Whole Health Louisiana: Our Partners
The implementation of the Whole Health Louisiana initiative is led by a collaborative public-private partnership spearheaded by the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health and the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which functions as the statewide lead agency. Support also comes from Whole Health Louisiana Coalition members and other contracted partners.
Statewide Lead Agency
The Louisiana Department of Health has contracted the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center to direct the implementation of Whole Health Louisiana objectives, evaluate the Whole Health Louisiana State Plan’s impact, and serve as the neutral convener of the Coalition. This includes the identification of key performance indicators, the development of data collection tools, data analysis, research, and reporting to evaluate the plan’s process, outcome, and impact.
As the Whole Health Louisiana lead agency, the Blanco Center is responsible for the implementation of the State Plan objectives. They work in conjunction and with support from the Office of Public Health, but the two organizations have distinct roles in implementing the State Plan.
Bureau of Family Health
The Bureau of Family Health is a part of the Office of Public Health within the Louisiana Department of Health. The Louisiana Department of Health serves as the Whole Health Louisiana State Plan’s public sector “anchor” organization and has dedicated $1 million annually for the first five years of plan implementation. To support the work of the Blanco Center and the implementation of the State Plan, the Office of Public Health (on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Health) coordinates with contracted partners and provides programmatic support. To advance the State Plan’s implementation, the Bureau of Family Health has increased internal data analysis and expanded the Louisiana Childhood Adversity Resilience Education (CARE) Network, offering more training and educational opportunities aligned with recommended strategies. Additionally, the Bureau has engaged additional partners to strengthen the infrastructure supporting the plan’s overall execution.
Public Sector Leaders
Louisiana’s public sector leaders have been actively involved in plan development and have provided valuable feedback on how the Whole Health Louisiana State Plan priorities will be brought to life within their agencies. These leaders are committed to integrating and expanding trauma-informed principles within their respective agencies, fostering cross-sector collaboration to advance efforts aligned with plan recommendations, and pledging sustained involvement in the Whole Health Louisiana Coalition. While leaders from state agencies have implemented trauma-informed policies and initiatives within their organizations, their commitment to cross-sector collaboration and advancing plan recommendations will ensure a coordinated and successful execution. The outcome of this collective work will improve the overall well-being of Louisiana’s children, families, and child- and family-serving workforce.