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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Available

New Orleans – Louisiana Public Health Institute will offer virtual mental health first aid (MHFA) training.

What is MHFA? 

Just as CPR helps even those without clinical training to assist an individual having a heart
attack, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) prepares participants to interact with a person
experiencing a mental health crisis. MHFA is an evidence-based public education program
that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges,
and builds an understanding of appropriate detection techniques, interventions, and resource
and referrals.

 

Register for our training:

Youth MHFA Q4

Adult MHFA Q4

$1M NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT TO FUND PLANNING FOR INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE HEALTH, ECONOMY IN DELTA REGION

LITTLE ROCK ― A coalition of organizations in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi will use a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to promote improved and equitable health and economic outcomes in the Mississippi Delta regions of those states, the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) announced Thursday.

 

The Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) is the recipient of the planning grant, entitled NSF Engines Development Award: Advancing Equitable Access to Food and Health Technologies in the Delta. ACHI will lead the tri-state effort, partnering with the Louisiana Public Health Institute, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, the Mississippi-based Delta Health Alliance, Mississippi-based HOPE (Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute), and the Louisiana-based Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

 

“As someone with deep ancestral roots in the Mississippi Delta region, I am so excited for LPHI to play a role in this transformational investment. There are abundant opportunities for us to lift up, work alongside, and learn from these communities who have experienced challenges since this country’s inception,” said LPHI CEO Shelina Davis. “We envision that this partnership across communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi will lead to innovations and solutions that will ultimately improve the overall health and wealth of the region.”

 

The coalition intends to spend up to 18 months developing a plan for an initiative that will harness the region’s strengths to address its key disparities. ACHI will then apply for additional NSF funding to implement the initiative, which the coalition expects to focus on three areas:

  • Development and testing of new telehealth models and digital tools that can be embedded in the home and across rural clinical and pharmacy sites, taking advantage of modern advances in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science. The initiative will also provide the resources and infrastructure to train and increase fluency in virtual care among health care professionals, community health workers, and patients.
  • Development of more effective methods for production, distribution, and accessibility of fresh, healthy food, including the development of new business models that integrate food as medicine with existing and emerging health care delivery, and advancements in precision agriculture.
  • Design, development, and manufacture of over-the-counter or pharmacy-administered diagnostic materials and therapeutics, with a focus on innovations, advancements, and infrastructure that improve health care for underserved populations.

 

The grant is part of NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program. Authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the program is designed to reach geographic areas that have not fully benefited from the technology boom of the past decades. More information is available on NSF’s website at beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/regional-innovation-engines and on ACHI’s website at achi.net/nsf.

 

“These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF’s vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways, and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation.”

Key personnel involved in the effort are:

 

  • Dr. Joe Thompson, president and CEO of ACHI
  • Danielle Taylor, executive director of ACHI
  • Mellie Boagni Bridewell, president of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership
  • Dr. Karen Matthews, president and CEO of the Delta Health Alliance
  • Charity Hallman, senior vice president of community and economic development for HOPE
  • Shelina Davis, CEO of the Louisiana Public Health Institute
  • Dr. De’Shoin A. York, vice chancellor of extension and outreach for the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center

$200,000 IN HEALTH GRANTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES NOW AVAILABLE

$200,000 IN HEALTH GRANTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES Now AVAILABLE

Project ASIRT Looks to Reduce Tobacco-Use in Priority Populations

NEW ORLEANS- Addressing Systemic Inequities to Reduce Tobacco (ASIRT), a program of Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is seeking to engage local community leaders, organizations, and residents in Black, rural communities (Ferriday, Jonesville, Lake Providence, Tallulah, Bastrop, Delhi, Opelousas, Kentwood, St. Joseph, and Newellton) to work towards addressing systemic inequities that drive high rates of tobacco use. Partnership grants up to $20,000 will be awarded to community-based organizations (CBOs). Rural health clinics (RHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)in priority communities can receive up to $10,000.

Tobacco use causes chronic diseases that plague Black, rural communities. The stress of overt and systemic racism and other social inequities exacerbates high rates of tobacco use and health disparities in these communities. Policy changes at local, state, and organizational/institutional levels can impact health outcomes and decrease tobacco usage. Beyond decreasing tobacco use, Project ASIRT aims to support communities in improving the quality of life for their residents through capacity building and resources to achieve other goals unique to each community.

