Jindal: Bring Together Programs For At-Risk Kids

The first children affected by his executive order are 1,200 already in state care through residential treatment facilities, juvenile prisons, alternative schools, psychiatric hospitals and other state programs.

Jindal said Thursday he hopes the changes will catch children with discipline, addiction or educational problems earlier so they can stay at home, rather than needing state-supervised care. He also says it could shrink state costs by eliminating duplication across programs and agencies.

Some of the changes will require federal approval governing the use of Medicaid money.