Attendance is critical to be successful at school. This page shares resources for some of the common challenges that can get in the way of strong attendance at school. Resources listed include supports from NOLAPS, community partners, and the City of New Orleans that can help you and your family make every day at school great.
School plays a key role in children’s development, and attendance is critical to be successful at school. Mental health, physical health, safety issues, and social factors all can cause students to be chronically absent from school. Mental health encompasses social, emotional, and behavioral health and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Mentally healthy children are more successful in school and life. Research demonstrates that students who receive social-emotional and mental health support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, on-task learning, and students’ sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well. To support families in accessing support for their children, here are a few community resource providers:
2601 Tulane Ave, Suite 610, New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: 504-454-3740
Crisis Intervention Lines (24/7):
FSL is a community-based mental health rehabilitation agency located in Mid-City New Orleans. FSL provides services to children, adolescents, and adults within the home, school, and/or office setting, including crisis intervention, community integration, case management, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, psychosocial rehabilitation, and outpatient therapy.
7240 Crowder Blvd, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70127
Phone: 504-323-3440
CCO is a community-based mental health rehabilitation agency located in New Orleans East. CCO provides mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults within the home, school, and/or office setting, including community supportive counseling, psychosocial rehabilitation, crisis intervention, medication management, and psychiatric evaluation services.
824 Elmwood Park Blvd, Suite 135, New Orleans, LA 70123
Phone: 504-266-2576
NCFS is the wraparound facilitating agency for New Orleans and surrounding parishes, providing services for families of children with complex behavioral health needs who are either in or at risk of out-of-home placement. Services include connecting to mental health agencies, parent and youth support, independent living skills, and short-term respite.
Every day, millions of people face uncertainty about their next meal. Food insecurity occurs when nutritional intake or eating patterns are disrupted due to limited resources or lack of access to food. Various factors like loss of employment, lack of transportation, or disability can put families at risk, especially since COVID-19 impacted many financially. Food insecurity during pediatric development can negatively affect physical, emotional, and cognitive growth, potentially presenting as trauma with lifelong consequences. Students who attend school daily receive breakfast and lunch, and some schools have partnerships for expanded food access beyond the school day.
Second Harvest leads the fight against hunger in South Louisiana by providing food access, advocacy, education, and disaster response to over 700 community partners across 23 parishes, distributing the equivalent of more than 32 million meals to 210,000+ people yearly.
More info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Get Help: Community Pantry-Partners, Food Distribution Sites, Emergency Pantry
Helpline: 1-855-392-9338 | Email: help@secondharvest.org
TCA reduces poverty through collaboration, providing human services and opportunities to move from poverty to self-sufficiency.
More info: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Services: Emergency Food Pantry, Commodity Distribution
Phone: 504-872-0334 | Address: 1410 South Norman C. Francis Pkwy, New Orleans, LA 70125
As part of our COVID-19 response, NOLA Public Schools created a Community Feeding Program, serving meals free of charge to children under 18 at 20 locations, regardless of enrollment. Distribution times vary.
Students experiencing homelessness are chronically absent at twice the rate of the overall student population, affected by mobility, poverty, and trauma. This impacts health, hygiene, preparedness, transportation, and increases dropout risk, a key factor in young adult homelessness. Here are some community resource providers:
More than a shelter, CHNOLA provides supportive counseling and tools for youth independence.
Programs: Details
More info: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
A nonprofit leading a collaborative of 60+ agencies to provide housing and services to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in Orleans and Jefferson parishes.
Programs: Details
Some students face attendance challenges due to work needs. New Orleans offers job training programs during summer and school year outside school hours, including hybrid learning options, to build marketable skills for local industries. #WakeUpAndLearn
Offers programs for youth aged 16-24 struggling in traditional settings:
More info: Website | @YEPNOLA (Facebook) | @YEPNOLA (Twitter) | @YEPNOLA (Instagram)
A hub for technical education, training skilled graduates for high-wage, high-demand careers.
More info: Website | @NOLACC (Facebook) | @NOCareerCenter (Twitter)
Offers a fast route to software development careers, teaching industrial tools and app-building skills.
High School to High Wage: Intro to programming, front-end web development for beginners
More info: Website | @OpSpark (Facebook) | @OperationSpark (Twitter)
Provides pathways for youth aged 16-24 through a 3-month work readiness program with technical and transferable skills training.
Youth Development Program: Includes career skills, workplace training, case management, job search support
More info: Website | @LibertysKitchen (Facebook) | @LibertysKitchen (Twitter) | @LibertysKitchen (Instagram)
Transforms lives of youth aged 16-24 through job training, personal growth, and community support.
Program includes hands-on training, life skills, stipend, transportation, and support services like mental health and housing assistance.
More info: Website | @CafeReconcile (Facebook) | @CafeReconcile (Twitter) | @CafeReconcile (Instagram)
Keeping learning going in summer is crucial, especially post-pandemic. Schools and partners offer academic support, enrichment, arts, sports, and specialized programs.
Start with your school! Most NOLAPS schools offer summer programs with academic content and enrichment. Check your school’s website or ask the principal.
NORDC offers top summer camp experiences citywide.
Website | Youth Programs: Academic enrichment, dance, arts, swimming, STEM, athletics, culture, theater
Teen Camps (13-15): Career exploration, job prep, financial literacy, stipend of $75/week
NOLA Youth Works: Summer employment for ages 16-21 to build career-ready skills and experience.
2401 Westbend Parkway, New Orleans, Louisiana 70114, USA
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Department of Children and Family Services
1-855-4LA-KIDS (1-855-452-5437)