Healthy Communities is an LSU AgCenter initiative that uses evidence-based public health approaches to make Louisiana towns healthier places to live, work, and play. Local residents decide what the important issues are and come up with possible solutions. The community works together to make healthy foods accessible and affordable, and ensure that outdoor physical activity is safe, accessible, and fun for all.

What We Do

Our team works directly with communities to make policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes that will result in long-term, sustainable solutions to health challenges that our communities face. We work on improving both nutrition and physical activity environments through projects like:

• Technical assistance for Farmers markets
• Produce Rx and Food is Medicine Programs
• Healthy nutrition standards in schools, food pantries, and churches
• Community and school gardens
• Exercise stencils and fitness signage in public spaces like parks, playgrounds, and libraries
• Technical assistance related to the development of local Complete Streets plans and policy implementation
  • Walkability & bikeability improvements along routes to everyday destinations like grocery stores and schools
• Facilitated discussions with Youth coalitions focused on community health

Our Research Approach

The Healthy Communities team conducts research that helps Louisiana communities create environments where healthy choices are easier, more accessible, and more sustainable. Our work centers on qualitative research and implementation science, allowing us to understand not only what works, but why it works and how communities can successfully put evidence‑based strategies into practice.

Qualitative Research

We use interviews, focus groups, community conversations, and observational methods to deeply understand local experiences, needs, barriers, and strengths. This approach ensures that resident voices guide every stage of our work—from identifying priorities to shaping interventions that fit each community’s unique context.

Implementation Science

Our team studies how health‑promoting programs, policies, and environmental changes are adopted, adapted, and sustained in real‑world settings. By examining the processes behind successful implementation, we help local coalitions, partners, and stakeholders:

• Build capacity
• Strengthen collaboration
• Overcome practical barriers
• Improve long‑term sustainability

Together, these research approaches allow us to design, support, and evaluate community‑driven solutions that advance health equity across Louisiana.

Why We Do It

According to America's Health Rankings, Louisiana ranks last in the United States in terms of health outcomes. With an obesity rate of 35.9% and a physical inactivity rate of 31.9%, Louisiana's residents suffer disproportionately from preventable obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. These preventable diseases can negatively impact individuals' physical and mental health (Obesity, 2020). We want to address the root causes of obesity to improve quality of life for all Louisiana residents.

Using the Socio-Ecological Model, our initiative seeks partnerships with schools, elected officials, community members, faith-based organizations and other community stakeholders to deliver evidence-based interventions to influence the complex determinants of health. By partnering with local communities, we aim to continuously improve both the physical and social environments that influence our health.

Socio-Ecological Model

Governmental regulations, laws and built environment (public works, infrastructure, etc.)

Relationships and communications between organizations and institutions

Schools, health care, businesses, faith‑based organizations and institutions

Individual relationships, support groups, social networks and cultural contexts\

Individual attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and behaviors

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Here's our approach.

Step 1: Get to know your community by assessing its needs. What resources are already available? Which parts of the community are underserved?

Step 2: Host a community forum to guide your efforts. Give your community a voice by gathering input from the public.

Step 3: Form a Healthy Communities coalition. If there is already an existing coalition, join the effort to improve the health of your community.

Step 4: Address your community's needs. Pool your coalition's resources to make changes according to the needs identified by the community.

To find out how you can get involved, visit our Become a Partner page or reach out to us at healthycommunities@agcenter.lsu.edu.