Grants will be used to address systemic inequities that contribute to high rates of tobacco use and other conditions in Black communities, increase the use of cessation programs for those who want to quit smoking, and create and promote prevention strategies for those who are not tobacco users.

Applicants committed to addressing complex social factors, including but not limited to transportation barriers, food insecurity, and digital inequities, within their communities in order to improve health disparities, are encouraged to apply.

Applications are live and can be found at LPHI.org/ASIRT.

Tentative timeline:

  • December 21, 2022: Application Submission Deadline
  • January 25, 2023: Award Notification – Applicants will be notified of funding decisions via email
  • February 15, 2023: Contract Signing Deadline – Grant contracts must be signed and returned to LPHI by this date
  • March 1, 2023: Project Period Begins

Please note: All deadlines and performance period may be adjusted/extended based on the needs of the project.

Project ASIRT is funded through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Building Capacity to Reduce Tobacco Inequities in the South and Midwest.

Contact SKennedy@lphi.org.

Next Era Grant Applications Now Open

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living’s Next Era program is now accepting applications. Youth leaders can earn $5,000 in grants to help support tobacco-free messaging among youth. In addition, students receive ongoing training on running campaigns, public speaking, leadership, and other skills to help them to develop professional life skills. Get more information and submit an application at WeAreNextEra.org.

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Strategic Plan

FY2022-2024 Strategic Plan

Overview
Priority Areas and Goals​
Highlights

Overview

It has become clear over the past few years that the public health landscape shifts and changes at an
ever-quickening pace. LPHI’s role is to be both responsive to the immediate public health needs of
Louisiana residents and to create an environment for long-term public health improvements. In order to
do so, LPHI has created a three-year strategic plan to outline and guide the public health impact of the
organization.

Priority Areas and Goals

The guiding elements of the strategic plan include four new Priority Areas: Racial Justice and Health Equity, Partnerships and Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization. A Year One Action Plan has been developed for each of the Priority Areas.

Click to view the full plan

Racial Justice and Health Equity

Make LPHI a model for racial justice and health equity.​

Partnerships and Collaboration

Nurture and cultivate partnerships and collaborations to accelerate community impact.

A Healthier
Louisiana

Create a healthier Louisiana by applying our expertise, assets, and innovation.

A Thriving Organization

Build a thriving learning organization that embodies adaptability, equity, and lays a strong foundation for excellence. ​

Highlights

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused all of us to think more broadly about the health of the nation, particularly the most vulnerable among us. LPHI is uniquely positioned to effectuate change in the health of Louisiana residents. Strategic planning ensures a clear and deliberate focus in priority areas that are measurable and that demonstrate the impact we can make in our communities as we work collectively with our partners.”

- Kathleen B. Kennedy, Pharm.D., Immediate Past Board Chair, Louisiana Public Health Institute Board of Directors

LPHI Releases 2021 Survey Results on Youth and Young Adult Health in Shreveport

(April 5, 2022) – The Louisiana Public Health Institute’s (LPHI) Geaux Talk program released a report titled Youth and Young Adult Health in Shreveport, Louisiana: 2021 Survey Results that outlines the state of health for Shreveport youth and young adults ages 15-24. Overall, survey respondents indicated that mental and sexual health are the biggest concern in the region. The report also looked at additional topics including violence, academic performance, emotional abuse and neglect, bullying, substance use, suicide, nutrition/obesity, and more.  

 

In conjunction with the release of the report, Geaux Talk hosted an art contest asking Shreveport youth to submit pieces of art that demonstrate what health means to them. Submissions answered the question: “What is the greatest health issue facing young people today?” The third-place winner was Zara Linnear who submitted a piece called Behind Closed Depressed Doors. Jade Burris was second with a piece called Duality. First place went to Julianna Goutherie for her piece called I want to, but I’m not Allowed. 

 

“Young people in the Shreveport region deserve access to quality and comprehensive health services and education,” said Kristie Bardell, managing director at LPHI. “This report helped us identify the existing resources, gaps in services, major health concerns for this age group, the challenges in addressing health outcomes, and the opportunities for improving the overall health.” 

