Spotlights

HDC Spotlight: Liz Gary

Trainees in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program are generally knowledgeable about their respective disciplines. However, many don’t realize the ways in which public policies directly affect families and individuals with disabilities (IWD). As the Policy Coordinator for the Human Development Center and Louisiana LEND program, Liz Gary educates LEND trainees on policy and helps them feel comfortable connecting with elected officials and policymakers. Liz teaches trainees to remain neutral while educating elected officials and policymakers about the perspectives and priorities of the disability community. That is, LEND trainees do not directly advocate; rather, they provide elected officials and policymakers with the information related to how public policies and/or legislation may impact members of the disability community.

Employee Spotlight: Brandy Brooks, MSW, RSW

“To help families build a solid foundation, we must give them the tools and resources to build. That is what we do with the Early Head Start Child Care Partnership at the LSUHSC Human Development Center.”

– Brandy Brooks, MSW, RSW

State Spotlight: Louisiana’s Collaborative Emergency Response

Join Mark A. Thomas, the Deputy Secretary for Louisiana’s Department of Health and Julie Foster Hagan, the Assistant Secretary for the
Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities also at Louisiana’s Department of Health. This podcast focuses on Louisiana’s emergency response both within the I/DD system and the larger departmental and state responses in Louisiana. Did previous emergency responses position the system to better respond during COVID-19? How do state agencies work as one effective system to serve the community? Find out more about the unique and universal challenges in this state’s crisis response.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN OR GRAB THE LINK TO SHARE: https://soundcloud.com/user-27965428-561770656/state-spotlight-louisianas-collaborative-emergency-response