The recipient entity's physical address:
           1310 S Range Ave.
Denham Springs, LA 70726

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           1310 S. Range Ave.
Denham Springs, LA 70726

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  4614

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $25,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Mike Dougay
36375 Page Drive
Denham Springs, LA 70726

Jason Harris
458 Centerville St.
Denham Springs, LA 70726

Jody Purvis
27831 Horseshoe Rd.
Independence LA 70443

Angela Quirk
31875 Little Flock Cir
Walker, LA, USA 70785

David Smith
35120 Stonecastle Dr
Denham Springs, LA, USA 70706

Hannah Callandro
519 Florida Ave SW
Denham Springs, LA 70726

David Wascom
7277 Exchequer Dr
Baton Rouge, LA, USA 70809

Jama Scivicque
151 Cockerham Rd.
Denham Springs, LA 70726

Chantelle Varnado
30535 Colyell Creek Dr.
Denham Springs, LA 70726

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           This project is designed to reduce systemic barriers to pediatric healthcare access for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and Medicaid families in Louisiana’s Capital Region by expanding service delivery, strengthening care coordination, and addressing the real-world challenges that prevent families from fully engaging in therapy. Launch Therapy Center will implement a multifaceted approach that includes extended therapy hours, transportation support, telehealth expansion, and enhanced caregiver navigation training. The overarching goal is to decrease waitlists, improve attendance and continuity of care, and empower families to actively participate in their child’s developmental progress.

Families living below the ALICE threshold face significant and well-documented barriers to accessing timely pediatric therapy services. Currently, more than 400 children remain on Launch’s waitlist, with many waiting a year or longer for critical early intervention services such as speech, occupational, and physical therapy. These delays are not benign—research consistently demonstrates that early intervention is most effective when delivered during key developmental windows. When care is delayed, children are more likely to experience compounded developmental deficits, reduced school readiness, and long-term challenges that require more intensive and costly interventions later.

Barriers to access are particularly acute in Livingston Parish and surrounding rural areas, where transportation limitations, workforce shortages, and limited clinic hours disproportionately impact low-income families. Nearly 51% of Louisiana households fall below the ALICE threshold (United Way of Louisiana, 2022), meaning that while many parents are employed, they lack the financial flexibility to absorb costs associated with healthcare access, including transportation, time off work, and childcare for siblings. Additionally, Livingston Parish has one of the highest foster care incidence rates in the state, reflecting a population of children and families already experiencing elevated levels of instability, trauma, and unmet healthcare needs.

Even when families are able to access services, maintaining consistent attendance remains a challenge. Missed appointments are frequently tied to unreliable transportation, rigid work schedules, and competing family demands. These disruptions reduce therapeutic effectiveness and slow progress, ultimately prolonging the duration of care and increasing strain on both families and providers.

This project addresses these barriers through targeted, evidence-informed strategies. Expanded clinic hours, including evenings and weekends, will allow working families to attend therapy without sacrificing income or employment stability. Transportation support will reduce missed appointments and increase continuity of care. Telehealth services will extend reach into rural and underserved areas, providing flexible access for families unable to travel consistently. Integration of behavioral health services will address co-occurring needs such as trauma, caregiver stress, and emotional regulation, which are critical to successful therapeutic outcomes. Finally, caregiver navigation training will equip families with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to advocate for their children, follow through on home programs, and effectively engage with complex healthcare and educational systems.

Acting now is critical. Without intervention, existing access barriers will continue to widen health disparities, contribute to preventable hospitalizations, and limit children’s ability to reach their full developmental potential. By addressing both structural and individual-level challenges, this project will create a more equitable, accessible, and family-centered model of care—one that not only reduces waitlists and improves attendance but also strengthens long-term outcomes for children and families across the region.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $20,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The public purpose of this project is to improve access to essential pediatric healthcare services for children and families who face financial, geographic, and systemic barriers, particularly those living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold and those covered by Medicaid. By addressing gaps in access to early intervention therapies and related supports, this project seeks to improve health outcomes, reduce long-term public costs, and strengthen the overall well-being and productivity of Louisiana communities.

State investment will enable Launch Therapy Center to expand capacity and remove key barriers that prevent children from receiving timely care. These include long waitlists for therapy services, limited provider availability, transportation challenges, and scheduling constraints for working families. Currently, more than 400 children remain on the organization’s waitlist, with many waiting a year or longer for services. Delayed access to early intervention is associated with increased developmental delays, poorer educational outcomes, and a higher likelihood of requiring more intensive and costly services later in life, including special education, healthcare, and social services.

Through the use of state monies, this project will expand therapy hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate working caregivers and reduce missed appointments. It will support transportation solutions to ensure families can reliably access care, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The project will also integrate behavioral health services into pediatric therapy, addressing co-occurring needs such as trauma, caregiver stress, and emotional and developmental regulation, which are critical to achieving successful outcomes.

In addition, the project will expand telehealth capabilities, allowing providers to reach families who are unable to attend in person due to distance, transportation limitations, or scheduling conflicts. Telehealth also enhances continuity of care and supports families in implementing therapeutic strategies within the home environment. Caregiver navigation and training will be a core component, equipping families with the tools and knowledge needed to engage effectively in their child’s care, navigate complex healthcare and educational systems, and sustain progress outside of clinical settings.

This project serves a clear and compelling public purpose by promoting early identification and intervention, which are proven to reduce the need for more intensive and costly services in the future. By improving access and adherence to therapy, the project is expected to decrease preventable hospitalizations, reduce strain on emergency and crisis systems, and improve school readiness and long-term educational outcomes. These outcomes contribute to a healthier, more resilient population and a more efficient use of public resources.

Ultimately, the use of state monies will support a scalable, community-based model that reduces disparities in healthcare access, strengthens families, and ensures that children—regardless of income or circumstance—have the opportunity to reach their full developmental potential.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1: Reduce waitlists and increase timely access to care.

Decrease the current waitlist of over 400 children by at least 40% within 24 months.
Reduce average wait time for initial evaluation and therapy services from 12+ months to less than 3 months.
Increase the number of children served annually by expanding provider capacity and clinic hours.

Goal 2: Improve attendance and continuity of care.

Increase overall appointment attendance rates to at least 90% within 18 months.
Reduce no-show and cancellation rates by 25% through transportation support, flexible scheduling, and telehealth options.
Expand evening and weekend therapy hours to accommodate working caregivers and reduce missed appointments due to work conflicts.

Goal 3: Expand access through telehealth and transportation solutions.

Implement and scale telehealth services to serve at least 25% of eligible families, particularly in rural or underserved areas.
Provide transportation assistance to reduce access barriers, with a goal of supporting at least 150 families annually.
Improve geographic reach of services across the Capital Region, ensuring equitable access regardless of location.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           6 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 n/a

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               n/a


Contact Information
name:  Lauren Shuler 
                                       address:  1310 S. Range Ave.
Denham Springs, Louisiana 70726
                                       phone:  2253801894
                                       fax:  2253801896
                                       e-mail:  lauren@launchpeds.com
                                       relationship to entity:  Grant Manager