Acadiana Area Human Services District

03/01/2026

Our governor has declared March as Problem Gambling Awareness Month 💚

Problem gambling doesn’t always look the way people expect. It can quietly affect anyone - individuals, families, relationships, finances, and mental health. For many, it’s tied to stress, trauma, anxiety, or the hope of escaping something that feels overwhelming.

This month matters because problem gambling is treatable, but stigma and silence often keep people from reaching out. Awareness opens the door to honest conversations and reminds our community that help is available and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not failure.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, we recognize problem gambling as a behavioral health concern. Our clinics have credentialed professionals who can support clients through assessment, counseling, and connections to appropriate care - meeting people where they are, without judgment.

If you or someone you love needs support:
• Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline: 1-877-770-STOP (7867)
• National Council on Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
• Reach out to your local AAHSD clinic for behavioral health services and guidance

You’re not alone in this and help doesn’t have to wait. Awareness starts the conversation. Support helps people move forward. ⚜

03/01/2026

March 1 | National Self-Injury Awareness Day

Today is about noticing what often goes unseen. It’s about the people who are hurting quietly, coping the best way they know how, and carrying emotions that feel too heavy to hold alone.

Self-injury can affect people of any age, background, or walk of life. It’s not about attention - it’s about relief from pain that doesn’t always have words. National Self-Injury Awareness Day matters because silence and stigma can keep people from reaching out, and connection can save lives.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, our work is rooted in meeting people where they are - without judgment, without assumptions, and with care. We believe that when communities talk openly about mental health, people feel safer asking for help.

If today brings something up for you or someone you love, support is available:
• Call or text 988 for immediate, confidential support
• Dial 2-1-1 for local mental health and community resources
• Reach out to your local AAHSD clinic for behavioral health services

You don’t have to explain everything to deserve support. You don’t have to struggle alone. 🤍

03/01/2026

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to celebrate individuals with developmental disabilities and to honor their strengths, contributions, and unique perspectives within our community. This month also invites us to reflect on the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and dignity for all. 🧡

Individuals with developmental disabilities are friends, family members, workers, students, neighbors, artists, and dreamers. They enrich Acadiana through their creativity, resilience, and presence and they deserve equal opportunities to thrive in every aspect of life.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, supporting individuals with developmental disabilities is central to our mission. We work alongside individuals, families, caregivers, and community partners to promote independence, provide services, and advocate for access to resources that empower people to live full, meaningful lives.

This month matters because awareness leads to understanding, and understanding leads to action. Together, we can continue building a community where everyone belongs and everyone is valued. ⚜

02/27/2026

Caring for or loving someone with a mental health condition can be overwhelming, isolating, and quietly exhausting. That’s why we’re grateful to share that NAMI Acadiana is relaunching their Family Support Group starting this March!

This group is for parents, spouses, siblings, caregivers, and loved ones - anyone walking alongside someone with a mental health challenge. It offers a space to be honest, to listen, to learn, and to be surrounded by people who get it without explanation or judgment.

Programs like this matter because families need support too. When caregivers and loved ones feel understood and supported, it strengthens the entire circle of care. Connection reduces isolation, shared experiences build hope, and education empowers families to navigate the journey ahead.

If you’ve been looking for a place where you can breathe, speak freely, and feel less alone - this may be it. 💙

💚Don’t forget! Our Family Support Groups will be relaunching next week. Scan the QR Code or click the link to register in comments

💚New virtual options also available💚

💚Feel free to share!

02/27/2026

Our community liaison and two of our amazing clinicians from Crowley Behavioral Health Clinic are having a great time today with the LSU School of Social Work! 💜💛

Thank you to LSU for inviting us to connect with such an impressive group of future social workers. We truly appreciate the opportunity to share information about the important work happening across our region.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, we are proud to serve as a training site for interns. Providing hands-on learning opportunities allows students to gain real-world experience while being mentored by experienced professionals. Investing in the education and development of our future workforce is essential - not only for strengthening our field, but for ensuring that individuals and families in our communities continue to receive high-quality, compassionate care ⚜️

02/26/2026

We currently have an Administrative Coordinator position open at our Iberia parish location and Professional Counselor and Social Worker positions open at our Lafayette parish location ❤️⚜️

Click the link below to see the open position descriptions and to fill out an application if interested/qualified:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisiana

*Instructions after clicking the link: Click the ”Filter” button located on the top right of the screen, go under “Department” and find LDH-Acadiana Area Human Services District and check off the box on the left side of it, then click the “X” in the top right corner twice and it should bring you to our full listing. Apologies in advance for any translation issues with the link.

