Get Covered: Open Enrollment for Health Insurance is Happening NOW
The Health Insurance Marketplace is open for business! From November 1 – December 15, 2017, you can apply for new 2018 health insurance — or you can renew, change or update your current health plan for 2018. Important dates November 1, 2017: Open Enrollment starts – first day to...
Read More >Educational Activities Planned Statewide for Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Louisiana
Today is the first day of National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (October 22-28, 2017), and Louisiana has big things planned! Every October, National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week raises awareness about lead poisoning and its effects on children. The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health’s Healthy Homes and...
Read More >Cross-Sector Collaboration Improves Infant Mortality Surveillance in Central Louisiana
The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Coordinators and MIECHV (Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting) program staff hold regional, quarterly Community Advisory and Action Team (CAAT) meetings with stakeholders and families to employ innovative and best practices to promote...
Read More >Long Live Louisiana Grandparents: Preventing Falls among Older Adults
Grandparents are a cornerstone of Louisiana families. They play a key role in their grandchildren’s growth and development and can serve as an essential source of wisdom and experience for new parents. But grandparents don’t always just play a helping role – in Louisiana and across the United States,...
Read More >Suicide Prevention Training Programs Available in Louisiana
September is national Suicide Prevention Month, though the Louisiana Department of Health is committed to reducing and preventing suicides throughout the year. Healthcare professionals, mental health providers, professional caregivers, and the general public can all play a role in preventing suicide. Trainings are available to help each of these...
Read More >Hurricane and Flooding Resources for Families
EMERGENCY & DISASTER RECOVERY RESOURCES Sheltering: Find a shelter or and locate lost loved ones: Red Cross Shelter locator FEMA assistance: Register for FEMA Assistance online or call 1-800-621-FEMA. Food assistance: If a family or individual thinks that their household could be impacted by damages or lost wages due...
Read More >FDA Warns Consumers about High Levels of Lead in Balguti Kesaria Ayurvedic Medicine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning parents and caregivers not to use “Balguti Kesaria (or Kesaria Balguti) Ayurvedic Medicine” due to the risk of lead poisoning. FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Exposure to lead can cause serious damage to the central nervous...
Read More >BFH Leads Collaborative Efforts to Improve Early Childhood Systems
In the beginning of May, the Bureau of Family Health’s (BFH) developmental screening program convened key stakeholders in New Orleans and Lafayette to map out current practices and identify gaps in Louisiana’s developmental screening and early intervention systems for children. A total of 76 attendees consisted of on-the-ground developmental...
Read More >FDA Warns Against Using Magellan Diagnostics LeadCare Testing Systems
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning about the use of Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers (LeadCare, LeadCare II, LeadCare Ultra and LeadCare Plus) with venous blood samples because they might result in falsely low test results. The FDA is now advising that Magellan...
Read More >Louisiana Department of Health Responds to Elevated Lead Levels in St. Joseph Water System
In December 2016, Governor Edwards issued a public health emergency for the Town of St. Joseph, after two samples of water were found to have elevated levels of lead. Further testing was done at all residences and businesses getting water from the St. Joseph Water System, and 36 high...
Read More >