February 2019 - In This Issue:
WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES
Since its creation in 1994, The Rapides Foundation has sought to improve the health status of Central Louisiana by developing initiatives and strategies intended to impact our community for decades to come.  We invite you to learn more about our work by visiting our website.

The Rapides Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas:

Healthy People, to improve access to healthcare and promote healthy behaviors.

Education, to increase the level of educational attainment and achievement as the primary path to improved economic, social and health status.

Healthy Communities, to improve economic opportunity and family income, and enhance civic and community opportunities for more effective leaders and organizations.

Contact Us

The Rapides Foundation
1101 Fourth Street, Suite 300
Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
318-443-3394 or 800-994-3394

Visit our website:

CLIP GRANT OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO EARN MASTER OF ARTS IN TEACHING DEGREE, STIPEND
Deadline to apply is April 1
Applications are being accepted for the Central Louisiana Instructional Partnership (CLIP) program. 

CLIP is a teacher residency program focusing on developing middle school math and science teachers in high-need schools in Central Louisiana. CLIP participants will receive a Master of Arts in teaching degree, a stipend to cover the expense of tuition, and an annual stipend during their residency. 

The deadline to apply to participate in the first cohort of teacher residents is Monday, April 1. The program will begin in summer 2019.

CDW ANNOUNCES SPRING 2019 TRAINING OFFERINGS
Workshops cover a variety of topics for nonprofits
Community Development Works, a program of The Rapides Foundation, is offering free skill-building trainings for Cenla residents and nonprofits.

Spring workshops and webinars begin in March and include a variety of topics, including grant writing, business planning, and managing workplace stress. 

All workshops and webinars are available free of charge. Workshops take place at The Rapides Foundation Building, 1101 Fourth Street, Alexandria. Webinars can be accessed from most devices using the GoToWebinar app. Details about the training offerings can be found on the CDW website at   www.communitydevelopmentworks.org. You can also contact CDW at 1-800-803-8075.

READ TO SOAR PROGRAM HELPS CHILDREN BUILD EARLY READING SKILLS
Program is available to parents or caregivers with children ages birth to 5
Research shows that children who participate in high-quality early childhood programs are more likely to enter kindergarten ready to learn. 

The Orchard Foundation coordinates an early reading program, Read to Soar, to help prepare young children for school success by cultivating a love for reading long before they set foot in a classroom.

Read to Soar is a free, eight-session reading workshop for children ages birth to 5 and their parents or caregivers. By the end of the program, children receive 40 new books for their home library while parents come away with tips and resources to help them teach their young ones. 

CANCER SCREENING VAN TRAVELS TO CENLA COMMUNITIES
Eligible residents receive free breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings
The Cancer Screening Project helps Cenla residents get access to free medical screenings for breast, colorectal and cervical cancers. 

A feature of this project is the Cancer Screening Van, a mobile digital mammography unit that travels throughout Central Louisiana. The screening van is a partnership between The Rapides Foundation, CMAP, and the Partners in Wellness Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at LSU Health Shreveport.

CMAP has released the 2019 schedule for the Cancer Screening Van. Appointments are needed. For more information, or to find out when the mobile unit will be in your area, call the Cancer Screening Project at 318-767-3027 or toll-free at 1-855-767-3027.


Joe Rosier

Mission
The mission of The Rapides Foundation is to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. 

Vision
Our vision is to positively impact Central Louisiana by deploying resources to improve key factors of health status.