Connecting people in need with resources is precisely the role of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps (LFRC). The LFRC, an independent non-profit organization, was established by Governor Blanco after hurricane Katrina to coordinate the efforts of humanitarian service providers throughout the state. LFRC is working to provide high quality case management via family liaisons and individualized Family Recovery Plans designed to contribute to the post-hurricane recovery of Louisiana residents. Utilizing resources available through state TANF and Social Service Block Grant (SSBG) programs, LFRC, its partners, and subcontractors, seek to support family recovery by helping families to meet basic, housing, employment, physical and mental health, and educational needs.

BPA is partnering with the Policy & Research Group in New Orleans, Dr. Phuong Pham of Tulane University, and the Tulane Community Outreach Group, to evaluate the implementation of LFRC services throughout the state of Louisiana and the impact of these services on residents displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Throughout 2006 and 2007, the evaluation team has made several site visits to cities throughout the state to meet with LFRC staff, their direct service providers, multiple stakeholders and several of their clients to gain an understanding of their work and its impact on displaced Louisiana families. We have also identified and are in the process of analyzing administrative data from the Recovery Corps and the Louisiana Departments of Social Service and Labor to gain a greater understanding of the status and remaining needs of LFRC's clients. The extensive field and administrative data that we have collected will serve as the basis for an analysis of the impact and outcomes of Recovery Corps services on families seeking to recover from the hurricanes and flood, to be delivered as a final report to the Recovery Corps August 2007.