 

The assessment, which used a mixed-methods approach to gather community input, was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated underlying mental health concerns and the effects of trauma on the mental well-being of young people. Mental health was mentioned as a top concern by every stakeholder type. Young people felt overwhelmingly as though there are not enough resources to support mental health and that there were few places to turn for services. Stigma also plays a large role in preventing youth from accessing services and information for both mental and sexual health. 

 

Regarding sexual health, youth focus group participants, CBOs, and health service providers, in particular, felt that sexual health remained a taboo topic in the area and that there was a lack of sex education and resources. Between 2016 and 2018, young people under the age of 24 accounted for 71% of chlamydia diagnoses and 62% of gonorrhea diagnoses in the Shreveport area. The Louisiana Department of Health Public Health Region 7, where Caddo Parish is located, had the third-highest number and rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea diagnoses in Louisiana. 

 

“Improving and supporting adolescent health requires understanding the social determinants of health for young people in the Caddo Parish area,” said Arien Ragster, Family Health senior program coordinator for LPHI. “By educating youth and young adults on these health factors, as well as programs and resources that are available in the community, we can begin to address some of these issues and improve adolescent health.” 

 

Despite challenges, participants identified many opportunities for advancing the health of young people in the region. These include advancing technology, building community support and trust, and engaging parents. Each system plays a unique and integral role in working together to meet the needs of young people in the community. Those interested in joining a coalition to support this work should visit GeauxTalk.org and enter an email address in the “Get Involved” section on the homepage.  

 

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) characterizes diversity as representing the differences and similarities of all of us that include, for example, individual characteristics (e.g., disability, age, education level, poverty status, rural/urban setting, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation), values, beliefs, experiences and backgrounds. TFL characterizes inclusion as creating a work environment and programming in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully as their authentic self to TFL’s mission.

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living and Well-Ahead Announce New Tobacco Data

January 12, 2022 – Today, The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) and Well-Ahead Louisiana released the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data on adult tobacco use in Louisiana.

From 2019 to 2020, the percentage of Louisiana adults who smoke fell from 21.9 percent to 18.3 percent, a nearly four percent drop. Data shows the largest decreases in Louisiana adult smokers without a high school diploma (40.6 percent in 2019, 34.8 percent in 2020), in households earning below $50,000 (28.3 percent in 2019, 23.7 percent in 2020), in households earning below $15,000 (41.1 percent in 2019, 30.2 percent in 2020), Black men (28.1 percent in 2019, 21.4 percent in 2020), Black women (16.9 percent in 2019, 10.9 percent in 2020), and members of the LGBTQ+ community (28.7 percent in 2019, 23.0 percent in 2020). Additional data can be found here under the “Priority Populations” section.

“We are cautiously optimistic about the 2020 BRFSS data showing a decrease in the number of Louisiana adults who smoke,” said Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, director of TFL. “We know that 2020 was an extremely stressful year for everyone and that cigarette sales increased but more information is needed to assess how stressors like the COVID pandemic and past hurricanes have affected Louisiana’s smoking prevalence. We continue to provide support services for those who want to quit and advocating for smoke-free ordinances to protect Louisianans from secondhand smoke.”

The BRFSS is a collaborative project between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US states and territories. The survey is conducted each year via telephone and is designed to collect data on health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services.

“We applaud anyone who wants to quit tobacco in the new year, because we know it’s not easy, but we also know the health benefits are worth it,” said Jabari Sullen, Division Manager, Tobacco Control and Health Policy of Well-Ahead Louisiana, the chronic disease prevention and healthcare access arm of the Louisiana Department of Health. “By taking advantage of Quit With Us, Louisiana’s quit coaches and nicotine replacement therapy, you’ll start off on the right track and have tools to help you quit for good.”

Louisianans interested in quitting tobacco can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call 1-800-Quit-Now to connect with a quit coach and create a personalized Quit Plan. Coaches are available 24/7, seven days a week. Quit With Us, Louisiana also provides counseling services over the phone, via text, through an app, or on the website chatbox. Quit Coaches can also provide cessation medication and make recommendations on what prescription medications participants can review with their doctor. Young adults and individuals seeking to quit vaping can get vaping-specific cessation assistance by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.

