LCHE champions women’s health by addressing disparities through policy advocacy and community engagement. For ten years, LCHE and partners have hosted the Annual Women’s Health Day Celebration – a legislative policy advocacy, information and resources event held at the Louisiana State Capitol. Topics have included child and maternal health, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDs, human trafficking, sexual and other forms of abuse, access to healthcare and more. Due to COVID-19, in 2020 LCHE hosted two webinars, More Power: Women at the Polls and in Policy and Maternal Health – Racial Concordance HerStory and Policy that featured several prominent local and state officials, community leaders and subject matter experts.

 

Currently, LCHE’s most prominent women’s health initiative is its Campaign to Establish the Louisiana Office of Women’s Health – an effort designed to concentrate resources and policy efforts toward improving health outcomes and eliminating disparities unique to women, especially pertaining to maternal health.

 

During the 2022 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 116 by Senator Regina Barrow, now ACT 676, to create the Office on Women’s Health passed. While acknowledging establishing this office as a significant step forward and progress towards ensuring better health outcomes for Louisiana women, LCHE has expressed concerns about the current law. Read LCHE’s statement here.