The Community Outreach Specialist (COS) is responsible for coordinating parent activities in her region and getting parents involved and participating in all levels of the system. Their roles are to identify and mentor parents for participation in the system as a parent representative, identify barriers to participation for parents in the system,  collaborate on  a regional/state   level,  inform the public  about EarlySteps and the services available, identify any regional barriers which may prevent parents from participating, establish and maintaining ongoing relationships with various community agencies, participate at the RICC, and conduct focus groups or assist families with completing the family survey. You can find the Community Outreach Specialist for your region at: http://www.earlysteps.dhh.louisiana.gov and click on the Contacts link at the bottom of the page.