Wishing You a Safe, Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!
December 2022 e-News
Feature Stories
Louisiana Resources and Educational Assessment for Children's Health (LA REACH) Engages Community in Helping to Improve Learning Environment at Northdale Superintendent's Academy
The Louisiana Center for Health Equity's(LCHE) is working to address the lack of youth awareness and resources for mental health, provide professional development training on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) for school personnel, and to build stronger home and school relationships to help improve academic performance. Through the Louisiana Resources and Educational Assessments for Children’s Health (LA REACH), initiated during this past spring, LCHE began engaging the community in helping to improve the learning environment at Northdale Superintendent’s Academy (NSA). LCHE’s long standing work with youth through community programs, such as the Youth Peace Olympics, a violence prevention program, and LEAD in LYFE, a teen leadership and advocacy program, has allowed us to gain perspectives from the youth’s lived experiences and identify mental health as a priority. LA REACH was conceived as a result and has already proven to be a journey full of lessons.
NSA is an alternative school tucked away in a quiet neighborhood where most don't even know it exists. Northdale isn't your average alternative school as its mission is to provide a quality education to non-traditional learners in a safe and nurturing environment that allows students to prepare for college and career-readiness education and the workforce. However, recently the school's student population has changed, and its focus shifted somewhat from achieving academic success to addressing behavioral and disciplinary issues.
Phase I of LA REACH has allowed us to build relationships, trust, and gain perspectives through the lens of key players. Through LA REACH, we have learned that the students, staff, and parents agree that more resources are needed. Additionally, NSA would benefit from more parental involvement, as well as, improving the school environment physically and academically, and more mental health training and resources. During our first year, LA REACH conducted an assessment of NSA, hosted a total of three training sessions for staff on ACEs, classroom management and trauma-informed responses, and self-care and burnout.
Also, inspired by what they learned about NSA, our Adolescent Health Coordinator and her team sprang into action to plan and execute a community-driven Beautification Day to improve the physical appearance of NSA’s campus. When asked to help improve the school’s learning environment, the community responded overwhelmingly. Approximately 50 volunteers from several community organizations joined us collectively to help revive school pride and spirit by landscaping, painting, classroom cleanups, and more!
As we are preparing for year two and implementing Phase II of LA REACH during the Spring 2023, we will consider the lessons we have learned on this journey, pilot the implementation of ACEs screening and other interventions aimed at improving academic performance at NSA. We will also continue building upon the support of the community that is so crucial in helping to improve the school's learning environment.
Year one of LA REACH has been possible through support from the Mayor’s Healthy City Initiative, HealthyBR, Senator Regina Ashford Barrow, and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. LCHE is currently seeking funding to continue LA REACH.
For more information about LA REACH and how you can help, contact Mrs. Jordan Howard, BSW at Jordan@lahealthequity.org.
Checking In for the Holidays 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Open 24/7
Holidays are usually full of joy and excitement for most. However, let's be mindful that it may not be joyful for everyone. While teens and college students all around the nation are taking a Winter break during the holiday season, it is important to consider that many students have experienced a semester of new experiences, from stressful school or college coursework to gift shopping for loved ones, inflation of daily necessities, and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic that may have played a key factor in experiencing stress, anxiety, sadness and declining mental wellness for some. If you are a student, maintaining your mental health and managing your stress is the best gift you can give yourself.
Let’s explore some tips to help you with your mental health and reducing stress during the holiday season. Below are a few suggested tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Take care of your body and get moving to lessen fatigue, anxiety, or sadness
Take breaks to unwind through yoga, music, gardening, or new hobbies
Treat yourself to healthy foods and get enough sleep
Find new ways to safely connect with family and friends, get support, and share feelings
If you have or someone you know has been experiencing feelings of self-harm, contact someone NOW! CDC has released 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelinethat provides free and confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across the United States. Whether you speak with your significant other, friend, professor, or the suicide lifeline, it is important to talk to someone today to seek help.
Monkey Pox and COVID-19 Remain Serious Threats Practice Safety and Prevention to Maintain Health
The holiday season is in full swing. This means more people getting sick due to an increase in gatherings, indoor activities and travel while two potentially dangerous viruses are circulating across the United States (US), Monkey Pox and COVID 19. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, Monkey Pox (mpox) is a viral illness with flu-like symptoms, lymph node swelling, and a painful rash. Although recovery for most is 2-4 weeks, the illness can be serious for the immunocompromised, children, and pregnant individuals. mpox is spread through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact with an infected person and can also include contact with clothing, bedding, and other shared items although the risk is lower. There is a vaccine for Monkey pox that called JYNNEOS®. The vaccine is recommended for those with a high exposure rate, such as individuals who are sexually active gay/bisexual men or transgender, homeless, HIV positive, sex workers, those that use IV drugs and clinicians or laboratory staff. COVID 19 is still affecting many around the US. According to the CDC, COVID is an infectious respiratory illness that can present as mild or severe. The virus varies from person to person but the symptoms to look out for are cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, vomiting or diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell. To protect yourself from contracting COVID, a person can wear a mask, social distance, favor outdoor or well-ventilated areas, practice handwashing and get vaccinated.
