Families In Need of Services (FINS)

ABOUT:

Families In Need of Services (FINS) is a legal process that focuses on the family unit.  Following a complaint from a member of the community, the FINS process identifies destructive behaviors by a child and/or their family. Since these actions may warrant eventual court intervention, FINS officers connect families to services that may remedy the family dysfunction. The FINS process seeks early intervention solutions instead of punishment. FINS also seeks to assist the courts by lowering juvenile court involvement. This shift can move communities to strengthen the family unit and thus reduce delinquency and family disintegration.

HISTORY:

FINS became effective in all courts having juvenile jurisdiction on July 1, 1994, as Title VII of the Louisiana Children’s Code. This title of the Children’s Code represents a substantial consolidation of former proceedings known under the Code of Juvenile Procedure as Children In Need of Supervision (CINS) and Parents in Need of Supervision (PINS)

GROUNDS FOR ELIGIBILITY (La. CH.C. Art. 730):

Allegations that a family is in need of services must assert one or more of the following grounds:

(1) That a child is truant or has willfully and repeatedly violated lawful school rules.

(2) That a child is ungovernable.

(3) That a child is a runaway.

(4) That a child has repeatedly possessed or consumed intoxicating beverages, or that he has misrepresented or deceived his age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving such beverages from any person, or has repeatedly loitered around any place where such beverages are the principal commodities sold or handled.

(5) That a child has committed an offense applicable only to children.

(6) That a child under ten years of age has committed any act which if committed by an adult would be a crime under any federal, state, or local law.

(7) That a caretaker has caused, encouraged, or contributed to the child's behaviors enumerated in this Article or to the commission of delinquent acts as defined in Title VIII.

(8) That, after notice, a caretaker has willfully failed to attend a meeting with the child's teacher, school principal, or other appropriate school employee to discuss the child's truancy, the child's repeated violation of school rules, or other serious educational problems of the child.

(9) That a child has been found incompetent to proceed with a delinquency matter under Article 832 et seq.

(10) That a child is found in possession of a handgun or semiautomatic handgun under circumstances that reasonably tend to exclude any lawful purpose.

(11) A child found to have engaged in cyberbullying.

To make a referral to FINS, click here.

FINS INTAKE OFFICER:

 Courtney G. Troxclair is the Director of Juvenile Programs for the 29th Judicial District Court and serves as the primary FINS Intake Officer for St. Charles Parish.   Her passion for advocating for children and families was ignited through her work with renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins, which subsequently led her to work with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program.  Courtney pursued a Master of Social Work degree with a focus on administration, planning, and organization from Southern University in New Orleans. In 2021, she achieved her clinical license, becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), further solidifying her commitment to the field.