Pilot Program Addresses Social Determinants of Health in Acadiana Region

Date: 05/23/19

Community Connections helps local organizations expand impact while driving improved health outcomes

Baton Rouge, LA (May 23, 2019) – In collaboration with more than a dozen community partners based in the Acadiana region, Louisiana Healthcare Connections is launching a program designed to address the social determinants of health that negatively impact health outcomes in the Lafayette area.

This collaborative effort, called Community Connections, is centered on a technology-driven, secure platform that digitally connects a network of community-level partners. Using this platform, local partners can address the socioeconomic factors – like food insecurity, unsafe housing and low literacy, among others – that prevent families and individuals from seeking, receiving and complying with medical treatment.

By working collaboratively from a unified resource database and referral system, these partners can expand their organizational impact, reduce wait times for needed services, and track their clients’ needs and progress. The platform allows them to easily and efficiently connect clients to services that are outside their scope or capacity, and empowers them with the data necessary to drive better outcomes for shared clients.

“Healthcare represents only about 10 percent of the contributing factors to healthy outcomes; the remaining 90 percent are a combination of socioeconomic and environmental factors like food and shelter. When families are worried about those basic needs, they are less likely to take care of their health needs,” says Kendra Case, RN, Chief Operating Officer of Louisiana Healthcare Connections. “Partnering with organizations that address these factors at the local level is an important part of our statewide strategy to help Louisiana families and individuals overcome barriers to their care so they become healthier. We are pleased to be able to provide this platform so we can all work together to more effectively address these issues.”

Organizations actively ‘in-network’ with the platform and accepting referrals for services include 232-HELP; Acadiana Treatment Center; ASSIST Agency in Acadia and Vermilion; Beacon Community Connections; Families Helping Families of Acadiana; The Family Tree Education, Information and Counseling Center; SMILE Community Action Agency; Smoking Cessation Trust; Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC); and Southwest Louisiana Center for Health Services in Lafayette and Lake Charles.

The user-friendly Community Connections platform is available at no cost to partnering organizations. Community organizations in the Lafayette region interested in learning more about the program may contact Chelsea Graves, Community Relations Principal for Louisiana Healthcare Connections, via email at Chelsea.T.Graves@LouisianaHealthConnect.com.