Our History
The Process to Develop the Center:
The Court Improvement Program (CIP) CARE Advisory Committee early in 2010 confirmed its commitment to development of the Center concept, identified potential capital funding and authorized further research and development. This work included more pointed and detailed discussions with then-DCFS Secretary Johnson and with the University Alliance, which is providing career education and training to social workers through federal funding mechanisms. Both of those conversations and others with key stakeholders were all positive and encouraging, with the DCFS Secretary pledging her full support.
All of the information gleaned from meetings with Secretary Johnson and other key child welfare stakeholders was shared with the CIP CARE Advisory Committee, which in late 2010 authorized the development of a business plan for the Center. That work was conducted by Carl Valentine of F. C. Valentine and Associates.
Throughout all of the exploratory work, the CIP CARE Advisory Committee planned to use CIP grant fund dollars to capitalize the start-up costs for the Center. With the availability of additional CIP funding when the CIP grant award cycle changed, the CIP CARE Advisory Committee identified the perfect opportunity to establish the Center and earmarked CIP grant funds for that purpose.
In late 2011, the CIP secured $546,259 as start-up funding for the Center, which funds were held in trust by the Louisiana Bar Foundation pending the formal establishment of the Center.
In mid-2012, Karen Hallstrom, Deputy Judicial Administrator for Children and Families, and Mark Harris, CIP Coordinator, presented an update on the Center to the Administrative Conference. At that Conference, the justices gave approval to (1) proceed with the establishment of the Pelican Center for Children and Families as outlined in the Business Plan, with the Louisiana Supreme Court serving as a collaborative partner; and (2) transition CIP programmatic activities to the Center, beginning October 1, 2012, or as soon thereafter as could be reasonably accomplished.
A committee of Center collaborators worked diligently during several meetings to develop a draft set of By-laws and Articles of Incorporation for the Center, which would take the form of a Louisiana not-for-profit corporation. The final, revised Articles of Incorporation were filed in late January 2013 and approved by the Louisiana Secretary of State on January 31, 2013.
In 2014, the Louisiana Bar Foundation accepted the application for organizational support from the Pelican Center. This agreement provides the Pelican Center with office space and nonprofit technical support for a three-year period.
Effective January 1, 2015, the Louisiana Supreme Court transferred the administration of Court Improvement Program (CIP) functions and responsibility for the implementation of the CIP Strategic Plan to the Pelican Center for Children & Families.
To support and enhance the work of the Louisiana Court Improvement Program, the Center will provide multiple opportunities for documented, ongoing, meaningful collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Louisiana judiciary, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Louisiana CASA, the Louisiana Public Defender Board, the Louisiana Bar Foundation, the Mental Health Advocacy Services/Child Advocacy Program, the three Louisiana Legal Services Corporations, the Louisiana Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, the National Association of Social Workers-Louisiana Chapter, The National Association of Black Social Workers, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and an alliance of seven Louisiana public universities' Schools of Social Work, which is being headed by Southeastern Louisiana University.
The Court Improvement Program (CIP) CARE Advisory Committee early in 2010 confirmed its commitment to development of the Center concept, identified potential capital funding and authorized further research and development. This work included more pointed and detailed discussions with then-DCFS Secretary Johnson and with the University Alliance, which is providing career education and training to social workers through federal funding mechanisms. Both of those conversations and others with key stakeholders were all positive and encouraging, with the DCFS Secretary pledging her full support.
All of the information gleaned from meetings with Secretary Johnson and other key child welfare stakeholders was shared with the CIP CARE Advisory Committee, which in late 2010 authorized the development of a business plan for the Center. That work was conducted by Carl Valentine of F. C. Valentine and Associates.
Throughout all of the exploratory work, the CIP CARE Advisory Committee planned to use CIP grant fund dollars to capitalize the start-up costs for the Center. With the availability of additional CIP funding when the CIP grant award cycle changed, the CIP CARE Advisory Committee identified the perfect opportunity to establish the Center and earmarked CIP grant funds for that purpose.
In late 2011, the CIP secured $546,259 as start-up funding for the Center, which funds were held in trust by the Louisiana Bar Foundation pending the formal establishment of the Center.
In mid-2012, Karen Hallstrom, Deputy Judicial Administrator for Children and Families, and Mark Harris, CIP Coordinator, presented an update on the Center to the Administrative Conference. At that Conference, the justices gave approval to (1) proceed with the establishment of the Pelican Center for Children and Families as outlined in the Business Plan, with the Louisiana Supreme Court serving as a collaborative partner; and (2) transition CIP programmatic activities to the Center, beginning October 1, 2012, or as soon thereafter as could be reasonably accomplished.
A committee of Center collaborators worked diligently during several meetings to develop a draft set of By-laws and Articles of Incorporation for the Center, which would take the form of a Louisiana not-for-profit corporation. The final, revised Articles of Incorporation were filed in late January 2013 and approved by the Louisiana Secretary of State on January 31, 2013.
In 2014, the Louisiana Bar Foundation accepted the application for organizational support from the Pelican Center. This agreement provides the Pelican Center with office space and nonprofit technical support for a three-year period.
Effective January 1, 2015, the Louisiana Supreme Court transferred the administration of Court Improvement Program (CIP) functions and responsibility for the implementation of the CIP Strategic Plan to the Pelican Center for Children & Families.
To support and enhance the work of the Louisiana Court Improvement Program, the Center will provide multiple opportunities for documented, ongoing, meaningful collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Louisiana judiciary, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Louisiana CASA, the Louisiana Public Defender Board, the Louisiana Bar Foundation, the Mental Health Advocacy Services/Child Advocacy Program, the three Louisiana Legal Services Corporations, the Louisiana Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, the National Association of Social Workers-Louisiana Chapter, The National Association of Black Social Workers, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and an alliance of seven Louisiana public universities' Schools of Social Work, which is being headed by Southeastern Louisiana University.