Delta Center Community of Practice Application Process Now Open

LPHI, in partnership with the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi, Louisiana Primary Care Association, and Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers, is pleased to announce that we will be facilitating a community of practice (CoP) in 2022 that will focus on equitable access to telehealth services. The CoP will engage behavioral health and primary care organizations in Louisiana and Mississippi that collaborate with each other to provide care to underserved communities. This CoP is part of a larger initiative – The Delta Center: Advancing Equitable Care and Payment for Telehealth in Louisiana and Mississippi.

As temporary measures to enable telehealth during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency are in transition at the national and state levels, healthcare organizations must now determine if and how they will continue to use telehealth to reach and improve the health outcomes of the people they serve. The CoP is designed for organizations interested in growing and sustaining telehealth services in a way that complements in-person care delivery and provides equitable access.

Instructions on how to apply can be found in the “How to Apply” section below.

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will increase their understanding of health equity, including how to apply the concept to their work and how health equity is related to health outcomes.
  • Participants will increase the capacity of their organizations to effectively deliver telehealth beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency period.
  • Participants will improve access to telehealth services in an equitable manner that is aligned with the needs and circumstances of the population they serve.

Participant Organizations

CoP participants must apply as a team made up of one primary care organization and one behavioral health organization that serve the same community. There will be a total of 8 participant organizations in 4 teams: 2 in LA and 2 in MS.

This opportunity is open to organizations that have a federal or state designation that identifies them as a provider that serves underserved communities as part of the healthcare safety net. Designations may include but are not limited to Federally Qualified Health Center, Rural Health Clinic, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Community Mental Health Center, Human Services Authority, and Local Governing Entity.

Time Commitment and Key Activities

The CoP will take place for 1 year, from March 2022 through February 2023.

We recommend that each organization identifies 1 – 2 staff members as “champions” to consistently participate in all CoP activities and lead dissemination and implementation efforts at their organizations. Other staff members may be engaged as needed for sessions and activities that apply to their specific area of work.

Anticipated time commitment (per person):  34 hours over one year

  • 4 learning sessions: 90 minutes each (6 hours)
  • 4 individual check-ins: 30 min each (2 hours)
  • Complete 2 assessments: 1 hour each (2 hours)
  • Dissemination and implementation within their organization: 2 hours/month (24 hours)

Stipend

Each participant organization within the team will receive a stipend of up to $5,000 for the one-year community of practice.

How to Apply

The application template is available for download here. Instructions for submitting a completed application are included in the downloadable template.

An informational webinar about this opportunity was held on 1/21/22. A recording of the webinar is available here.

Applications will be accepted through 2/21/22. Notices of acceptance will be sent in March.

LPHI Outlines Long-Term Public Health Improvements with a New Strategic Plan

December 2, 2021 – The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) has proudly served the residents of Louisiana for nearly 25 years. It has become clear over the past few years that the public health landscape shifts and changes at an ever-quickening pace. LPHI’s role is to be both responsive to the immediate public health needs of Louisiana residents and to create an environment for long-term public health improvements. In order to do so, LPHI has created a three-year strategic plan to outline and guide the public health impact of the organization.

“I want Louisiana to be the healthiest state in the Nation,” said LPHI CEO Shelina Davis. “I know that is not something that will happen quickly, but it is something that we all must begin to strive for. It is through that lens that we acknowledge the critical need for having a solid strategic plan to guide our path forward.”

The guiding elements of the strategic plan include an updated mission statement, vision statement, and set of values, along with four new Priority Areas: Racial Justice and Health Equity, Partnerships and Collaboration, A Healthier Louisiana, and A Thriving Organization.

“For years, LPHI has spoken out about the many factors that contribute to health, with a strong focus on the negative impacts of racism and inequity,” said Linda Usdin, LPHI board chair. “Undergoing the strategic planning process at this moment ensures that we are resolute in addressing the challenges we face and increase the impact of public health practices and guidelines.”

By implementing this plan, LPHI will be able to increase the impact of public health practices and guidelines and grow the scope and number of organizational partners. Each priority area is supported by a goal that provides overall direction. A Year One Action Plan has been developed for each of the priority areas, which highlights specific strategies that LPHI is committed to achieving in the first year of the plan’s implementation. The action plan will be updated annually to provide direction for the year.

