Humana Foundation presented a grant of $118,000 to Capital Area Human
Services (CAHS) for its client initiative to improve physical health
outcomes and increase life expectancies for adults with serious mental
illness. The peer-led Total Health Program will focus on integrated primary
and behavioral health care services, including support groups, fitness
classes, nutrition and health education, and smoking cessation.
Pictured at the Humana Foundation grant award program held June 28 in Baton Rouge are, left to right, CAHS Director of Quality Improvement Karen Pino; CAHS Executive Director Jan Kasofsky, PhD; Humana Foundation Director April Golenor; East Baton Rouge Mayor President Sharon Weston Broome; and CAHS board representative Tom Sawyer.
Humana Foundation is a philanthropic arm of Humana, Inc. It seeks to improve community health and well-being, while addressing root causes and barriers that keep people from being their healthiest. This is part of their ongoing Bold Goal initiative, which aims to make 20 percent of the Baton Rouge community healthier by 2020.
Senator William "Bill" Cassidy, MD, spoke to the groups via a video, and acknowledged that he learned from Capital Area Executive Director Jan Kasofsky many years ago the shocking statistic that individuals with mental health issues often live 25 years less than the average life expectancy. He has introduced new legislation, which aims to integrate primary care into behavioral health services.
Mayor Broome commended CAHS for its initiative, and Humana Foundation for its 2020 health Bold Gold program. She also discussed the city parish health initiative, which has reached thousands of residents through prevention programming.