Baton Rouge - A statewide initiative to better understand the challenges faced by Louisiana’s military veterans and their families is set to launch in 2025. This initiative, spearheaded by the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI), a center under the Informatics Research Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA), aims to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment survey to identify gaps in resources and services, guiding future support efforts for the state’s veteran community.
The survey will focus on key areas such as mental health, housing, employment, health care access and family support, providing a clear picture of the current realities faced by Louisiana’s veteran population. The findings will be used to improve existing services and inform strategic initiatives aimed at creating stronger, more resilient veteran communities across the state.
With a deep understanding of veteran experiences, the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs will use the survey as an impactful tool to improve the resources provided to Louisiana’s veterans and their families.
Secretary Charlton Meginley of LDVA stated, “The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs supports the research study conducted by the Louisiana Center for Health Innovation at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. We believe the information that could be gathered through this study will enhance the services that we and our partners can provide to all veterans who call Louisiana home.”
The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation, leveraging its research expertise in health innovation, informatics and community-based public health, is leading the development of the assessment tools and evaluation framework in close collaboration with LDVA and veteran-serving organizations.
The success of this initiative relies on participation from Louisiana’s veterans, service members and families. Those eligible are encouraged to participate in the 2025 survey to share their experiences and help shape the future of veteran support in the state.
For more information about the initiative and how to get involved, please visit https://lchi. louisiana.edu/. For inquiries in English, contact Dr. Gabriela Wilson, Director of LCHI, at gabriela. wilson@louisiana. edu or 337.482.0197. For inquiries in Spanish, contact Dr. Angie V. Sanchez, Health Innovation Officer at LCHI, at angie. [email protected] or 337.482.0694.