02/26/2026

Our community is always changing, and we want our services to change with it!

Please help us refresh our community needs assessment by completing this short, anonymous survey. Your feedback helps to guide mental health and substance use supports in our area.

🔗Link to survey: https://triwestgroup.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3HIa8SLqYbQXjds

Thank you for your input ⚜❤

02/25/2026

🐰💛 From Building Baskets to Bringing Them Home💛🐰

Last week, we shared how to build Easter baskets filled with care, creativity, and inclusion. This week, we want to walk alongside you through the next step because once your basket is complete (or even if you’re still figuring it out), you’re not on your own.

The two questions we hear most often are:

🌷 “When and where do I bring my completed basket?”
🧡 “Who do I contact if I still have questions or need help?”

So we've included graphics with this post that gently guide you through both. From drop-off details to who to reach out to if you’re still in the basket-creation phase and feeling a little unsure.

Every question asked, every basket built, and every act of kindness helps make Easter more joyful and inclusive for the families we serve. Thank you for caring enough to show up, to ask, and to give from the heart. 💛

🐣 Take a moment to review this post (or our pinned post with the flyer!), save this post for later, and remember that AAHSD and Families Helping Families of Acadiana are here to help every step of the way!

02/23/2026

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week | February 23 – March 1 💚

This week is a time to bring compassion, understanding, and awareness to a topic that is often misunderstood and too often hidden.

Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, genders, backgrounds, and body types. They are serious mental health conditions, but they are also treatable, especially when individuals feel seen, supported, and able to reach out for help.

At AAHSD, we understand that mental health and physical health are deeply connected; and raising awareness helps reduce stigma, encourages early intervention, and reminds our community that no one has to struggle alone.

This week, and every week, we stand with those impacted, their families, and caregivers. By continuing conversations rooted in empathy and education, we help build a community where healing, dignity, and hope are possible.

02/21/2026

We’re so grateful to be a part of SWLAHEC’s 4th Annual Take Time To Love Yourself Wellness Event! 💜💚💛

A heartfelt thank you to Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center for creating such a meaningful space dedicated to the health and well-being of minority women in our community.

Events like this are more than gatherings. They are powerful reminders that self-care, healing, and mental health matter. We deeply appreciate SWLAHEC for intentionally prioritizing mental health and encouraging women to pause, reflect, and truly take time for themselves. In a world where so many women are constantly pouring into others, this event served as a refreshing opportunity to refill their own cups!

02/20/2026

💙 National Caregivers Day | February 20 💙

Today, we honor the caregivers who show up every day with patience, strength, and compassion. Caregivers are the quiet constant - always supporting loved ones with behavioral health needs, developmental disabilities, chronic conditions, and life’s daily challenges.

Caregiving is often unseen and uncompensated, yet it is essential to the well-being of individuals, families, and our entire community. At AAHSD, we see firsthand how caregivers serve as advocates, encouragers, and lifelines and how their dedication makes stability, dignity, and progress possible.

National Caregivers Day is important because it reminds us to pause, recognize, and uplift those who give so much of themselves. Supporting caregivers is central to the work we do and to building a healthier, more compassionate Acadiana.

To every caregiver: you are valued, you are appreciated, and you are not alone.

Local support groups are available for caregivers across Acadiana through organizations like NAMI Acadiana, Autism Society of Acadiana, Families Helping Families of Acadiana, Down Syndrome Association of Acadiana, and D.R.E.A.M.S. FOUNDATION OF ACADIANA ⚜❤