Health & Education Alliance Of Louisiana

HEAL'S GOAL IS TO INTEGRATE AND SYSTEMATIZE A PROCESS FOR ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES THAT ARE PREVALENT IN CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN POVERTY. WE BELIEVE THAT THESE HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE A MAJOR CAUSAL FACTOR THAT RESULTS IN ACADEMIC FAILURE. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THESE FACTORS IS WHERE THE CHILD IS EVERY DAY- AT SCHOOL. IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO COMMUNITY BASED PREVANTATIVE HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

HEAL IS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING HEALTH AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR LOUISIANA'S CHILDREN BY MAKING SURE THAT EVERY CHILD IN SCHOOLS HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE IN THEIR SCHOOL SETTING. PROVIDING HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOLS, BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL, PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING CHILDREN ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY. HEAL BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS TO MANAGE THE HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS THROUGH ITS COORDINATED CARE FOR THE WHOLE CHILD PROGRAM. HEAL HAS PROVIDED OVER 108,254 PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SCREENINGS TO OVER 61,000 CHILDREN AND OVER 1,600 MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION AND INTERVENTIONS TO CHILDREN IDENTIFIED AS HIGH-RISK BY THEIR SCHOOL. IDENTIFIED STUDENTS RECEIVE INTENSIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVALUATIONS BY SCHOOL NURSES, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. HEAL HAS SERVED OVER 333,161 STUDENTS AND PARTNERED WITH OVER 89 CHARTER SCHOOLS AND EARLY LEARNING CENTERS, AND 14 PARISH WIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN LOUISIANA.

ACTIVELY ADVOCATES AND EDUCATES POLICY MAKERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THE BARRIERS TO HEALTH AND LEARNING EXPERIENCED BY CHILDREN IN POVERTY.

HEAL ALSO PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION TO FACULTY IN PARTNER SCHOOLS AND EARLY LEARNINGS CENTERS, PARTICIPATES IN STUDENT REVIEWS, AND PROVIDES HEALTH INTRERVENTIONS FOR IDENTIFIED STUDENTS(HEALTH SCREENING, PSYCHOTHERAPY GROUP LEADERSHIP, STUDENT OBSERVATION, ETC.)HEAL PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MEDICAID IN EDUCATION (NAME), LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS (LASEA), LOUISIANA SCHOOL BASED HEALTH ASSOCIATION (LASBHA), LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS (LASS), EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEAD AGENCIES (AGENDA FOR CHILDREN, POINTE COUPEE), AND MANY MORE

HEAL PARTNERS WITH SCHOOLS TO ENSURE EACH LEA ACCESSES AND RECEIVES SUSTAINABLE FUNDING STREAMS TO CONTINUE THEIR HEALTH-BASED PROGRAMMING TO ENSURE THAT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH BARRIERS TO LEARNING ARE ADDRESSED. HEAL PROVIDES MEDICAID EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS, ENSURE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE, AND MAXIMIZE LEA REIMBURSEMENT. HEAL'S COORDINATED CARE FOR THE WHOLE CHILD PROGRAM IS DESIGNED FOR REPLICATION STATE-WIDE AND NATIONALLY. HEAL ACTIVELY ADVOCATES AND EDUCATES POLICY MAKERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THE BARRIERS TO HEALTH AND LEARNING EXPERIENCED BY CHILDREN.