The Rapides Foundation announces the release of the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive data-driven report that studies the health, behaviors and needs of people living in the Foundation’s nine-parish service area.

The purpose of the assessment is to identify major health problems, gaps in services and other factors that may contribute to less than optimal health status for Central Louisiana residents. The 2024 report follows similar Community Health Needs Assessments conducted every three to five years since 1997.  

The Foundation worked with an independent research firm, Professional Research Consultants, Inc., of Omaha, Nebraska, to complete surveys with community members throughout Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes. Much of the 2024 survey was based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System with customized questions addressing gaps relative to health promotion and disease prevention. The survey was conducted via telephone (cell phones and landlines) and online questionnaires.

"We appreciate our participants for taking the time to share their thoughts and concerns with us while taking part in this survey,” said Akeshia Singleton, Director of Evaluation for The Rapides Foundation. “By sharing this much-needed information, they have helped raise awareness about the health status of Central Louisiana residents, and helped us identify areas that we can focus on in the future.”

The survey asked residents about chronic diseases, social environment indicators, healthy eating habits, ability to get medical care, quality of life, mental health, civic participation and volunteer habits, to name a few, all in an effort to provide an accurate snapshot of the health of Central Louisiana.

The results of Community Health Needs Assessments are used to inform the Foundation’s strategies and goals for improving the health of our community. Nonprofit organizations often use the information to make informed decisions and guide efforts to improve community health and wellness.

Community Health Needs Assessments can be found on the Foundation’s website under the Newsroom tab.