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Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and UL Lafayette Launch Initiative to Assess Needs of Louisiana’s Veterans and Families

The Louisiana Center for Health Innovation (LCHI) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA), is leading a statewide initiative to assess the needs of Louisiana’s Veterans and their families. This effort is designed to gather vital information that will guide improvements in services and resources for Veterans across the state.

To ensure the voices of our Veteran community are heard, we’ve launched three surveys:

  • Veterans' Survey
  • Families of Veterans Survey
  • Veteran-Serving Organizations Survey

Each survey is designed to capture the real-life experiences and challenges faced by Veterans and their communities. The insights gathered will directly inform programming and long-term strategies to better support Louisiana’s Veterans and their loved ones.

We encourage all eligible individuals to participate before the survey closes on June 15, 2025.

Veterans' Survey

Families of Veterans Survey

Veteran-Serving Organizations Survey

For more information about the study:

English inquiries: Dr. Gabriela Wilson, gabriela.wilson@louisiana.edu, 337-482-0197

Spanish inquiries: Dr. Angie V. Sanchez, angie.sanchez@louisiana.edu, 337-482-0694

Veterans Assistance Councilors (VACs) in Louisiana by Parish:
For VA benefits assistance, please contact the Veterans Assistance Counselor in your parish.

East Baton Rouge Parish
Leketra Cole
1755 Florida Blvd, 3rd Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Leketra.cole@la.gov

Jefferson Parish
Craig Street
5001 West Bank Expressway, Suite C1, Marrero, LA 70072
Craig.street@la.gov

Orleans Parish
Brandi White
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, Yenni Building, Suite 337, Jefferson, LA 70123
Brandi.white@la.gov

St. Tammany Parish
Jeannie Hughes
1301 North Florida Street, Covington, LA 70433
Jeannie.hughes@la.gov

Lafayette Parish
William “David” Dean
War Memorial Building, Room 403B, 2100 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, LA 70501
William.dean@la.gov

Calcasieu Parish
Deborah Gray
PO Box 544, Lake Charles, LA 70602
Deborah.gray@la.gov

Caddo Parish
Kara Meek
1031 Cresswell Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71101
Kara.meek@la.gov

Bossier Parish
Ashley Robinson
2292 Barksdale Blvd, Bossier City, LA 71112
Ashley.robinson3@la.gov

Rapides Parish
Norman Bruce
730 Washington Street, Alexandria, LA 71301
Norman.bruce@la.gov

Ouachita Parish
Daniel Mabry
704 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA 71291
Daniel.mabry@la.gov

Vernon Parish
Holly Cyrus
408 West Fertitta Blvd, Suite C, Leesville, LA 71446
Holly.cyrus@la.gov

For Immediate Mental Health Support:
If you need someone to talk to, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 at 988 (Press 1) or by texting 838255. You can also visit the Veterans Crisis Line for additional support and resources.

For Ongoing Mental Health Assistance:
If you need help finding a mental health provider, you can call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). This line is free, private, and open all day, every day. TThey can help you or your family find support for mental health or substance use issues. Services are available in both English and Spanish. https://vetaffairs.la.gov/resource/veterans-crisis-line/