The Office of Family Support performs the services of the state relating to public assistance programs. These programs assist vulnerable people in meeting their basic human needs of economic support and promote their self-sufficiency and independence. The major programs are: FAMILY INDEPENDENCE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FITAP) which is a public assistance program that provides financial aid for children who do not have sufficient financial support from their parents. Eligibility requirements are: child must live in home of parent; child must meet need (income); child must be under 19 and resident of Louisiana; child must comply with school attendance requirement; proof of immunity or immunization; recipients must participate in the FIND Work program unless exempt under criteria established by the agency. FOOD STAMP PROGRAM is a Federal/State program to help low income families buy the food they need for good health. Eligibility requirements: work for low wages, are unemployed, work part-time, receive government assistance, are elderly or disabled and live on small income, or are homeless. Households may have no more than $2,000 in countable resources such as bank account ($3,000 if one person in the household is age 60 or older); gross monthly income must be below federal poverty guidelines (different for elderly or disabled); able-bodied adult applicants may be required to meet work requirements. Documents needed when applying for food stamps: current rent receipt, lease agreement or mortgage and current utility bills; most recent bank statements – savings and checking accounts; verification of earned income: last 2 months check stubs from all persons who are employed and verification of unearned income for all persons in the household – examples: child support, Social Security and SSI, voluntary contributions, UCB, VA or Workman’s Compensation benefits, interest earned from savings accounts; verification of insurance on your home and property taxes; verification of stocks, bonds, CDs; Social Security numbers for all household members. FAMILY INDEPENDENCE WORK PROGRAM (FIND Work) All recipients of FITAP must participate in the FIND Work program with the exception of single parents caring for a child under the age of one and children under the age of 18. The program prepares FITAP recipients for and obtain employment through various work activities. KINSHIP CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM (KCSP) provides cash assistance for eligible children who reside with qualified relatives other than parents. Qualified relatives are (either biological or adoptive): grandparents, brother or sister (including half), uncle or aunt, stepparents, stepbrother, stepsister, first cousin, nephew or niece, or legal spouse of the above relatives. To qualify the relative must possess legal custody or guardianship of the child who is living in the home and the family must have an annual income of less than 150% of the federal poverty threshold. Other programs/assistance offered through Office of Family Support are: Support Enforcement Services, Child Care Assistance. Must be working or in school(or a combination of)a minimum of 25 hours weekly. Call for income criteria.