Report Highlights - April 1998
(Prepared by the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine)
The Rapides Foundation is dedicated to improving the community health and well-being of Central Louisiana through a focused program of grant making. In order to assure grant decisions are based on current, valid and locally specific data, the Foundation contracted with the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine to perform a Community Assessment in its 11-parish service area. These parishes include Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Evangeline, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.
Tulane researchers gathered data through the use of written and telephone surveys, interviews and focus groups, as well as through the use of local, state and federal databases. They also compiled an inventory of community resources in partnership with health and human service organizations in Central Louisiana.
At the end of the survey period, the research team met with the Rapides Foundation administration to review their findings and to identify the most pressing and important issues that emerged. The following 12 issues present the areas of greatest concern impacting the health and well-being of Central Louisiana:
Alcohol & Drug Use and Related Behaviors
Children At-Risk
Chronic Disease Prevention
Economic Opportunity
Educational Attainment
Health of Older Adults
Access to Healthcare Services
Infant Mortality
Obesity
Tobacco Use
Uninsured
Recreational Access for Youth
Initiative Development Issues - April 1998
The Foundation trustees evaluated the findings of the Central Louisiana Community Assessment
and the SGS Arts and Cultural Assessment and adopted priority issues for initiative development.
A resource panel with expertise in maternal and child health, adolescent health, gerontology,
education, economic and community development and arts and humanities advised the Foundation
Board of Directors as it considered the significance and tractability of the wide range of issues.
Consensus was developed for a portfolio of priority issues to be strategically addressed through
funding initiatives over the next five years:
| Priority Issues |
Initiatives |
| Access to Healthcare |
Healthcare Access Initiative |
| Functional Status of Older Adults |
Healthy Seniors Initiative |
| Adolescent Risk Behavior |
Healthy Futures Initiative I |
| Teen Pregnancy |
Healthy Futures Initiative II |
| Parenting and Early Childhood Development |
Healthy Children Initiative |
| Building Community Development Infrastructure |
Healthy Cenla Initiative |
| Arts & Culture Development |
Arts & Humanities Initiative |
Education:
Leadership and Professional Development in the Learning Environment |
Education Initiative |
| Linking Education and Community/Economic Development |
Workforce Development Initiative |
Click here for 2002 Community Assessment
