Metropolitan Human Services District Governing Board

Name Metropolitan Human Services District Governing Board
Contact Person Steven J. Farber, JD. - Deputy Director of Administration/General Counsel
Mailing Address 3100 General DeGaulle Drive
New Orleans, LA 70114
Phone Number 504-568-3130
Fax Number 504-568-3134
Board Email steven.farber@mhsdla.org
Website www.mhsdla.org
Legal Authority La.R.S. 28:861 et seq, La. R.S. 28:911 et seq
Year Created 2003
Organizational Placement N/A
Purpose/Function To direct the operation and management of community-based programs and services relative to mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive disorders for the parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard and Plaquemines.
Number of Entity Members: Number Authorized: 13
Number Currently Serving: 11
Number of Entity Meetings: Actual number in prior year: 10
Estimated number in current year: 6
The Entity is:
Active   Inactive   Not fully organized   Disbanded   Never fully organized
Do members receive per diem, salaries, and/or travel expense reimbursements?
Yes   No
Excluding member per diem, salaries, and travel expense reimbursements, does the entity receive or expend funds?
Yes   No
Entity Member Per Diem:
  Amount Authorized: $0      per meeting   per meeting day   per day spent on board business   None
Total entity member per diem:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Salaries:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Entity Member Travel Expense Reimbursement:
  Prior year actual: $0.00
  Current year budgeted: $0.00
Number and Type of Authorized Employee Positions:
Classified: 0
Unclassified: 1
Part-time: 0
Entity Fiscal Year End:
4/30         7/31         10/31         Other (identify date)
6/30         9/30         12/31         None
Participation in State Employee Benefit Programs:
    Employees:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs

    Members:
       participate in state retirement system(s) and/or state group insurance program(s)
       do not participate in state benefit programs
A state agency provides: (Check all that apply and identify the state agency)
Per Diem Payments          State Agency:
Travel Reimbursements    State Agency:
Other (explain)    State Agency:
Is this entity a budget unit or included within a budget unit of the State of Louisiana as defined by LSA-R.S. 39:2?
   Yes    No
  If yes, identify the budget unit and the budget schedule number below:
  Budget Unit Name:
  Budget Schedule Number:
Notes Metropolitan Human Services District

One of ten districts across Louisiana, MHSD was created by the state legislature in 2003 to oversee the delivery of publicly-funded, community-based mental health, addictive disorders and developmental disabilities services to our area.

MHSD serves adults, children and families of Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. In particular, MHSD serves residents who are uninsured or Medicaid eligible, though for behavioral health, addiction services and intellectual/developmental disabilities services that do not have income restrictions.

MHSD serves three roles for the people of our district:

First, we assess your needs and identify the best ways for you to receive support and services. All you have to do is call our Care Center during normal business hours at 504-568-3130.

Second, in some cases, we provide direct services to meet your needs, through both MHSD clinics and MHSD-funded partner agencies.

Third, we lead an on-going effort with our partners to evaluate, refine, and strengthen community supports and services to ensure that residents are getting the highest quality, most efficient care possible.

MHSD sees the people we serve as true partners in our work. We work with individuals to ensure that they are making informed-decisions and that we are providing customized services that meet their needs. MHSD also is a research-driven organization. That means that local and national data and outcome measures drive our program development and evaluation.


MHSD sees mental illness, addictive disorders and developmental disabilities the same way our society sees chronic illnesses such as diabetes or hypertension. They are health issues that can affect anyone at any time. We work hard to ensure that people with these diagnoses have access to high quality, compassionate and comprehensive supports and services. In doing so, we believe we are working to remove the stubborn
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