Baton Rouge Health District Awarded $2 Million to Strengthen Local Healthcare Workforce
BATON ROUGE, LA – The Baton Rouge Health District has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund, along with $1 million in matching contributions from local partners, to expand its BRHireD regional workforce initiative, focused on addressing critical healthcare staffing shortages in the Capital Region. This combined $2 million investment is the largest state-funded project for the Baton Rouge Health District to date, supporting an unprecedented regional coalition of 14 partners including 5 regional health systems, 2 community colleges, and 6 community organizations. It marks a significant step forward in strengthening the region's healthcare talent ecosystem and economic future.
According to the most recent 2024 Louisiana Workforce Development Report by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the healthcare sector remains the largest employer in Louisiana – employing 319,549 people, with an expected growth rate of over 8% in the next decade. Employment projections from the same report predict one of the largest numbers of 15,818 job openings will be for medical assistants, the occupation primarily targeted by the BRHireD Program. Over the next 24 months, BRHireD will recruit, train, and place 100 new nursing support professionals into jobs at Baton Rouge's leading hospitals—addressing one of the community's most pressing needs: the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals.
Health Education and Workforce is one of the primary focus areas for the Baton Rouge Health District. The BRHireD H.E.R.O. project will build on an ongoing employer-driven health workforce coalition developed by the Health District, as well as ongoing shared workforce recruitment efforts between area health institutions. "This investment is about more than job training; it is about building a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge through collaboration and synergy," said Steven Ceulemans, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District. "We are working as a regional coalition of 14 H.E.R.O. partners to take action on one of the most prominent challenges faced by our area hospitals: the need for human capital."
"This investment is about more than job training; it is about building a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge through collaboration and synergy. We are working as a regional coalition of 14 H.E.R.O. partners to take action on one of the most prominent challenges faced by our area hospitals: the need for human capital."
Steven Ceulemans
President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District
How the BRHireD Program Works:
- Free Education and Training: The program will fund tuition for 100 local residents to complete Medical Assistant programs at Baton Rouge Community College and River Parishes Community College.
- Support Services for Student Success: In partnership with community-based organizations including Capital Area United Way 2-1-1, case management will be provided to help participants overcome common barriers like childcare, transportation, and financial hardship.
- Stipends and Incentives: Financial support will be provided throughout the program to help participants stay enrolled and transition successfully into the workforce.
- Committed Employer Partners: Five major hospitals—Baton Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake, Ochsner Baton Rouge, Woman's Hospital, and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center—have committed to hiring and supporting program graduates.
Community funding partners include Louisiana Blue Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, Capital Area United Way, and the City of Baton Rouge, along with matching contributions and support from the Baton Rouge Health District and its hospital members.
"This initiative gives Baton Rouge area residents a clear path to enter successful careers in healthcare," said Chris Meyer, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Chair of the Baton Rouge Health District Board. "It also helps streamline the pipeline for local hospitals to hire the talent they need to continue delivering quality care to the community."
By expanding the pipeline of trained healthcare workers, BRHireD will reduce pressure on overburdened hospital staff, improve patient care, and build long-term capacity for Baton Rouge's healthcare system. The program also lays the foundation for future expansion into healthcare career ladder opportunities, as well as other high-need healthcare roles. “This initiative tackles today’s urgent staffing shortages while creating a long-term framework for collaboration with our region’s leading healthcare providers,” said Michael Tipton, President of the Louisiana Blue Foundation. “It’s a smart, strategic investment that supports both our clinical partners and the future of healthcare in Baton Rouge.”
BRHireD is actively recruiting talent. In addition to completing a two-semester training program, ideal candidates are willing to work on-site in healthcare settings, perform both administrative and clinical tasks, and take pride in caring for and helping others. If you would like to learn more, please complete the interest form at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/brhired-interest-form.
About the Baton Rouge Health District
The Baton Rouge Health District is a place-based health collaborative that delivers health and economic development benefits to its partners, community, and beyond. This nonprofit coalition includes healthcare providers, government agencies, educational institutions, and research centers working together towards a shared vision of a high-performing destination for healthcare at the heart of a healthy and vibrant community. The District leads regional initiatives like BRHireD to align community efforts, improve access to care, and build a more sustainable healthcare workforce for the Capital Region. To learn more about the Baton Rouge Health District, visit the website at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/
About the H.E.R.O. Fund
Established in 2021 and updated with Louisiana State HB 329 (Act 607) in 2024, the Healthcare Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund provides matching grants to universities, technical colleges, healthcare systems, hospitals, agencies and associations working to grow the healthcare pipeline in Louisiana. The H.E.R.O. Fund is currently administered by the Louisiana Department of Health, it recently awarded $7 million in matching grants to 22 projects across the state of Louisiana. BRHireD is the largest of four awards in the Baton Rouge Region.
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