News Releases

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

  

July 16, 2021 

  

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

March 25, 2021

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

 

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will meet virtually at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 26.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/VdTUazCF1-g. For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

 

Executive and Subcommittee Agenda

 

Welcome and Roll Call

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

Greetings

Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

Update – Louisiana COVID-19 Vaccine

• Joseph Kanter, Interim Assistant Secretary, Office of Public Health
• Courtney Phillips, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health
• Aly Neel, Communications Director, Louisiana Department of Health

 

Black and Essential: Relational Maintenance and Coping Strategies Among Black Populations during COVID-19 – LSU Manship School of Mass Communications

• Jenee Slocum, Director, Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs
• David Stamps, Assistant Professor, Manship School of Mass Communication

 

The Lived Experience of Louisiana’s Nursing Home Administrators during the COVID-19 Pandemic - Nursing Home Subcommittee

• Alicia Bates, (Co-Chair), Director, Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University
• Jeanine Thomas, (Co-Chair), Associate Dean of Nursing and Allied Health, SLCC

 

LDH and Health Equity Dashboard Demo

• Earl Benjamin-Robinson, Louisiana Department of Health-Office of Health Equity, Community Partnerships Deputy Director

Update - Communications and Messaging Subcommittee
Dr. Dereck Rovaris (Co-Chair), Vice Provost for Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer, Louisiana State University

 

Update – Funding Status for the LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Secretary Kimberly Lewis Robinson, Louisiana Department of Revenue

 

Public Comments - Dr. Sandra Brown

 

Adjournment

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

January 21, 2021

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will meet virtually at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 22.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/r18w6-gs2cs.

 

The meeting will be preceded by the task force's joint webinar with the Louisiana Department of Health, “COVID-19 Vaccines: A Conversation with the African-American Community,” which will stream at noon. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BVf9-q6aTGW2qAPeOoXBYw. 

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

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 Executive and Subcommittee Agenda 

 

 

I. Welcome and Roll Call 

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff 

 

II. Greetings 

Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist 

 

III. Update – Louisiana COVID-19 Vaccine 

• Dr. Joseph Kanter, Interim Assistant Secretary, Office of Public Health 
• Dr. Courtney Phillips, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Health 

 

IV. Update – LDH and Health Equity Dashboard 

• Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson, Louisiana Department of Health- Office of Health Equity, 

Community Partnerships Deputy Director 

• Dr. Demetrius Porche (Co-Chair) 
• Judy Reese Morse (Co-Chair) 

 

V. Office of Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach to Minority Communities 

Dr. Earl Benjamin-Robinson 

 

VI. Update - Communications and Messaging Subcommittee 

Dr. Dereck Rovaris (Co-Chair), Vice Provost for Diversity and Chief Diversity Officer, 

Louisiana State University 

 

VII. Update – Funding Status for the LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force 

Secretary Kimberly Lewis Robinson, Louisiana Department of Revenue 

 

VIII. Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) COVID-19 Community Survey 

• Shelina Davis, MPH, MSW, CEO, LPHI 
• Beth Nauman, PhD, MPH – Co-Lead 
• Caitlin Canfield, MPH – Co-Lead 

 

IX. Public Comments
Dr. Sandra Brown 

 

X. Adjournment

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

November 19, 2020

 

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will meet virtually at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 20.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/HmMUKHzt1Lk.

 

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

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 Executive and Subcommittee Agenda 

 

 

 

I. Welcome and Roll Call

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

July 30, 2020

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will meet virtually at 2 p.m. on 
Friday, July 31.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/9RUEkrRQ0BQ.

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

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 Executive and Subcommittee Agenda 

 

 

I. Welcome and Roll Call 

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff 

 

II. Greetings 

Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist 

 

III. Guest Presentations 

• Noel Brathwaite, MSPH, Ph.D. 

Director, Minority Health and Health Disparities 

Maryland Department of Health 

 

• David A Mann, Ph.D., M.D.

Epidemiologist 

Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities 

Maryland Department of Health

 

IV. Public Comments 

Dr. Sandra Brown 

 

V. Next Steps 

 

VI. Adjournment 

 

Next Meeting Date: 

LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting – August 14, 2020 at 2 p.m. 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

July 9, 2020

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its executive committee meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 10.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/4stBbxANCAw.

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

 

 Executive and Subcommittee Agenda 

 

 

I. Welcome and Roll Call 

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff 

 

II. Greetings 

Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist 

 

III. Reports from Subcommittees: 

• COVID-19 - Health Equity Dashboard 

• COVID-19 - Communication and Messaging 

• COVID-19 - Racial Disparities in Healthcare 

 

IV. Public Comments 

Dr. Sandra Brown 

 

V. Next Steps 

 

VI. Adjournment 

 

Next Meeting Date: 

LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting – July 17, 2020 at 2 p.m. 

 

 

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 18, 2020

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its executive committee meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/ciVXLP83Jl4

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

Executive and Subcommittee Agenda

 

 

1. Welcome and Roll Call

            Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

1. Greetings

            Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

III.        COVID-19 Communication and Messaging Presentation – Dr. Thomas LaVeist

            Dr. Martin Johnson, Dean, LSU Manship School of Mass Communications

 

III.        Reports from Subcommittees:

• COVID-19 Policy and Regulatory Affairs
• COVID-19 Community Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement

 

1. Public Comments

            Dr. Sandra Brown

 

1. Adjournment

 

 

Next Meeting Date:

LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting – June 26, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

June 11, 2020

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 12.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/Y_IAOFGKdSo.

