Acadiana Area Human Services District

10/07/2026

🎓 National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week | First Week of October

College comes with a lot of firsts.

First time living away from home. First real taste of independence. New friendships. New expectations. Late nights studying, Saturday tailgates, celebrations, heartbreaks, pressure to fit in and sometimes, the feeling that everyone else has this whole adulthood thing figured out.

Alcohol can easily become part of that experience.

National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week isn't about telling college students not to have fun. It's about making sure they have the information, confidence, and support to make choices that protect themselves and the people around them.

Because alcohol can affect more than one night. It can impact judgment, mental health, academics, relationships, physical safety, and the risk of developing unhealthy patterns of use. And for someone already navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness, or overwhelming stress, alcohol may start feeling less like part of the celebration and more like a way to cope.

That's where conversations like this matter.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, we believe prevention begins with education and help should be available long before someone reaches their lowest point. Our behavioral health and substance use services are here for individuals who have questions about their relationship with alcohol, are concerned about someone they love, or are ready for support in making a change.

So this week, we're not asking college students to miss the party.

We're asking them to look out for themselves and each other. 💙

Know your limits. Have a plan. Never drive impaired. Respect someone's decision not to drink. Check on your friends. And remember that choosing to ask for help is always an option.

Your college years are meant to become part of your story. Let's help make them years worth remembering. 🎓

10/06/2026

🧠💚 Mental Illness Awareness Week | First Week of October

Mental illness does not always look the way we expect it to.

It can look like the coworker who never misses a deadline. The parent making sure everyone else is okay. The student who keeps showing up. The friend who makes everyone laugh. The neighbor you wave to every morning.

And sometimes, it looks like us.

Mental Illness Awareness Week is a reminder that mental health conditions affect people of every age, background, profession, family, and community. While someone's struggles may not always be visible, they are still real and deserving of the same compassion, care, and support we would offer for any other health concern.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, mental health care isn't reserved for someone's worst day. Our behavioral health services are here for people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, serious mental illness, substance use, major life changes, and the many complicated spaces in between.

Because sometimes support looks like treatment. Sometimes it looks like medication or counseling. Sometimes it begins with finally saying, “I'm not doing as well as everyone thinks I am.”

This week, we hope Acadiana makes a little more room for those conversations.

Ask twice when someone says they're fine.
Listen without immediately trying to fix.
Choose curiosity over assumptions.
And remember that a diagnosis is something a person may live with, but it is never the entirety of who they are.

💚 There is a whole person behind every mental health story. Let’s make sure they feel seen.

10/06/2026

💚 October 6 | World Cerebral Palsy Day 💚

Today, we celebrate people, not diagnoses.

World Cerebral Palsy Day recognizes the millions of children and adults around the world living with cerebral palsy and celebrates their voices, experiences, accomplishments, and individuality. Cerebral palsy can affect movement, coordination, posture, and other areas of daily life, but no two people experience it in exactly the same way.

Today is also a reminder that accessibility and inclusion matter. A person’s ability to participate fully in their community should never be determined by whether the world around them was designed with their needs in mind.

That belief is woven into the work of the Acadiana Area Human Services District Developmental Disabilities Office. We help eligible individuals with developmental disabilities and their families navigate services, identify available supports, and connect with resources that promote greater independence, choice, and quality of life.

So today, wear a little green 💚, learn something new, listen to the voices of people with cerebral palsy, and help us continue building an Acadiana where every person has the opportunity to participate, contribute, belong, and thrive.

09/30/2026

🎙️💥 Tonight, we’re taking over the airwaves!

Our Executive Director, Brad Farmer, is joining Lafayette Marshal Reggie Thomas for a conversation you won’t want to miss. Make sure to tune into the AOC to hear what’s happening at Acadiana Area Human Services District and show our incredible leader some love! ❤️⚜️

Tonight, Marshal Reggie Thomas welcomes Brad Farmer, Executive Director/CEO of the Acadiana Area Human Services District, for a conversation about his work, leadership, and serving individuals and families throughout Acadiana.

Tune in to AOC!

09/29/2026

📢 OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE

This is a reminder that our AAHSD Lafayette location (Admin, Developmental Disabilities office, and Tyler Behavioral Health Clinic) will be closed for today, Tuesday, September 29th as well. We will re-open at all locations on Wednesday, September 30th unless updated otherwise.

09/28/2026

📢 UPDATED UNFORESEEN OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE

This is a notice that our AAHSD Lafayette location (Admin, Developmental Disabilities office, and Tyler Behavioral Health Clinic) will be closed for tomorrow, Tuesday, September 29th as well. We will re-open at all locations on Wednesday, September 30th unless updated otherwise.

09/28/2026

📢 UNFORESEEN OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE

This is a notice that our AAHSD Lafayette location (Admin, Developmental Disabilities office, and Tyler Behavioral Health Clinic) is closed for today, Monday, September 28th due to building flooding. We will re-open at all locations on Tuesday, September 29th unless updated otherwise.

09/17/2026

We currently have multiple positions open at our Lafayette parish location across a couple of different fields ❤️

⚜ Administrative Coordinator 4 position in Lafayette - accepting applications until Wednesday, September 23, 2026

⚜ Professional Counselor 5 position in Lafayette - accepting applications until Saturday, September 26, 2026

⚜ Social Worker 5B position in Lafayette - accepting applications until Saturday, September 26, 2026

Click the link below to see the open position descriptions and to fill out an application if interested/qualified:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisiana

*Instructions after clicking the link: Click the ”Filter” button located on the top right of the screen, go under “Department” and find LDH-Acadiana Area Human Services District and check off the box on the left side of it, then click the “X” in the top right corner twice and it should bring you to our full listing. Apologies in advance for any translation issues with the link.

09/16/2026

💙 Let’s Break the Stigma! 💙

September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month, a time to come together, start meaningful conversations, and remind one another that help, hope, and healing are possible.

Join the Acadiana Su***de Prevention Coalition for an important community conversation focused on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health, su***de, and addiction.

📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM
📍 Acadiana Area Human Services
302 Dulles Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506

Guest Speaker:

• Matthew Corely with Woodlake Addiction Recovery Center

This is a great opportunity to listen, learn, connect, and help create a community where no one feels alone or ashamed to ask for help.

Please share this post and invite someone who may benefit from this important conversation. A united community helps heal the community.

***dePreventionMonth ***dePreventionAwareness

09/14/2026

September 14 | National Sober Day ❤

Today, we celebrate every step toward recovery.

National Sober Day is an opportunity to recognize people who are choosing sobriety, those who are considering recovery, people who are supporting a loved one, and those whose journeys may not fit neatly into a single definition. Recovery is personal and every person's path deserves compassion rather than judgment.

Sobriety can mean rebuilding relationships, rediscovering yourself, finding new ways to cope, or simply making it through one day at a time. It can also come with setbacks, uncertainty, and difficult days. None of that makes the journey any less meaningful.

At Acadiana Area Human Services District, we know that substance use is a behavioral health concern, and that people deserve support throughout every stage of recovery. Our services include substance use counseling, behavioral health treatment, psychiatric services, medication-assisted treatment, crisis support, and connections to community resources.

Whether you're taking your first step, celebrating another year, supporting someone you love, or simply wondering if change is possible... there is help, and there is hope.

Today, we celebrate recovery in all its forms and the courage it takes to keep moving forward, Acadiana ⚜