The Families in Need of Services (F.I.N.S.) program in Grant Parish continues to provide early intervention services for at-risk children and their families, with officials reporting a 95% success rate in stabilizing children within their homes and preventing further involvement with the juvenile justice system.
Funded by the Louisiana Supreme Court, the F.I.N.S. program is designed to connect families with services before problems escalate into formal court proceedings. The program addresses issues including discipline problems, runaway behavior, truancy, and substance abuse among children.
The program is administered through a partnership between Judge Danny Willett and the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, providing resources and support to families throughout the parish.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the Louisiana Supreme Court has recognized the program’s success in Grant Parish and has increased funding to support its continued operation.
Officials said one of the program’s most significant areas of success has been addressing youth substance abuse. Through resource connections, counseling referrals, and accountability measures, the majority of young people identified with substance-related issues have shown substantial improvement, with many no longer demonstrating ongoing substance use as a primary concern.
The partnership between the Judge’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office has helped more than 100 families in the Grant Parish community.
The program is staffed by Kacy Mendenhall and Frank Parrino, who serve as Grant Parish’s F.I.N.S. officers. Both bring extensive experience working with children as former school resource officers and continue to work closely with families to provide support and connect them with available services.