Opportunity Zone

Questions and Answers

What is NE Delta HSA?

Northeast Delta HSA directs the operation of community-based programs to improve the quality of life of people with major mental illness, developmental disabilities and addictive disorders. Northeast Delta HSA is devoted to delivering programs and services that encourage people to reach their true human potential.

Three tenets guide our efforts: excellent customer service, greater access to services and competent, quality care.

What is the NE Delta HSA Opportunity Zone?

The NE Delta HSA Opportunity Zone is a NE Delta HSA initiative to engage the south Monroe community.  Its purpose is to increase access to NE Delta HSA’s healthcare services and support an environment where all people live long, healthy lives.

NE Delta HSA is initiating this community-based pilot program to expand opportunities for citizens in south Monroe and create social and physical environments that promote good health for all. This program will promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across all life stages.

What is the purpose of the NE Delta HSA Opportunity Zone?

• To encourage collaboration and engage multiple sectors, like community leaders in education, health care prevention, faith-based entities and law enforcement to take action to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by the best available evidence and knowledge.

• To support longer lives free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
• To achieve health equity, reduce health disparities, and improve the health of all groups.

• To empower individuals toward making informed health decisions.
• To measure the impact of prevention activities.

How can I help?

We encourage community leaders and citizens who are interested in a positive, healthy community to engage and support our efforts. While one person can have an impact, we support combined voices and action to help improve social health determinants within our region. We will provide updates and opportunities for engagement.

How was the Opportunity Zone selected?

NE Delta HSA serves citizens in 12 parishes of northeastern Louisiana: Caldwell, East Carroll, West Carroll, Ouachita, Lincoln, Madison, Franklin, Morehouse, Jackson, Tensas, Richland and Union. We form and manage behavioral health-based initiatives and action-based coalitions based on the needs of the citizens we serve. We have identified a portion of South Monroe to serve as a pilot program for the Opportunity Zone. We may expand the initiative to surrounding geographic areas if additional need is identified.

Our prevention program uses data collected from the Community that Cares Youth Survey, designed and analyzed by the Office for Behavioral Health and the Picard Center. This information guides us in making data-driven decisions and selecting evidenced-based approaches. This survey measures community- based risk factors, youth attitudes and perceptions about behavioral issues in communities and parishes throughout the state of Louisiana. We used information from this survey to help us select a pilot community.

How is the Opportunity Zone funded?

The Opportunity Zone is funded with federal block grant funds from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The goal of this funding is to help plan, implement and evaluate activities that prevent and treat substance abuse.

Do I need to live in the Opportunity Zone to participate?

The NE Delta HSA Opportunity Zone welcomes all citizens of northeast Louisiana to be a part of our growth. Our pilot initiative is geographically selected to measure the effectiveness of our engagement model. Our goal is to develop an effective strategy for change across our district based on its success.

How can I support the Opportunity Zone?

Your support and promotion of our services is very important to us. Community partnerships and resource-sharing is a valuable benefit to the Opportunity Zone. If you are interested in supporting and/or sharing resources, please join our coalition!

Is the Opportunity Zone open to the public?

Yes. Although we have designated a specific community for our launch, you are welcome to participate and learn about our model.