 

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

Agenda

 

 

        

I.          Welcome and Roll Call

            Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

II.         Greetings

            Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

III.       Reports from Subcommittees:

           COVID-19 Testing for Vulnerable and At-Risk Communities

 

IV.      Public Comments

          Dr. Sandra Brown

 

V.       Adjournment

 

 

Next Meeting Date:

LA COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Meeting – June 19, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

May 28, 2020

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its executive committee meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 29.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/J2Ha9wy8Kxs.

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

Executive Committee Agenda

 

 Welcome and Roll Call

 Katara Williams, Ph.D., Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

Special Presentation

Racial Health Disparities

Anthony B. Iton, M.D., JD, MPh, 

Co-Chair COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force, Oakland California

Senior Vice President, Healthy Communities at The California Endowment

 

Special Presentation

Hospitalization and Mortality among Black Patients and White Patients with COVID-19

Eboni Price-Haywood, M.D., MPH, FACP

Subcommittee Member – Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force

Physician, Primary Care and Wellness Center

Director, Center for Outcomes and Health Services Research

Director, Primary Care Research Network

Associate Professor, Ochsner Clinical School - University of Queensland

 

 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Guidelines

Health Equity Principles for State and Local Leaders in Responding to Reopening and Recovering from COVID-19

 

Budget Discussion

 

Public Comments

 

Adjournment

 

Next Meeting Date:

La COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Executive Meeting

June 5, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 May 21, 2020

 

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/24keFvZoK2o.

 

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

.

 

 

Executive and Subcommittee Agenda 

 

Welcome and Roll Call 

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff 

 

Resilient Louisiana Commission 

Co-Chair - Terrie Sterling, MSN, MBA, RN, FACHE 

Co-Chair - Sec. Don Pierson 

 

Status Reports: COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Priorities 

 

Guidelines and Protocols for Louisiana COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE 

Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff 

 

Public Comments 

Dr. Sandra Brown, Co-chair

 

Adjournment 

 

Next Meeting Date: 

La COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Executive Meeting 

May 29, 2020 at 2 p.m. 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

May 7, 2020
 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 8.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/IQ_z0wxZSNc.

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

.

AGENDA

 

 Welcome and Roll Call

          Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

Greetings

          Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

Special Presentation

          Health Equity Dashboard – Cornell P. Wright, MPA

          Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities

 

COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
Priorities, Goals and Deliverables Template for Reports

          Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

Public Comments

 

Next meeting

         Executive Committee Members- Friday, May 22, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 

 

 

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April 30, 2020

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 1.

Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at http://www.sus.edu/form/404.

 

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/VSb6qpy3nR0.

 

For more about the task force, click here.

 

 

 

Louisiana COVID-19 HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE

Executive and Subcommittee Agenda

May 1, 2020

2 p.m.

 

Livestream: https://youtu.be/VSb6qpy3nR0

 

 Welcome and Roll Call

            Dr. Katara Williams, Southern University System, Chief of Staff

 

Greetings and Charge of Task Force

            Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

Special Presentations

1. COVID-19 Data for Louisiana
2. The Skin You’re In - Thomas LaVeist

 

COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Priorities

            Co-Chairs – Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

 

Summarization of Task Force Committee Priorities

 

Structure of Sub-Committees

 

Next meeting:

Executive Committee Members- May 8, 2020 at 2 p.m.

 

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April 29, 2020

Gov. Edwards Announces Funding to the Health Equity Task Force to Examine Causes and Solutions to COVID-19 Racial Disparities

 

Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that he is making $500,000 from the Governor’s COVID-19 Response Fund available to the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce to examine the causes and possible solutions to the high rate of deaths from the coronavirus within Louisiana’s African-American community and other impacted populations.

“The disparity in deaths is especially worrisome, and we need to do everything we can to determine why this is happening,” said Gov. Edwards. “African-Americans make up approximately 33 percent of our population yet account for nearly 60 percent of the deaths from this virus. We have an obligation to look for answers and this task force will provide recommendations for addressing the health inequities affecting all communities that are most impacted by this virus.  Funding is essential for that work to begin as soon as possible. One death is one too many in any community, and I am committed to helping everyone in our state live healthier lives.”    

Click here for more.

 

  

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

April 23, 2020

 

 

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

 

The Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force will hold its meeting online at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 24.

The meeting will be streamed live at https://youtu.be/_eV88WvrwDo.

 

 

Agenda

 

Opening and Roll Call

Dr. Katara Williams, Chief of Staff
Southern University System

 

Welcome

President-Chancellor Ray L. Belton
Southern University System

 

Greetings and Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Charge

Governor John Bel Edwards

 

Executive Task Force Introductions

Co-Chairs 
Dr. Sandra C. Brown and Dr. Thomas LaVeist

Task Force Committee Members

 

Task Force Meetings

 

 
Next meeting to include the Following– May 1, 2020

Presentations

• Distribution of COVID-19 Data by Race
• COVID-19 Testing and Race

 

Adjournment 

  

*Public comments on agenda items can be submitted at public_comments@sus.edu.

 

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April 21, 2020 

Gov. Edwards Announces Co-Chairs, Members of COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and Subcommittees