Louisiana Resilience - An LSU AgCenter Initiative
In 2020, Louisiana State University’s AgCenter partnered with 7-Dippity to develop a model to better address youth mental health needs in rural communities within Louisiana. The LSU AgCenter, in conjunction with 7-Dippity, subsequently applied for and received a 5-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to pilot the model in Ouachita Parish. The initiative is entitled Louisiana Resilience.
The LSU AgCenter and 7-Dippity team worked in close partnership with local governmental agencies, school districts, service providers and other community-based organizations to ensure the project flowed from and through the local communities.
Capacity building activities included:
- Conducting an asset map to identify strengths and weaknesses within local mental healthy systems;
- Establishing a network of local partners to work collectively as advisors to the initiative, support deliverables and continue to build capacity after the grant period;
- Providing numerous professional development workshops (e.g., for mental health professionals, educators, clergy, afterschool providers, parents and caregivers);
- Enhancing the quality of, and public access to, information on mental health resources, services and programs that support youth and families;
- Enacting a public pychoeducation campaign to increase awareness of youth mental health needs and knowledge of supportive resources.
