Our Mission
Louisiana Center for Health Equity works to address the increasing disparities in health and healthcare across Louisiana. The Center represents the interest of health equity by promoting the elimination of health disparities caused by poverty, lack of access to quality health care and other social determinants with a focus on community health and wellness.
What We Do
Policy Advocacy
We engage in non-partisan advocacy on issues that align with our mission to address health disparities and promote equitable health outcomes.
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Learning and Training
We offer a number of equity-centered learning and training opportunities to expand knowledge and build capacity at the individual, organization and community levels and to facilitate collective action.
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Community Outreach and Engagement
We inform and galvanize grassroots efforts in mobilizing around health inequities rooted in racial and social injustice. We inform and galvanize grassroots efforts in mobilizing around health inequities rooted in racial and social injustice.
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Strategic Innovation and Impact
We assist organizations in identifying gaps and opportunities, creating plans and executing actions to realize results with a focus inclusive of determinants of health.
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Our Board
The Louisiana Center for Health Equity’s Board of Directors is comprised of 3 to 13 members. Each board member serves a two-year term which is renewable. As a public charity nonprofit organization, the members of the Board of Directors serve in a voluntary capacity.

Alma C. Stewart
President, Organization Development Consultant
Baton Rouge

Anita A Harrell
Community Advocate
Baton Rouge

Diane Hargrove Jupiter
Chair, Community Advocate
Terrytown

Frederick Bell
Youth Mentor and Advocate
New Orleans

Ritney Castine
Principal and Chief Strategist, Imagine Greater and Pastor Trinity Church
Gonzales

Mark A. Perry
Instructor of Secondary Education, High School Coach
Denham Springs
Our Bold Vision #LA40by2030
Historically, Louisiana has struggled to improve its outcomes in education, incarceration, and health. In fact, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our state frequently ranked between 49th and 50th in annual state health outcomes. In direct response to these startling statistics, LCHE and partners launched #LA40by2030, a collaborative effort to improve Louisiana’s health ranking to 40th by the year 2030. This innovative and bold vision was first announced at the 2020 Health Summit: Advancing Health Equity for Children and Families. As an outgrowth of the summit, LCHE published a written report.
The report details four recommendations for policies to improve health outcomes for women, children, and families.
• Set a state minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage
• Implement trauma-informed approaches and services for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
• Establish a state-run entity to coordinate a systematic approach to women’s health, such as an Office on Women’s Health
• Prioritize and adopt key America’s Health Rankings’ health measures as policy
As LCHE celebrates its 10th anniversary, we are excited to build upon our longstanding commitment to championing causes that align with our mission to reduce health disparities and improve the quality of life for all Louisianans.

Policy Advocacy
Underlying every equitable system are strong, clear policies that afford all individuals the tools they need to lead healthy, productive lives. At LCHE, one of our core strategies for improving health outcomes is policy advocacy through direct actions, campaigns, legislative testimony and policy recommendations.
Currently, our policy agenda centers around supporting the behavioral health needs of youth exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and championing issues pertaining to women and children including, but not limited to maternal and infant mortality and lack of access to quality care. We are also working collaboratively with community stakeholders to strengthen our racial and economic equity agenda and craft policy recommendations to that end.
Under the commission of the Louisiana Legislature, LCHE convened regional and statewide studies to evaluate Louisiana’s healthcare system, service delivery and financing policies. These studies were authorized under the following legislation and remain unfunded:
Louisiana Statewide Healthcare Delivery System Study – House Concurrent Resolution 22 of the 2016 R.S. (HCR 22)
This study is currently pending due to lack of funding.
Health Services Delivery and Financing Capitol Region Task Force – Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 of the 2016 R.S. (SCR 4)
This study has been completed by LCHE and follow up on the findings are currently underway.
Learning and Training
We offer a number of equity-centered learning and training opportunities to expand knowledge and build capacity at the individual, organization and community levels and to facilitate collective action.
Offerings range in content, length and format for audiences including professionals, policymakers, community members and youth. Though our learning and training programs and activities are typically offered in person, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, several have been adapted to a virtual format and are announced as they become available. Select professional learning opportunities may also include continuing education credits in accordance with credentialing requirements. LCHE’s recurring offerings include, but are not limited to, the Annual Health Summit, Women’s Health Day symposium and webinars, Youth Peace Olympics and LYFE Line Teen Summit.
In addition to our programs and events, we also offer experiential learning opportunities for students and emerging professionals in the form of internships, fellowships, service learning, pro bono opportunities and the like. LCHE has proudly hosted a wide array of learners, including medical and public health post-doctoral fellows, law students, social work interns and undergraduate students in various fields. For more information, please reach out to us via our ‘Join Our Team’ page.
Testimonials:
Community Outreach and Engagement
Throughout the year LCHE hosts events and programs to encourage community members of all ages to make healthy lifestyle choices and build stronger, healthier communities. Through the loyal support of our community partners, our offerings are made available for free or at minimal cost to participants.
Youth Peace Olympics click here
Hosted annually, the Youth Peace Olympics (YPO) is a free youth enrichment program with a public health approach. The program is hosted on Saturdays and serves youth ages 10-17. Through workshops, sports, field trips and more, YPO seeks to educate and empower youth to make healthy lifestyle choices and curb violence. The YPO in-person program began in the Gardere/South Burbank communities and extended to Old South Baton Rouge. However, in light of COVID-19, YPO is being hosted virtually and welcomes youth from all Baton Rouge communities. For more information, and to apply, click here (link to youthpeaceolympics.org)
LYFE Line Teen Summit – The LYFE (Louisiana Youth for Excellence) Line Teen Summit is an annual leadership development program. The Teen Summit, launched in 2019, includes interactive advocacy trainings, workshops, conversations and recreational activities designed to help youth unpack important community topics, network with peers and frame their perspectives as current and future leaders.
LYFE Live – The Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE) and Louisiana Youth for Excellence (L.Y.F.E.) host the L.Y.F.E. Live, Virtual Teen Dialogue Series. This series consists of interactive discussions and relatable topics for teens. L.Y.F.E. Live focuses on enhancing our youth’s knowledge and skills to help prepare them to be successful in their bright futures.
Testimonials:
Together We Are More (TWRM):
A Holistic Approach to Adolescent Health is a collaborative initiative in Baton Rouge to create opportunities for youth to live healthier and more productive lives. LCHE convened TWRM to develop a public health approach to adolescent health. The priorities are reducing violence and homicide, reducing the high school dropout rate, increasing social supports, and increasing extra-curricular out of school activities and more recently, suicide prevention.
Strategic Innovation and Impact
At LCHE, we understand that shared goals and thoughtful collaboration are the keys to success. Accordingly, we are pleased to lend our expertise as strategic partners to organizations and businesses who share in our mission and are committed to services, programs and policies that promote equity. If you or your organization would like to learn more about our services, please complete the form below. We would love to know how you are making a difference and how we can help!