Foundation Connects Johnson & Johnson Foundation to Family & Youth Couseling

Community Foundation Receives $100,000 Grant from Johnson & Johnson Foundation to Support Family and Youth Counseling in Treating Postpartum Depression

·       According to the Center for Disease Control, 20% of women who give birth each year are affected by postpartum depression.

·       Post Hurricanes Laura and Delta many health services were relocated to nearby areas, causing women to seek services beyond their local doctors and hospitals.

 The Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana connects people who care with causes that matter. Johnson & Johnson Foundation connected with the Community Foundation for guidance on the priority needs related to women and children post hurricanes.  “We work with area nonprofits and stay abreast of the services they provide to meet pressing needs in Southwest Louisiana,” said Sara Judson, CEO of the Community Foundation.  “Johnson & Johnson Foundation’s interests were a good match for the counseling services provided by Family and Youth.”  Johnson and Johnson Foundation has granted $100,000 to the Community Foundation who is working with Family and Youth to provide mental health care to women suffering from depression caused by delivery, pregnancy, and/or grief. This type of care will lead to an improvement in the quality of life for mothers and their families.

 Family & Youth will partner with obstetricians, pediatricians, hospitals, medical professionals, and other locations across the 5 parishes to facilitate referrals for individuals who are in need of services. By offering affordable and professional services, women in Southwest Louisiana will have access to vital programs that will help women overcome postpartum depression.

 The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in those seeking counseling services and according to the Center for Disease Control, 20% of women who give birth each year are affected by postpartum depression. Southwest Louisiana has also experienced two major hurricanes devastating the region. “Through normal days postpartum depression is common but can be addressed. More recently in the area, with a pandemic and two hurricanes, we’re seeing postpartum depression is incredibly heightened,” said Julio Galan President and CEO of Family & Youth.

 These events can disrupt the normalcy of an individual’s life and adds a complex layer of difficulty for women who are pre and postpartum. An increase in access to care is vital during this time with so much disruption in the area. “This opportunity will also allow us to increase collaboration efforts with our local health care provides to improve the quality of outcomes for women and children,” Galan says. Family & Youth plans to focus on outreach and collaborative efforts with the goal of expanding access to care across the five-parish area of Southwest Louisiana. The agency plans to address these issues and ensure they are strategically and successfully addressed in and for our community.

End of Year Giving

End of Year Giving in Southwest Louisiana

As 2020 is coming to a close, the Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana is here to assist you with your year end giving. While there are many worthy causes, only donations to verified 501(c)(3) organizations are tax deductible. If you are considering a charitable donation but are unsure about which nonprofit to support, let your Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana do the legwork. Both individuals and businesses may benefit from creating Donor Advised Funds and this can still be done before the end of 2020.

“Through Donor or Corporate Advised Funds, the Foundation can give you access to our knowledge of the local nonprofit community and the charitable needs of our region. This partnership will also allow you to stay informed about the organizations you support and the effect your giving will have on the future of the community,” said Sara Judson, CEO of the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana. “People can also make individual donations to a cause that is important to them by simply clicking on the list of nonprofit funds at the Community Foundation,” she added. The website is foundationswla.org.

The residents of Southwest Louisiana know all too well the feeling of every joke made at the expense of this year. COVID-19 altered our daily life routines, and two hurricanes uprooted any normalcy we had left. Our personal “new normal” is realizing we no longer notice the piles of debris or remaining boarded windows as much as we did after Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated our community. We see the improvements daily with streetlights back in place, stop signs standing tall, and trees preparing to replace their lost leaves. These accomplishments are celebrated, but our journey on the road to recovery has just begun. The Community Foundation Southwest Louisiana is continuously working to assist the region in its recovery. Local nonprofit leaders are choosing to look at rebuilding as an opportunity to be even better. “From so much devastation, we want to come back thriving. We can have new opportunities for street art, murals, and concerts throughout the region” said Devan Corbello, Executive Director of the Arts and Humanities Council SWLA. People who want to support this type of effort may choose the Quality of Life Fund on the Community Foundation website.

End of year charitable giving looks unique in Southwest Louisiana this year but is more meaningful than ever. It is not too late to donate to Hurricane Relief and Recovery, as we move toward planning to rebuild. Donations for the year are complete if made online or postmarked by December 31. A gift to the quality and prosperity of your community is truly a gift that will leave a lasting impact.