Most participants in past community meetings indicated they had to travel many miles to seek treatment post disaster. The flood destroyed a number a health facilities in the area. The community identified the need for better mental health services since the respondents indicated 75% of their mental needs were not being met.
The goal of this project is to attract more mental health and counseling facilities and services related to treating drug addiction, anxiety and depression. The project includes completing a needs analysis to determine health services that are needed in the area, and developing incentives to attract additional services. To date, the need for counseling and mental health have been noted, as well as doctors that accept new Medicaid patients.
The desired community outcome is to create services locally to support the mental and emotional health of the community members, and give community members access to physical, mental, and emotional health care.
Possible Funding Sources, Technical Assistance, and Partners:
- LA Dept. of Public Health (LDH)
- LDH, Office of Public Health
- LDH, Office of Behavioral Health
- Louisiana Hospital Association
- Louisiana Dept. of Children and Family Services
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Programs:
- Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)
- HRSA Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Rural Behavioral Health (Non-Profit)
Estimated Timeline: Mid- Long term (3+ years)
Estimated Cost: Variable ($500k+)
During the second community meeting, participants rated this project at 9.18 out of 10 with respect to level of importance.