Tulane University GRID Toolkit

Tulane University and LPHI partnered with stakeholders to address engagement in research on COVID-19 among communities who have been historically underrepresented as researchers and participants. The project introduced tools and mindsets designed to address disparities in health research by engaging in equity-centered work. Through a process of co-design, the team produced a toolkit to guide investigators and stakeholders in identifying research topics that are important to people on health issues that significantly impact their lives. The work on this equity-centered design toolkit was funded by a Eugene Washington Engagement Award from the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

The full toolkit is available here.

Live Vape Free gives teens new tool to quit vaping

November 9, 2021 – The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) and Well-Ahead Louisiana are calling on youth to quit vaping and offering them a new tool to help.

Live Vape Free is a free texting program for Louisiana teens ages 13 to 17 who use e-cigarettes or vapes. The interactive program teaches skills that teens can use to quit vaping for good.

“We’ve learned that rates of depression and anxiety in children and adolescents have doubled since the start of the pandemic[i],” said Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, director of TFL. “While teens may be turning to vapes to help with their mental state, another study has shown that sustained use of e-cigarettes actually increases the rates of depressive symptoms in youth[ii].”

“This, along with the physical harm vaping causes, makes it more important than ever that teens know about the cessation resources available to them.”

The rate of e-cigarette use among Louisiana teens has tripled since 2015, according to the Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey.[iii] Live Vape Free is part of cessation services offered through the Louisiana Tobacco Quitline.

“Teenagers always seem to be on their phones, so we wanted to offer this support to meet them where they are,” explained Well-Ahead Louisiana Director Melissa Martin. “Quitting a tobacco product isn’t easy for anyone, but we must provide the tools to help our residents – even our youth – try.”

The support provided through Live Vape Free is text-message based and offers interactive coaching specifically geared towards teens. Participants have access to a Quit Coach at any time who can provide additional education, tools, and guidance to help them along their quit journey. Features include videos, quizzes, self-assessments, podcasts, and help for a teen to find their “why.”

Any teen in Louisiana ages 13 to 17 can enroll by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373 and answering a few quick questions to get started.

The Louisiana Tobacco Quitline is a 24-hour, confidential, free tobacco cessation helpline that links people who are ready to quit using tobacco with trained tobacco cessation specialists who help create an individualized plan to quit. The Quitline can provide Louisiana residents free counseling and nicotine replacement therapies to help them quit tobacco for good.

A program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, TFL engages in local and statewide tobacco control policy efforts that focus on preventing tobacco use, eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke, promoting cessation services, and identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities. For more information, visit www.tobaccofreeliving.org.

Well-Ahead Louisiana is the chronic disease prevention and healthcare access arm of the state Department of Health. Well-Ahead connects communities to tools and resources that help improve the health of Louisiana’s residents where they live, work, learn and play. For more information, visit www.wellaheadla.com.

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Geaux Talk Hosts Youth and Young Adult Art Contest in the Shreveport Area

(October 27, 2021) – Geaux Talk, a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), is focused on increasing access to health services and information for young people. In advance of releasing a report looking at the strengths, challenges, and opportunities impacting youth and young adult health in the Shreveport area, youth between the ages of 13 and 21 are invited to submit pieces of art that demonstrate what health means to them. Submissions should answer the question: “What is the greatest health issue facing young people today?”

To enter, send a registration form and a quality scan or a digital photograph (PDF/JPG files only) of visual art to geauxtalk@lphi.org. First place will win $400, second place will win $200, and third place will receive $100.

WHAT:
Geaux Talk (and Create!) About Your Health Art Contest

WHEN:
December 10, 2021
5 p.m.
Submissions due

First week in January
Winners announced

WHO:
Shreveport area residents
Ages 13-21

TFL Issues Statement on FDA Approval of E-Cigarette Device

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living (TFL) and the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) are disheartened by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision to approve the electronic cigarette created by tobacco company R.J. Reynolds. While we appreciate that the FDA is continuing to ensure all new tobacco products undergo the agency’s robust, scientific premarket evaluation, the fact that an e-cigarette product gained approval is concerning.

