Governor Jeff Landry changes the leadership in Louisiana DCFS | News

Since the agency continues to struggle with a lack of personnel and recruitment, governor Jeff Landry has announced that Rebecca Harris will take over the management of the Ministry for Children and Family Services.

Landry said in a press release that Harris David Matlock, who has headed the agency since the beginning of 2024.

Harris' “Experience in the operational improvement and their commitment to protect our most endangered children make them the right choice of leading DCFS,” said Landry. “I have full confidence that you will strengthen this department and will achieve positive results for our most endangered citizens.”

Harris previously worked as a head of the understatement and most recently as deputy secretary.

In an explanation, Harris said that she was “honored and excitedly to act as a secretary in this great time of opportunities and transformations, and focuses on strategic obligations to improve the results for those we serve.”

According to the press release, Matlock will remain as a confidential assistant of the secretary, who says that the changes will come into force on August 1st.

“It was an honor to act as a secretary of the DCFS, and I am proud of the progress that we made together for children and families in Louisiana,” said Matlock in the press release. “I look forward to concentrating my energy on the structure of strong, supportive environments for children who need us most urgently.”

The DCFs have long been criticized for his lack of staff. In a recent report by the legislative inspector in Louisiana, the agency in February showed 140 job offers for the well -being of the children who stood compared to 118 years at the end of the 2023 years.

The exam also showed that between July 1, 2022 and February 10, 2025, the number of children's aid positions filled decreased by 108.

This change comes despite an alarming number of deaths for child abuse, which the agency in 2022 have examined, which prompted legislators to request changes.

In a statement, the DCFS said that one of the most important initiatives for the current financial year include a recruitment campaign and an increased staff of the staff.

A 2022 examination by the lawyer | The Times-Picayune found that the DCFs lost almost half of their financing between 2007 and 2021 when adjusting to inflation. It also found that the DCFS cases were three times the national standard.

Louisiana is now faced with a lack of foster families.

“From July 2, 2025, there were more than 4,200 children and less than 2,000 certified nursing homes,” said the agency.