Assisting people to live and work in the community of their choice.
Options for Independence is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit social service agency with the mission of “assisting people to live and work in the community of their choice”. Our goal of “building better communities, one person at a time” has guided us throughout our twenty-seven year history. Formed in 1992 through a grant by the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, Options for Independence’s initial efforts began with case management for persons with developmental disabilities. Over the years, we have added services to include support for persons with developmental disabilities, persons with serious mental illness, persons who are homeless, persons who struggle with chronic underemployment, persons affected by natural disasters and those persons with substance abuse needs. Our staff delivers services to individuals and families from age 3 through the lifespan that live within Assumption, Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Mary, St. John, St. James and St. Charles parishes.
Over the years, Options for Independence has grown, partly through our own initiative, but largely through our response to calls for services from within the communities we serve. Our growth in services includes support for a wide variety of needs including support for persons with developmental disabilities, persons with serious mental illnesses, persons who are homeless, persons who struggle with chronic underemployment, persons with physical limitations and persons affected by natural disasters.
Options for Independence is known to be creative, eager, resourceful and passionate, with a genuine willingness to work and partner with others. We offer strong community leadership and innovative solutions with a proven success record in program development and implementation of services for special populations. The Management team of Options for Independence is strong, experienced, and committed to enhancing the lives of people with barriers to recovery by helping them develop skills that contribute to self-sufficiency.
Not quite a household name, Options for Independence works quietly in the background of the lives of the people we serve to assist persons to live and work in the community of their choice. At the departmental level of the state, local, and federal agencies, as well as among major benevolent foundations, Options for Independence is a well-known, proven and trusted partner, often engaged to assist other organizations to achieve positive outcomes through pragmatic, well-organized programs.
There is so much more to know and learn about Options for Independence. We welcome your inquiries and feedback.
All of our services are provided through a team approach of staff members including licensed, master’s level and bachelor’s level professionals. The majority of our services are provided in the participant’s home and community. Find out more information about our behavioral health services.
Meet The Team
Barry Chauvin
President
Our founder and CEO, Barry Chauvin is as enthusiastic about our mission today as he was 25 years ago when we opened our doors in April of 1992. Barry, along with a few local and state leaders in the disabilities field, created Options for Independence to assist children and adults with developmental disabilities to move from institutional care back to their home communities. Since that time, our mission has expanded to serving all people experiencing barriers to living and working in the community of their choice. Barry has always sought to fill service gaps in the community and has led us to continually implement newer, proven models of care and to develop new programs. Whether it’s a new behavioral health team, a home for teenage girls or building affordable housing for families, Barry continually challenges himself and everyone at Options for Independence to find a way of “building better communities one person at a time.”
Randall Alfred
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Randall M. “Randy” Alfred, a Terrebonne Parish native, has been a practicing attorney for 39 years. He is married to Denise Marcel Alfred and they have two sons and two grandsons. He is a founder of Options for Independence, a past President and a board member of the Kiwanis Club of Houma and the Bayou Board of Realtors Attorney for over 20 years.
Mary Freet
Board of Directors, Secretary
Mary Archer Freet Davis has been a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Louisiana since 1989. She was previously the Director and Clinical Manager for a Children’s Assertive Community Treatment project from 1994 until 2000. A retired Nationally Certified School Psychologist, she has worked with emotionally disturbed children and their families through the Child Protection Unit of the Louisiana Office of Community Services and the Terrebonne Parish School Board Pupil Appraisal Office. Currently, her private practice specializes in the supervision of master’s level Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselors preparing for state licensure.
Sherl Turner, PHR, SHRM-CP
Executive Director
Sherl received her Bachelor’s Degree from Nicholls State University in Business Administration in 1992, her Professional in Human Resources Certification from HR Certification Institute – HRCI in 2012 and her SHRM Certified Professional from the Society for Human Resource Management – SHRM in 2015. She started with Options in the Assertive Community Treatment Program in 2000. Sherl served as HR/Community Relations Director and was recently promoted to Executive Director.
Working with Sherl are:
Leona Thibodaux – Office Administrator
Dayna R. Price, LPC-S
Clinical Director, Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment (CPST) and Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Program(s) Supervisor, FFT National Consultant
Dayna attended Nicholls State University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences in December of 1998 and a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling in 2005. Dayna obtained her LPC licensure with the state of Louisiana in October of 2008. She is also a Louisiana LPC-board approved clinical supervisor. She is the supervisor of the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program and has been so since it’s inception at Options in January of 2009. Dayna is also a national consultant for Functional Family Therapy, LLC. Dayna started with Options in 2000 working with youth and adults in various programs. Dayna was promoted to clinical director January, 2021.
Working with Dayna are:
- Cynthia Watt, M. Ed. – Therapist
- Kristie Owens-Mitchell, BS – Therapist
- Jennifer Luke, B.A. – Therapist
- Prentiss Woodfork B.A. – Therapist
- Trina Williams PLPC – Therapist
Roosevelt Thomas
Housing Coordinator
Roosevelt has been with the Options family for the last 17 years. Roosevelt helps those who have never lived independently be able to do so. He likes, “knowing that a family will be helped with a new beginning and that families can enjoy the luxury of living in a home that is adequate for today’s standard of living.”
Working with Roosevelt is:
- Aaron Champagne, B.A. – Team Support Coordinator
Danielle Angeron, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Danielle Angeron is board certified in Family Medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University in 2001. She received her medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2005. Dr. Angeron completed her residency at East Jefferson General Hospital in 2008. She is currently in private practice with SLMA in Houma. She treats patients of all age groups with a wide range of medical problems.
Richard Bergeron, II, PMHNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Kristie G. Mazur, B.S.
Communications Coordinator
Kristie Guidry Mazur graduated from Nicholls State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in General Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration on Child, Family and Social Services. She has 16 years of experience working with program administration, development, implementation, and evaluation as well as grant administration, resource development and management, professional training, community development, client advocacy and community education and outreach. She serves as the Communications Coordinator for Options for Independence and has worked with Options since February 2011. Currently, Kristie’s focus is maintaining Options for Independence’s Behavioral Health license, and CARF accreditation.