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NEW ORLEANS — In the wake of Hurricane Ida, a devastating hurricane that made landfall in south Louisiana on August 29, local nonprofits Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) and Agenda for Children are raising funds for child care providers impacted by Ida.

“Louisiana’s child care providers are essential to disaster recovery because they care for young children and ensure their safety and well being,” said LPIC Executive Director Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D. “As many families face uncertainty in their recovery from Hurricane Ida, child care providers also face continued uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic. By donating to our hurricane relief fund, you are ensuring that child care providers can access recovery funds in order to meet the needs of families as they recover from Hurricane Ida.”

LPIC and Agenda for Children launched The Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund for Louisiana Child Care Providers (Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund) as a direct response to the widespread damage done by Hurricane Ida in several parts of the state. As recovery efforts continue, it is imperative that Louisiana has a reliable workforce, and child care providers are critical since they allow parents and caregivers to go to work or advance their education while providing crucial early learning experiences to children.

“Oftentimes in the wake of a widespread disaster, government assistance and national relief efforts can take weeks or even months to reach those impacted,” said Agenda for Children Chief Executive Officer Jen Roberts. “Through our vast network of local partners and the generous donations made to the Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund, we will quickly and efficiently distribute short-term recovery funds to Louisiana’s child care providers.”

LPIC and Agenda for Children’s goal is to raise at least $500,000 through The Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100 percent of all donations will be distributed to child care providers in partnership with local and regional Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) and/or lead agencies in regions affected by Hurricane Ida, with priority given to providers located in the state’s hardest hit areas.

To learn more about LPIC OR make a donation to the Hurricane Ida Recovery Fund, visit their website or follow LPIC on social media for frequent updates @PolicyInstLA.

For more information on Agenda for Children, visit agendaforchildren.org.

About Louisiana Policy Institute for Children: Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana’s young children, from birth to age four, are best prepared for success in school and in life. The Policy Institute develops policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices and the experiences of other states to improve the outcomes of Louisiana’s youngest citizens, and further provides educational and outreach activities based on recommended policy solutions. The organization works to ensure children are safe, healthy and have opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.policyinstitutela.org and follow the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Agenda for Children: Agenda for Children is Louisiana’s oldest statewide child advocacy organization, founded by a multi-racial group of community advocates in 1984 to create an independent voice for Louisiana’s children and work on a diverse set of children’s issues from birth through 18. Agenda’s legacy is built on child advocacy and wellness, data and research, and as a direct operator of innovative programs that have strengthened the early childhood sector. The nonprofit provides free professional development to over 5,000 early childhood educators in Southeast Louisiana each year, and its Early Childhood Opportunity (ECHO) fund has provided over $2 million in grants to child care centers and family child care providers since it was launched in 2019. For more information, visit www.agendaforchildren.org and follow Agenda for Children on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.