December 2018 - 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:

HEALTHCARE ACCESS GRANT LIFTING BARRIERS
Grant funds increasing access to healthcare services in Central Louisiana
A grant opportunity created by The Rapides Foundation is providing children and adults living in some of the most rural communities of Central Louisiana better access to healthcare services. 

Research shows rural areas disproportionately experience diminished access to healthcare. This results in significant health disparities - including higher rates of chronic disease and indicators of poor overall health - compared to urban communities. 

THE ORCHARD FOUNDATION AWARDED $4.5 MILLION GRANT
Central Louisiana Instructional Partnership will address STEM teacher shortage at middle school level
The Orchard Foundation has been awarded $4,482,635 by the U.S. Department of Education to recruit, train, support and retain effective math and science teachers in Central Louisiana middle schools. 

The Orchard Foundation and project partners committed in-kind matching funding of non-federal funds in the amount of $8,801,519 to implement the Central Louisiana Instructional Partnership or CLIP. The goal of CLIP is to improve student achievement in nine rural, high-need school districts in up to 70 schools in Central Louisiana by preparing highly qualified educators to teach in critical shortage areas - middle school math and science. 

STUDENTS ATTEND ANNUAL SECO EVENT
Cenla tenth grade students looking ahead to careers
The Orchard Foundation held its annual Students Exploring Career Opportunities Expo on November 14 and 15 at the Alexandria Riverfront Center. SECO is an interactive career expo for Central Louisiana tenth graders designed to introduce students to career possibilities. 

The SECO Expo allows students to experience simulations and hands-on activities at a variety of stations staffed by area businesses with the goal of fostering student engagement and ultimately sparking an interest in future careers. This is the fifth SECO event presented by The Orchard Foundation, the nine public school districts in Central Louisiana, and The Rapides Foundation. 


2018 COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA AVAILABLE
Report outlines health, behaviors and needs of Cenla residents
The Rapides Foundation has released the 2018 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 2018 report follows similar Community Health Needs Assessments conducted in 1997, 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2013. 


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.