Life Skills Training Center

The Road to Success, Learning Skillls for Life

The Life Skills Program is set apart in that it serves not only youth on the Louisiana Methodist Children's Home campus, but also young people in group homes and foster homes in a twelve-parish area. This program provides the opportunity for youth, ages 15-18 years, to transition successfully into independence. These youth also have the opportunity to return after completion of the program until the age of 21 to "brush up" on their skills.

This program is housed in the Life Skills Training Center where the staff works closely with LMCH staff to meet the needs of the LMCH youth as well as the foster youth. The beauty of this program is its ability to meet each young person on his/her level and grow him/her toward the goal of independent living. These essential life skills include: personal appearance and hygiene, checkbook balancing, meal planning, money management, housing, parenting and sex education, and job-seeking skills.

Services of this department include: Continuing Educational Services, Independent Living Skills Outreach Program, Youth Advisory Board, Mentoring, Positive Youth Development, LMCH Social Skills Program, LMCH Character Counts(sm) Program, and the Hope Chest Donation Program.

LMCH and foster youth preparing to live in their first apartment are in great need of household items such as pots and pans, bathroom accessories, bedding, small appliances, etc. The Life Skills Training Center maintains the Hope Chest Program to collect donations of such items. Contact Angie Thomas, Director of Life Skills, at (318) 255-3717 to donate items and/or gather more information.