Louisiana Healthcare Connections is highlighting its ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity as a critical component of health and well-being, from supporting food banks serving families across the state to providing nutrition resources for expectant and new mothers and helping patients access nutritious food as part of their healthcare journey.
Earlier this year, Louisiana Healthcare Connections and the Centene Foundation committed $125,000 to four regional food banks to expand food access in some of Louisiana’s most underserved communities. The investment supports the Food Bank of Central Louisiana, Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana, and Northshore Food Bank.
Grant dollars have also funded additional community and school food banks and gardens, nutritional education, and farmers’ markets, particularly in rural or underserved areas.
The funding is helping strengthen the infrastructure that communities rely on when families need assistance, including emergency food support, food acquisition and distribution, pantry expansion and mobile food distribution. These efforts are particularly important in rural communities where transportation, poverty and limited access to nutritious food can create additional barriers.
Community investments have also supported programs specifically focused on nutrition for pregnant women and families with young children, including programs that provide healthy food access, education and other supports.
Louisiana Healthcare Connections also works with healthcare providers to identify food insecurity and connect patients with community resources. The health plan equips providers with tools to screen patients for food insecurity and connect them with local food banks and other assistance programs. The approach recognizes that identifying a patient’s food needs can be an important first step toward addressing barriers that affect their health.