GE Foundation announced that they are giving a $2 million grant to Louisiana Public Health Institute. This is a part of GE’s Developing Health program and will underwrite a program that is being led by School Health Connection located in Orleans Parish, Louisiana. This will provide students with an increased access to healthcare at school based centers for health.

GE’s Developing Health program is a three year, $25 million program that is aiming to improve access to primary healthcare in targeted underserved communities in the United States. They hope to improve quality of healthcare and increase access in healthcare while keeping the costs low for these communities.

As stated in Market Watch, “The Developing Heath program seeks to help fill the gap for access to quality care in underserved communities,” said Bob Corcoran, president, GE Foundation. “This specific grant to Orleans Parish will expand access to preventive, primary care, and primary mental health services for adolescents in the area. The Louisiana Public Health Institute is well positioned to expand the school-based health center network in Orleans Parish to meet the primary health needs of students and community members.”

“When we launched healthymagination, GE made a commitment to offer meaningful solutions that address some of today’s greatest health challenges: high costs, persistent quality issues and inadequate access,” said Mike Barber, vice president, GE healthymagination. “Our commitment extends to providing solutions to the nation’s most critical health needs in partnership with key health agencies, such as the Louisiana Public Health Institute. We believe this partnership, through Developing Health, will help advance our overall goal of delivering better health to more people in New Orleans.”

Orleans Parish has over 38,000 students. This $2 million grant from GE Foundation will potentially give thousands of students better access to primary healthcare that is needed. As stated in Market Watch, “This great partnership and grant funding will provide primary care access to a largely underserved population in the schools in Orleans Parish,” said Joseph Kimbrell, CEO, LPHI. “With each new school-based health center, we are helping to shape the future of healthcare delivery in New Orleans.”

These school based healthcare centers provide preventive, primary care and primary mental health services for currently enrolled school students. This will provide close and faster access for youth who need these services but often delay treatment or constantly seek Emergency Room care. GE hopes that it will receive help from local and state partner organizations to increase access to neighboring schools, family members and the nearby residents.