Join Whole Health Louisiana in our informative sessions about topics relating to the implementation of trauma-informed care.

Leading With Compassion: How Trauma-Informed Approaches Change the Way We Serve with speaker Secretary David N. Matlock, JD – Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services

David N. Matlock (JD) was appointed Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services on January 8, 2024. Matlock previously served as Chief Judge of the Juvenile Court for Caddo Parish from 1999 until his retirement in June 2023. He was first elected to serve as judge in 1994. Matlock played a pivotal role in moving the court to a trauma-informed care approach, focused on addressing childhood trauma and mitigating intergenerational trauma. During his tenure, the juvenile court had the state’s first Juvenile Drug Court, Family Drug Court, Juvenile Mental Health Court and Truancy Court. He also saw the development of the state’s first Sex Trafficking Community Response Team and Specialized Victims Intensive Unit. Matlock has been recognized for his commitment to Louisiana’s youth, including by receiving the Volunteers for Youth Justice Hero of the Year Award in 2019 and Louisiana CASA Judge of the Year in 2005 and 2019.