County resource guide
Autism Resources in Catahoula, Louisiana
Local providers, school contacts, and support services for autism families in Catahoula. Louisiana statewide resources also apply.
Local providers
21 listedDiagnostic clinics
Formal autism evaluations by developmental pediatricians, psychologists, or neuropsychologists.
St. Joseph · multi-county
LSU Health Shreveport — Developmental Pediatrics Referral
Tensas Parish is one of Louisiana's most rural parishes. Families are referred to LSU Health Shreveport or Glenwood Regional in West Monroe for developmental pediatric evaluations.
Harrisonburg · multi-county
Rapides Regional Medical Center — Catahoula Parish Developmental Referral
Catahoula Parish families in Harrisonburg access autism evaluation referrals through Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria (~60 miles west) or Ochsner LSU Health Monroe (~60 miles east). Catahoula is one of Louisiana's most rural parishes, sitting between the central and northeast regional hubs.
Very rural parish. Alexandria and Monroe are ~60 miles in opposite directions — choose based on insurance/specialty needs.
Vidalia · multi-county
Rapides Regional Medical Center — Concordia Parish Developmental Referral
Concordia Parish families in Vidalia and Ferriday access autism evaluation referrals through Rapides Regional in Alexandria (~60 miles west) or Ochsner LSU Health Monroe (~70 miles north). Concordia Parish sits on the Mississippi River across from Natchez, MS — families may also access Mississippi providers.
Vidalia is across the Mississippi from Natchez, MS. Both Louisiana and Mississippi providers accessible.
Jena · multi-county
Rapides Regional Medical Center — Developmental Pediatrics Referral
La Salle Parish families are referred to Rapides Regional in Alexandria for developmental pediatric evaluations and autism diagnostics. Coordinates with LSU Health Shreveport for complex cases.
Early Intervention (0–3)
Free services for children under 3 under IDEA Part C.
Harrisonburg
Louisiana Early Steps — Catahoula Parish
Louisiana Early Steps provides free IDEA Part C early intervention for children under age 3 in Catahoula Parish. Home-based services delivered across Harrisonburg and rural central Louisiana communities.
FREE under IDEA Part C. No referral needed.
Jena · multi-county
Louisiana Early Steps — Central Region
Free in-home early intervention for children under 3 in La Salle Parish. Developmental specialists, speech therapists, and OTs visit families in Jena and surrounding communities.
FREE for eligible children under 3.
St. Joseph · multi-county
Louisiana Early Steps — Northeast Region
Free in-home early intervention for Tensas Parish children under 3. Service coordinators connect isolated rural families to developmental, speech, and OT services across northeast Louisiana.
FREE for eligible children under 3.
ABA therapy
Applied Behavior Analysis therapy — typically requires insurance authorization.
Harrisonburg · multi-county
Centria Healthcare — Catahoula Parish
ABA therapy for Catahoula Parish families through central Louisiana providers. In-home ABA is the primary accessible option for Harrisonburg-area families. Commercial insurance accepted under Louisiana's ABA mandate.
In-home ABA is the primary access model for rural Catahoula Parish.
Vidalia · multi-county
Centria Healthcare — Concordia Parish
ABA therapy for Concordia Parish families through central Louisiana providers. In-home ABA is the primary access model for Vidalia and Ferriday area families. Commercial insurance accepted under Louisiana's ABA mandate.
Louisiana requires commercial insurance to cover ABA therapy.
St. Joseph · multi-county
Centria Healthcare — Telehealth ABA for Rural Louisiana
Centria provides telehealth ABA therapy for Tensas Parish families where in-home BCBA access is limited. Remote parent coaching and behavior support delivered via secure video platform.
Parent & family support
Parent groups, sibling programs, and family peer support.
Jena · multi-county
Autism Society Louisiana — Central Chapter
Family support and advocacy for La Salle Parish autism families. Connects rural central Louisiana families to statewide resources and peer networks.
Contact Autism Society Louisiana for current meeting info.
St. Joseph · multi-county
Autism Society Louisiana — Rural Northeast Network
Statewide support network connecting Tensas Parish autism families to resources, peer support, and advocacy. Virtual connections available for this isolated rural parish.
Contact Autism Society Louisiana for resources and virtual meeting options.
Harrisonburg
Catahoula Parish Autism Family Network
Peer support and family connection for autism families in Harrisonburg and across Catahoula Parish. Helps families in this very rural central Louisiana parish access resources in Alexandria and Monroe.
Contact Autism Society Louisiana for current meeting details.
Advocacy & legal
Legal advocates, special education advocates, and disability rights organizations.
Alexandria · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Central Louisiana
PTI center covering La Salle Parish. Provides free IEP advocacy, special education rights training, and disability resource navigation for families.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Monroe · multi-county
Families Helping Families — Northeast Louisiana
PTI center covering Tensas Parish. Free IEP advocacy and special education rights training from the Monroe regional office, with outreach to Louisiana's most rural parishes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI.
Alexandria · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Central Louisiana
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for the central region, based in Alexandria. Free IEP advocacy, training, and one-on-one support for families in Rapides and surrounding central Louisiana parishes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Central Louisiana's primary special education advocacy resource.
Alexandria · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Central Louisiana (Avoyelles)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for central Louisiana covers Avoyelles Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for Marksville-area families. Avoyelles families can also inquire about Tunica-Biloxi tribal education resources.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Avoyelles Parish covered by central Louisiana FHF center.
Alexandria · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Central Louisiana (Catahoula)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for central Louisiana covers Catahoula Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for families in one of Louisiana's most rural and sparsely populated parishes.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Catahoula Parish covered by Central Louisiana FHF center.
Alexandria · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Central Louisiana (Winn Parish)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for central Louisiana covers Winn Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for Winnfield-area families who face significant travel to specialized services in Alexandria or Shreveport.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Winn Parish covered by Central Louisiana FHF center.
Monroe · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana (Caldwell)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for northeast Louisiana covers Caldwell Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for Columbia-area families navigating rural northeast Louisiana special education.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Caldwell Parish covered by Northeast Louisiana FHF center.
Monroe · multi-county
Families Helping Families of Northeast Louisiana (Concordia)
Louisiana's federally funded PTI for northeast Louisiana covers Concordia Parish. Free IEP advocacy and family support for Vidalia and Ferriday families in this rural Mississippi River parish.
FREE. Federally funded PTI. Concordia Parish covered by Northeast Louisiana FHF center.
For providers
Be the first featured provider in Catahoula County
Featured listings include your logo, extended description, a direct contact button, and top placement above standard listings. Families searching for help in Catahoula County see you first.
Missing a provider? Submit a listing — it's free →
See all Louisiana resources
Waivers, PTI centers, and state programs apply to all families in Louisiana.
Louisiana state guide →