Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center

The Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center focuses on the public policy areas championed by Governor Blanco during her career in state government: education, poverty and economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, health and healthcare, the coast and environment, and governmental ethics. The Blanco Center is an independent, interdisciplinary research center bringing together experts to conduct applied policy-related research, host events to advance policy, and assist those making and implementing policy in Louisiana with best practices, enhancing public services, and technical assistance. A partnership between the University of Louisiana at Lafayette College of Liberal Arts and Edith Garland Dupré Library, the Blanco Center aims to provide policymakers and the public with the information necessary to improve lives and communities across Louisiana. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gMduMFWe

To mark the Blanco Center’s five-year anniversary, we’re highlighting research related to our priority research areas.     🩺 The Whole Health Louisiana initiative is part of our health and healthcare priority research area 🏥 This statewide plan, anchored and funded by the Louisiana Department of Health with implementation led by the Blanco Center, aims to educate and inform stakeholders on the principles of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). This large-scale project touches a broad group across the interdisciplinary Blanco Center team.  The Blanco Center is honored to be part of this statewide initiative and proud to showcase the value of collaboration on this project 🤝 

Join us next week for Whole Health Louisiana’s first Lunch-n-Learn webinar featuring Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D., Executive Director for the The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children   Dr. Sonnier will highlight ways Louisiana’s policy landscape is supporting children with adverse childhood experiences and where gaps in policy exist through the lens of both the Whole Health Louisiana and Geaux Far Louisiana initiatives.  📆 Thursday, September 19  ⏰  12 Noon - 1 p.m. CST  🖥️ Zoom  📝 How LA's policy landscape is supporting children with adverse childhood experiences  🎟️ Register now: bit.ly/WHL_LunchLearn 

Whole Health Louisiana’s Monroe Regional Training (9/11) has been postponed due to the potential for severe weather across the state. This is done as a precaution for participants and team members, many of whom would travel from southwest and southeast portions of the state. This regional training will be rescheduled for a later date. For the latest information on the weather event: https://lnkd.in/dJQhi-M  

Join us tomorrow in Shreveport ⬇️

To mark the Blanco Center’s five-year anniversary, we’re highlighting research related to our priority research areas.     📖 The Child Development and Opportunities Research Program is part of our priority research area on education with links to Blanco Center priority areas of poverty and economic opportunity and health and health care. 📚   Societies depend on programs and policies to help reduce child inequalities and launch youth into opportunities. This research program focuses on research and evaluation examining policies affecting youth and family communities in Louisiana. The research program will inform program implementors and policy makers in Louisiana on the inflection points that send youth into an orbit of opportunity.  Explore more in our dashboard: https://lnkd.in/gtvK8CFW  

Join us in Monroe next week for Whole Health Louisiana's regional training. Julie Emory, Early Childhood Program Director at The Children's Coalition, will lead a discussion on the fundamentals of trauma-informed care (TIC). Whole Health Louisiana is a statewide initiative transforming how we address childhood adversity and trauma. Anchored and funded by the Louisiana Department of Health with implementation led by the Blanco Center, this statewide plan aims to educate and inform stakeholders on the principles of TIC and how they can be applied within systems across all sectors of the state. 📅 Tuesday, September 10  ⏰ 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.   📍 Ochsner LSU Health Monroe Medical Center, 4864 Jackson Street Monroe, LA  71202; 2nd floor Auditorium   ✏️ Fundamentals of TIC, strategies on how to implement TIC, and region-specific identification of gaps and resources  🎟️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/ePrqxHpv  ➡️ WHL Website: https://lnkd.in/erDphTUv

Join us in Shreveport next week for Whole Health Louisiana's third regional training. Carla Burgos, Director of Special Initiatives at Community Foundation of North Louisiana, will lead a discussion on the fundamentals of trauma-informed care (TIC). Whole Health Louisiana is a statewide initiative transforming how we address childhood adversity and trauma. Anchored and funded by the Louisiana Department of Health with implementation led by the Blanco Center, this statewide plan aims to educate and inform stakeholders on the principles of TIC and how they can be applied within systems across all sectors of the state. 📅 Tuesday, September 10  ⏰ 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.   📍 Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, St. Mary Medical Center, 1 St Mary Pl, Shreveport, LA 71105; Community Center   ✏️ Fundamentals of TIC, strategies on how to implement TIC, and region-specific identification of gaps and resources  🎟️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/ePrqxHpv  ➡️ WHL Website: https://lnkd.in/erDphTUv 

To mark the Blanco Center’s five-year anniversary, we’re highlighting research related to our priority research areas.     🌐 Providing analyses and leading community engagement to support ConnectLA's development of Louisiana’s first ever statewide Digital Equity plan is part of our priority research area on poverty and economic opportunity 📈  By 2029, the necessary structures will be in place to sustain Louisiana’s work toward digital equity. This means that all Louisiana residents will have the opportunity to access: 🛜 Affordable broadband  💻 Appropriate devices  ⌨️ Accessible applications  🤳 Digital skills support  Learn more in Louisiana’s Digital Equity Plan and 2024 Plan Update: https://lnkd.in/etwM5rJv 

📈 From the Blanco Center Data Team 📊 Lafayette was the gathering point for our first Whole Health Louisiana training. 30 dedicated professionals—including nurses, social workers, and student service providers—came together to deepen their knowledge on trauma-informed care and share strategies for improving community health. The turnout from participants outside of our host city underscores the commitment of individuals who traveled to engage in this training. This event was part of a series of 9 regional trainings designed to make vital health knowledge accessible to practitioners throughout Louisiana. See the state map below to find a regional training near you. Together, we’re driving change across the state! ⚜️