Who We Are
Raising a child with a disability or living with a disability can be overwhelming for many. Families Helping Families of Southwest Louisiana is here to help you not be so overwhelmed. Our trained, experienced staff are parents or family members of individuals with disabilities or individuals with disabilities themselves. They have walked in your shoes and dedicated to helping you navigate the service delivery systems we all often depend on in order to get the services and supports our loved ones need.
Let us be your “one-stop shop” for all things disability related!
Serving individuals with any type of disability, any age, and their families
All services are free of charge!
Families Helping Families SWLA is the only family directed resource center in Southwest Louisiana. Families Helping Families SWLA is a unique agency that can answer specific questions about disabilities from our own personal experiences and lend a supportive and helping hand to families living with disability issues. Only at FHF SWLA can one get information from another parent or individual with a disability that has accessed the SAME services and learned firsthand how to navigate the many different service systems.
We serve over 2000 families each year who are seeking information and referral about specific disabilities and services in the community, education advocacy assistance, systems change advocacy assistance, peer support and other specifics related to various disabilities.
Why Attend A Families Helping Families Workshop?
We are Families Helping Families. . . It’s Who We Are. . . It’s What We Do!
Susan Riehn
Executive Director
Mylinda Elliot
Programs Manager, LaCAN Team Member, Education Support Specialist
Carla Chenier
Imperial Calcasieu Human Services Authority, Developmental Disabilities Division Information & Support Coordinator
Wallace Johnson
Education Support Specialist
Davelyn Patrick
Community Resource Specialist
Louchine “China” Guillory
Early Steps Community Outreach Specialist, Information & Referral
Beryl Cook
Education Support Specialist, Resources Information Support to Empower Facilitator
Cynthia Brown
Bookkeeper
Nicole Jones
Information and Referral Assistant
Molly Morgan
Communications and Media Specialist
Chairperson/Parent
Leslie Knox, Attorney at Law
Vice Chairperson – Family Member
Tracy Clark
Calcasieu Parish Assessor’s Office
Secretary – Parent
Leah Fuselier, CPA
Certified Public Accountant
Treasurer – Parent
Bernadette Courville
Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District
Parent
Howard Foreman
Retired
Parent
Superintendent
Office of Catholic Schools
Diocese of Lake Charles
Parent/Grandparent
Elaine Harmon
Parent
Khaja Moinuddin
Parent
Mona Timpa
Retired
Parent