HEAL Helps Secure Federal Dollars For Health Equity In State Schools
MEDIA CONTACT: Kacey M. Hill, APR, kaceyhillpr@gmail.com, 504-858-7092
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOUISIANA NON-PROFIT HELPS SECURES MORE THAN $400 MILLION IN FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR HEALTH EQUITY IN STATE SCHOOLS
Organization encourages more Louisiana schools to take advantage of services and federal funding
NEW ORLEANS (Aug 2, 2023) – As a new school year approaches, one local non-profit is working to provide access to healthcare to even more Louisiana students at no cost to schools or families. Since 2006, Health & Education Alliance of Louisiana (HEAL) has helped schools secure more than $400 million in Federal Medicaid funds to support in-school healthcare and health equity.
HEAL partners with schools to successfully access federal Medicaid dollars that are currently being untapped by most Louisiana schools who may not know the funds exist or might not have the information, staffing and resources to apply for these critically need funds.
“Louisiana schools are essentially leaving free money on the table,” said Connie Bellone, RN MSHSC CCRN-K CCHC, Chief Executive Officer for HEAL. “Our goal is to use these funds to get a nurse in every building and a therapist in every school in our state, with a priority on lower-income communities where in-school healthcare is even more critical to the wellbeing of our students.”
HEAL also works with schools to create access to on-site nurses and critical health screenings including mental health, vision, hearing and dental.
Jared Frank at HEAL partner Morris Jeff Community School, has seen the difference on-site healthcare can make in the lives of students. “We are grateful for the work of HEAL with our school. With improved and increased access to on-site health care, we've seen a dramatic improvement in academic and social-emotional outcomes for our students. They feel better and have better access to health resources which allow them to thrive.”
WHY IT MATTERS:
One in four school-age children has a vision disorder that could go undiagnosed without access to regular screenings, according to the American Optometric Association.
Undiagnosed hearing loss leads to speech delays and is the primary cause of misdiagnosed learning or behavioral disorders.
More students are behind on regular healthcare checkups due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Not being able to see a smartboard or hear a teacher are obvious barriers to a child’s education,” added Bellone, “but we also need to address mental health and undiagnosed chronic illnesses that prevent Louisiana students from reaching their full potential – especially in low-income communities and communities of color. By addressing these health barriers, we can give children a chance to break the cycle of poverty and receive an education.”
It’s important for parents to understand that these are additional health services provided by schools and do NOT count against a student’s individual Medicaid benefit limits.
HEAL partners with schools statewide to expand school healthcare services at no additional cost to families. School administrators are encouraged to visit www.healschools.org, email info@healschools.org or call (504) 570-6952 to find out how their schools can access additional Medicaid dollars.
Support HEAL’s mission of healthcare and education equity and access in Louisiana with a donation at https://www.healschools.org/donate.
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