TOTS for Providers is the electronic time and attendance process that LDE uses to keep track of the time children spend in care with child care providers. TOTS gives child care providers with internet access the ability to view their authorizations and the attendance reports for their authorized children online.

Child Care
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families to pay for child care while working or attending school or training. Parents may select any Type III early learning center, before and after school child care center, military child care center, registered Family Child Care Provider or In-Home provider that has been certified for CCAP by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) CCAP Provider Certification. After signing into LA CAFÉ, you will be able to complete an application to become a CCAP provider.

Foster Care
Foster care is a protective service for children and their parents who must live apart because of child abuse, neglect or special family circumstances requiring the need for out-of-home care. Foster care is intended to provide temporary/short-term care for a child. The goal of the foster care program is to maintain the child in a safe and nurturing environment, which is supportive of his development while assisting his parents in resuming responsibility and custody or until an alternative permanent placement for the child is found. The first goal of foster care is to reunite the child with his or her biological family.

Adoptive Parents
Adoption is the method provided by law to establish the legal and social relationship of parents and children between persons who are not related by birth with the mutual rights and obligations that exist between children and their birth parents. Adoption is one of the case plan goals of the Foster Care system within the Office of Community Services.

LDE/DCFS Licensing
LDE/DCFS Licensing is the evaluation and certification process which ensures that any place or facility operated by any institution, society, agency, corporation, person or persons, or any other group for the purpose of providing care, supervision, and guidance of children meets the standards set forth by LDE/DCFS.