-493-8147. Comments can be mailed to the Calcasieu Long-Term Community Recovery Store Front at 319 Broad Street, Lake Charles, La 70601. |
