PROCLAMATION: Parish President Mitch Orgeron has proclaimed the month of April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. #TeamLafourche encourages everyone to wear Teal every Tuesday throughout April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Sexual assault, at its core, is a devastating abuse of power — one that affects people of every age, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, socioeconomic background, and religion. It is the responsibility of each of us to stand up and speak out against it, not only to improve the laws and services available to survivors, but also to change the culture and attitudes that allow sexual assault to proliferate. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes, that victim is a child; and 9 out of every 10 victims of rape are female. 94% of women who are raped experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the two weeks following, and 30% of women report symptoms of PTSD 9 months after the rape. Out of every 100 rapes, 40 are reported, 10 lead to an arrest, 8 are prosecuted, 4 lead to a conviction, 3 rapists will spend a day in prison, and 97 rapists will walk away free. In 2025, The Haven assisted 109 survivors of sexual violence, provided 45 survivors with legal and/or medical advocacy, conducted 157 therapy sessions to survivors of sexual assault, and facilitated 41 Sexual Assault Response Team meetings. Victims should have support to find the compassion, comfort, and healing they need, and sexual perpetrators should be punished to the full extent of the law, while important partnerships have been formed among criminal justice agencies, allied professionals, and victim services to assist victims of sexual violence and their families. It is important to recognize the compassion and dedication of the individuals who provide services to victims of sexual violence and work to increase public awareness of sexual violence and its prevalence, and to eliminate it through prevention and education. Our Parish has a moral obligation to work on the prevention of sexual assaults and the severe trauma it causes to those affected. #AprilisSexualAssaultAwarenessMonth

Paint the Parish Blue and Autism Awareness Day

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HAHarvey Walden

3 days ago

Paint the Parish Blue and Autism Awareness Day

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. As more health professionals become proficient in diagnosing autism, more children are being diagnosed, resulting in rates as high as 1-in-36 children diagnosed with ASD in the United States. Boys are four times more likely than girls to have ASD. Autism, a spectrum disorder, each person with Autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn, think, and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently. Every April, the Autism Society works to build an inclusive community where autistic individuals are embraced and supported to achieve the highest quality of life possible. The Autism Society deeply understands the need to foster awareness and acceptance to ignite change and a healthier lifestyle through improved opportunities for people with autism. The organization caters to people living under the “autism onslaught”, using tools like community partnerships with organizations, digital and print resources, along with events and referrals to spark empathy and inclusivity. With the autism diagnosis rate increasing fast, we take these 30 days of April to celebrate the differences, learn more about, and empower autistic individuals. #TeamLafourche #PainttheParishBlueDay2026 #AutismAwarenessDay2026

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