Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) and Prime Time Head Start have agreed to coordinate behavioral health care services, parenting and family engagement classes and presentations, and mutual sharing of program events for Prime Time’s students and staff. The agreement allows NEDHSA access to the more than 500 3-and-4-year-olds and their families enrolled in Prime Time Head Start through full-day, school year service across four centers located in high-needs communities.

The agreement expands NEDHSA’s child and adult initiatives within its 12-parish service area. NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer said the goal is to create an ecosystem of access to services to help reduce and prevent the early onset of mental illness, drug addiction, violence, suicide, teen pregnancy, and school expulsion.

Prime Time has administered the Head Start Program in Ouachita Parish since 2016. Its approach emphasizes data-driven decision-making at all levels and has a proven early childhood education approach featuring comprehensive teacher training, coaching, assessment, family engagement, and community partnerships. Additionally, Prime Time integrates inquiry-based teaching and learning strategies.

NEDHSA directs and manages community-based programs in a 12-parish region. It provides integrated primary care and behavioral health services for people mental illness, addiction disorder, and developmental disabilities. It operates Phoenix Clinic for individuals who have a developmental disability and mental health disorder. Its integrated care model addresses behavioral health, primary health, and social determinants of health. NEDHSA also manages prevention and wellness services aimed at reducing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse by youth.

Its early childhood and adolescent prevention program serves more than 1,200 children with Al’s Pals-Kids Making Healthy Choices, equating to 55 classrooms servicing Ouachita’s Monroe City Schools, Madison, Jackson, Bienville, East Carroll, and Richland parishes. The program includes 20 Pinebelt, and Delta Community Action Head Starts in the 12-parish region. NEDHSA serves 300 adolescents in Madison Parish through its Signs of Suicide Prevention Program. NEDHSA’s Student Ambassador program has nearly 70 students throughout Neville High, Franklin High, and Madison Parish High School as part of its high school prevention services.

This was reported by Northeast Delta Human Services Authority on January 13, 2022.

Contact information: DeRon Talley, Public Information Director, Northeast Delta Human Services Authority, 2513 Ferrand Street, Monroe, LA 71201; Email: deron.talley@la.gov; Website: https://nedeltahsa.org/.