Holy Angels is an independent licensed residential training facility serving approximately 184 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose ages range from newborn to older adults. A nursery, dormitories, and group homes located on and near the now 64-acre campus comprise “home” to its residents. In 2012, Holy Angels expanded its mission to adults in the community who are awaiting an opportunity for meaningful work. AngelWorks Day Program provides participants jobs in culinary arts, business services, horticulture, and creative arts.

CEO Laurie Boswell feels strongly that, in order to retain good employees, the organization needs to make bold moves to address employee life skills, general work skills, as well as to offer motivated workers a clear path to upward career mobility and pay. In 2012, Holy Angels joined a collaboration with Southern University, Bossier Parish Community College, and Workforce Innovations for Northwest Louisiana (a partner of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions), to establish Angel University.

Through Angel University, Holy Angels offers its employees optional self-improvement and basic skill classes such as basic computer skills, business etiquette, and conflict resolution. Angel University participants also have access to career counseling and the opportunity to enroll in postsecondary programs. Certification programs ensure that frontline workers continue to develop new skills and progress on the career ladder with an increase in pay.