A report sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Social Services' Division of Child Care & Early Childhood Education details the current state of center-based child care services for children under age six in Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes post Hurricane Katrina. The report combines existing data with information collected in surveys of parents and center-based child care providers during October 2006.

The purpose of this report is to provide information regarding the demand for child care services from the population that has returned to Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes, as well as to document the availability and capacity of center-based child care services. This information is designed to assist policy makers to effectively and efficiently direct available resources to rebuild the capacity of the child care sector to meet the demand for services in these two parishes. Major findings were a 77% decline in overall capacity and waiting lists at many of the remaining centers.

The report contains highly confidential information. For questions or additional information regarding the findings of this report, please contact Sherry Guarisco, director of the DSS Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education at P.O. Box 94065, Baton Rouge, LA. 70804, via e-mail at ksanders@dss.state.la.us, or by calling 225-342-0694.