E-cigarettes have gained popularity with youth since their inception, creating a new generation of smokers who would not have previously used commercial tobacco. Previous data indicates e-cigarettes is the most common tobacco product used among all middle and high school students across most racial and ethnic groups; three in 10 LGBTQ+ youth currently vape with more than half of them having tried e-cigarettes.

Another concerning factor is that the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that approximately 10 percent of high school students who used vape products identified the R.J. Reynold product as the brand they use. With limited access to other e-cigarette products, we worry that young smokers will specifically seek out this product. We urge the FDA to monitor the sales of this product and continue the ban on all flavored tobacco products to prevent the initiation of tobacco use among young people.

While the product has been promoted as a cessation device, it has not been approved by the FDA for cessation. TFL offers cessation support for those interested in starting their quit journey through the Quit With Us, LA program. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669) or visiting QuitWithUsLA.org.

Earl N. Benjamin-Robinson, DrHSc, CPH
Director
Tobacco Control & Prevention and
Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living

Next Era Program Offering Community Advocacy Grants to Youth Organizations and Schools

September 23, 2021 –The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living’s youth initiative program, Next Era, is currently offering youth organizations and schools in Louisiana the opportunity to apply for a Community Advocacy Grant of up to $3,500. The submission deadline is Friday, October 8 at 4 p.m. The Scope of Work and application for the grant is available on the Next Era Website.

Next Era is a youth movement empowering high school teens to work toward meaningful change in their communities. Next Era currently focuses on organizations/schools that work with high school-aged teens (grades 9th-12th). The overall goal of the Next Era program is to reduce youth tobacco use rates in Louisiana.

“The Next Era students are offered opportunities to advocate for healthy change in their schools and local communities,” said Kenyatta Royal, youth programs and policy manager for The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living. “Students meet with elected officials, support policy change, and work with other students throughout the state, to create everlasting change in tobacco use.”

In addition to helping create a healthier Louisiana, Next Era students develop leadership, public speaking, professionalism, teamwork, and project management skills, that will help them build in school and throughout their futures after high school. This award provides support for (but not limited to) training, orientation, community presentations, youth education work, a Take Down Tobacco Day event, various community events, media campaigns, compensating Youth Advisory Board Members.

Applications must be completed by an Adult Coordinator. The Adult Coordinator will be responsible for facilitating the formation of a Next Era team. Next Era teams consist of youth 14-18 years old.

Shreveport Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance Goes Into Effect August 1

(July 30, 2021) – The Shreveport Smoke-free Air Act, a smoke-free ordinance designed to protect the health of the City’s 193,785 residents, will go into effect for bars and gaming facilities on Sunday, August 1, 2021. Shreveport is the 30th municipality in Louisiana to implement a smoke-free ordinance. The implementation of this ordinance means that 30 percent of Louisiana’s total population is being protected from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

The ordinance was originally passed in July 2020 to be implemented in August 2020, but implementation was later delayed until August 2021. In July 2021, an amendment was introduced to exclude gaming facilities from the ordinance. The amendment was ultimately tabled and the Smoke-free Air Act will include both bars and gaming facilities when it goes into effect over the weekend.

“The amount of support this ordinance received from community members shows that protecting bar and gaming service industry professionals, our community, and visitors from the dangers of secondhand smoke is the right step for Shreveport,” said Feamula Bradley, regional manager for the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL). “Putting our community’s health first, especially as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, means a safer and more welcoming environment for everyone that will ultimately save lives.”

“We applaud the City of Shreveport on this smoke-free effort, as it sets a worthy precedent for all communities to recognize and follow,” said Earl Benjamin-Robinson, director of TFL. “We look forward to working with these organizations on a smooth implementation of the smoke-free ordinance and appreciate the support we have received from the community and the City Council.”

TFL is providing materials to assist with the implementation of the Shreveport Smoke-free Air Act. These materials include a brochure that details what the new ordinance does and does not do, best practices, steps for implementation, and a “No Smoking” sign to hang in establishments. Hard copies of these materials have been mailed to local businesses and digital versions are available at SmokefreeShreveport.org.

For more information on the growing movement to protect all Louisiana employees from secondhand smoke, visit www.HealthierAirForAll.org.

Individuals interested in quitting tobacco products can visit www.QuitWithUsLa.org or call       1-800-Quit-Now.