For more information about transmission, symptoms, spread, treatment options, and ways to protect yourself, please click here to watch the full video of Today's Health TopicsNovember 21st episode on "Covid 19 and Monkey Pox in Louisiana"with Host Alma Stewart Allen and her Special Guest, Theresa Sokol, an epidemiologist at Louisiana Department of Health.
LA40by2030 Key Policy
2022 Legislative Report and Scorecard Released Representative Freeman Receives Highest Score
TheLouisiana Center for Health Equity(LCHE) is elated to announce that the LA40by2030 Key Policy 2022 Louisiana Legislative Report and Scorecard is here! The Legislative Report and Scorecard for the 2022 Regular Legislative Session is a detailed report regarding bills of priority that are relevant to LCHE’s bold vision and goal of LA40by2030. This Legislative Report and Scorecard is intended to inform Louisiana’s residents of their legislators’ voting patterns on bills regarding education, mental health, and women’s health. Click here to view the Legislative Report and Scorecard Presentation!
The Report provides vote descriptions of the priority legislative instruments, followed by a Scorecard which presents the scores LCHE assigned to Louisiana’s legislators. Scores have been assigned to legislators based on their voting pattern and authorship/co-authorship of priority bills this past legislative session. The Report acknowledges the top four A+ Legislators of the year. They are Representative Aimee Freeman (D, Dist. 98), Representative Barbara Freiberg (R, Dist. 70), Representative Mandie Landry (D, Dist. 91) and Representative Laurie Schlegel (R, Dist. 82). LCHE would like to give a special shoutout to each of them.
All four of the top scoring legislators coauthored HB495 (Passed, Act 643) which requires training regarding suicide prevention and student safety and HB649 (Failed) which prohibits corporal punishment in schools They also coauthored SB116 (Passed, Act 676) which created the Office on Women’s Health. Representative (Rep.) Aimee Freeman is the legislator to receive the highest score. Rep. Freeman voted in favor of all bills considered priority by LCHE. She authored HB195 which required schools to provide free menstrual products in easily accessible locations. This bill did not pass, but as a bill that was relevant to women’s health, LCHE acknowledges the work of Rep. Freeman to improve access to resources for women. In addition to bills listed previously, bills she coauthored include HB516 (Passed, Act 472) which requires schools to adopt policies related to maternal health and childcare, and SB256 (Failed) which would require prior assessment before suspension of students. She also coauthored HB746 (Passed, Act 496) which would prohibit solitary confinement within juvenile facilities with exception. Congratulations Representative Freeman! Rep. Barbara Freiberg received the second highest score. This past legislative session Rep. Freiberg authored HB452 (Failed), a bill intended to create an educational savings fund for students who are victims of bullying and sexual harassment. While the bill did not pass, we are thankful for the continuous support and advocacy of Rep. Freiberg. Bills she coauthored also include HB746, HB195, and SB256, all bills within the focus areas of education and mental health. Rep. Mandie Landry and Rep. Laurie Schlegel received the third highest score. Rep. Landry authored HB516 (Passed, Act 472) requiring schools to adopt policies regarding attendance, breastfeeding, and childcare for students that are pregnant or parenting. She coauthored bills focusing on mental health such as HB440 (Passed, Act 626) which requires instruction relative to eating disorder. She also coauthored HB746 pertinent to improving education and mental health. Rep. Schlegel has supported legislation that focuses on education and mental health as well. Rep. Schlegel authored HB495 (Passed, Act 643) which requires the implementation of suicide prevention and student safety training within schools as well as violence and social isolation prevention training. She has also coauthored HB981 (Passed, Act 650) which provides mental health instruction in schools, HB440, HB452, and HB582 (Passed, Act 341) which works to improve counseling within schools. To view the 2022 Legislative Report and Scorecard Presentation, click here.
LCHE congratulates our highest scoring legislators for 2022. Their scores reflect their upstanding performance in supporting LA40by2030 priority legislation for education, mental health, and women’s health. LCHE also would like to express gratitude to all of our legislators who make continuous effort to improve policies in these areas. LCHE especially thanks all our A+ legislators for their work this year to improve the health of Louisiana!
From All of us at LCHE have a Safe Healthy and Happy New Year!
The Louisiana Center for Health Equity is dedicated to advancing health equity to improve the overall health and well-being of all Louisianans. LCHE works to eliminate health and healthcare disparities attributed to structural, institutional, or social disadvantages. Established in January 2010, LCHE is a statewide nonpartisan nonprofit organization with IRS status as a 501 (C) (3) tax exempt public charity.
LA40by2030 Key Policy
