The Extra Mile was founded in 1991 as a private non-profit to serve the office of mental health community. At that time, we served primarily clients of the Office of Behavioral Health, Office of Addictive Disorders, and Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. In time, we also began providing services to the Department of Children and Family Services. We still serve these clients, but one thing that we have done over the years is assess the community for needs, and create programs to fill in gaps in needed services, such as AVEC Les Enfants.

In addition, The Extra Mile has always had a strong volunteer component. We were originally created to recruit volunteers to serve our state clients, and although the agency has changed and grown tremendously through the years, we have retained this core value; we continue to recruit, train and place volunteers all over Acadiana. With the help of our volunteers we provide goods and services that the state agencies are unable to provide.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to enrich the lives of clients and volunteers both. The hands-on experience is often an experience that volunteers never forget. In addition, the lives of the clients helped through volunteers are forever changed. Volunteers have made it possible for families with children in foster care to be reunified. Through their work in the clothing closet, homeless clients have been able to get jobs and houses. Volunteers have helped countless children visit with their non- custodial parents safely. Volunteers are crucial to what we do, and we are so grateful to them. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please fill out our volunteer form!