Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care - Louisiana

Date: October 2025

Youth's Parental Rights
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

In policy: It is the policy of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to provide for the needs of expectant parents in foster care and their baby, both prior to and after birth.

It is the responsibility of the case worker to assist the expectant parent who is a foster child in planning for the foster child's future and his or hers expected child's future. Exploration of the alternatives of adoption and transfer of custody or guardianship, or informal arrangements with the other parent, family, or friends to care for the infant should be done with the expectant parent foster child. The foster child may decide to maintain custody of the infant and should be supported in that decision.

Placement Options
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

The amount of support needed for the parenting foster youth to care for the infant shall be discussed with the current foster caregiver to determine if the placement is able to meet the needs of both the minor parent and the child. The responsibilities of both the parenting youth and the parenting youth's foster caregiver in caring for the child shall be documented in the parenting youth's case plan.

If a different placement is necessary, the appropriateness of living arrangements for the parenting foster youth should be determined. Prospective living arrangements include all types of foster homes and specialized residential or supervised apartment programs for teen parents. The individual providing the prospective living arrangements should be contacted to discuss service needs of the foster child/parent, including assisting the foster child in parenting the noncustody infant.

When both the mother and her infant are in foster care, the infant shall have his or her own case record. The parenting foster youth and her infant and shall be placed together with appropriate supervision to maintain the safety of the infant and parenting education by the foster caregiver.

Health Services 
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

Adolescent parents who are foster children should be referred to family planning for prenatal care, postnatal care, well-baby clinics, sex education, responsible sexual behavior, and/or birth control before or after the birth of the baby. Family planning services are also available to sexually active youth who request the service in accordance with the policies of the Louisiana Family Planning Program.

Parent Preparation for Expectant Youth
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

Any female foster child pregnant with her first child shall be referred to Partners with Healthy Babies or the local Family Resource Center. Mothers that qualify for Medicaid or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for a breast pump or one may be provided through their Medicaid Health Plan. WIC provides a Breastfeeding Peer Counseling Program for mothers who are postpartum, breastfeeding/pumping and who do not have custody of their infant.

Education and Services to Support Parenting Youth
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

Caregivers for the parenting foster youth should provide the following types of assistance at varying levels depending on the needs and abilities of the parenting foster youth:

  • Counseling (if the caregiver has the appropriate professional credentials)
  • Onsite parenting skills training
  • Transportation for the parent and the infant
  • Financial and educational assistance
  • Clothes shopping for the parent and infant
  • Daily care, including food, clothing, and shelter

The issue of assisting parenting youth in finishing high school is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed. For information on assisting youth in foster care complete high school, see Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Louisiana | Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Economic and Concrete Supports 
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

Certified foster homes and specialized residential or supervised apartment programs may receive a monthly special board payment at the current foster care board rate for the child by age monthly for a noncustody infant. The special board payment is made directly to the home or provider to assist with costs associated with helping the parenting foster youth care for the infant. Those costs can include items for the baby, formula or food, diapers, clothing, transportation, etc.

Should the noncustody infant of a parenting foster youth require items or services that cost more than the funds received and are not available free of charge from community resources, title XIX, or the parenting foster youth's natural family or the baby's other parent, the foster care case worker and supervisor may approve separate purchase of the following items or services through worker vendors, if necessary for the health and well-being of the infant:

  • One-time clothing purchase of $188 for a newborn
  • Quarterly replacement clothing up to age 1 and annual replacement clothing thereafter
  • Transportation
  • A car restraint system, as appropriate
  • Prescription medication if not covered by Medicaid

Services and Supports for Parenting Youth That Promote Self-Sufficiency
Citation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230

The foster parent and residential or supervised apartment provider should assist the parenting foster youth in money management and efficient use of formula, diapers, etc. to maximize funds and services received for the care of the noncustody infant.

Foster Care Prevention Strategy for any Child Born to the Youth

This issue is not addressed in the laws and policies reviewed.