Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center

11/27/2025

We are thankful for you, Southwest Louisiana. Today and every day, we are thankful for the opportunity to support the health and well-being of our community.

On behalf of all of us here at SWLAHEC, we wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! SWLAHEC.org

11/25/2025

It’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and Well-Ahead Louisiana recently hosted a webinar to highlight prevention and awareness. Catch the replay to learn how to improve lung health. Watch now: https://youtu.be/rsbT0ggoe9w

11/25/2025

Let's face it - the holidays can be a stressful time of year. If you find yourself struggling with drugs or alcohol, know that you are not alone. Help is available.

Call us at 337-930-2286. We can help point you in the right direction so that you (or a loved one) can get the help you need. https://bit.ly/46LJV7Z

11/24/2025

Thank you to our St. Landry Parish community for making this year's Great American Smokeout so special! Last week, we visited markets across the parish and shared free to***co cessation resources with local residents.

‼️ If you missed us, you STILL have an opportunity to quit to***co. It's never too late. Get started by visiting QuitWithUsLA.org or calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Thank you, again, to our wonderful community partners:

🍗 Richard’s Soul Kitchen LLC
🍗 Ardoin’s Sausage Kitchen
🍗 Benny's Supermarket

11/24/2025

👋 Say hello to Kiandra Lewis! Kiandra has been with SWLAHEC for over 3 years, currently serving as our WIC Health Educator. She knows this program inside and out and serves as a wonderful resource for families across our community.

If you know Kiandra, you know she is a people person! She loves making her clients feel heard when it comes to their health needs.

Thank you, Kiandra, for all you do to support our community! SWLAHEC.org

11/21/2025

We LOVE being out and engaging with our community. Thank you to everyone who came out to our "Smoke Meat, Not To***co" event as we celebrated the Great American Smokeout! Together, we're building a healthier St. Landry Parish!

🎥 Thanks for visiting with us Paris Flannigan KATC-TV 3: Acadiana's Newschannel!

Local health leaders are hitting several popular Cajun food spots today to help residents kick the habit. Their message? Smoke the meat… not your lungs.

11/21/2025

Flu season is back and it's important to stay protected. While everyone should get vaccinated, the flu shot is especially important if you fall under one of these groups:

✔️ Are 65 years old or older
✔️ Are pregnant
✔️ Have a child under the age of 5
✔️ Have a chronic health condition

Need help finding a flu shot? We can help point you in the right direction. Give us a call at (337) 989-0001.

11/20/2025

When you explore rural communities across our region, you'll find the heart and soul of Southwest Louisiana. But we can't take these communities for granted - especially when it comes to healthcare.

As we celebrate National Rural Health Day, we are especially grateful for the Louisiana Rural Health Association, the Louisiana Primary Care Association and other stakeholders working to bring care to our rural communities.

At SWLAHEC, we are working to strengthen and sustain SWLA's healthcare workforce so that these rural communities can thrive long into the future. So, whether you live in Leesville or Lake Arthur (or any of the dozens of small towns in between), know that SWLAHEC is working to support YOU! Learn more about us: SWLAHEC.org

11/19/2025

Quitting to***co isn’t easy. It takes time and a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one.

Let the Great American Smokeout on November 20 start your journey toward a to***co-free life! https://bit.ly/46Gyw8m

11/18/2025

Did you know 9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital don't survive, and often, it's because bystander CPR wasn't performed?

Cardiac arrests can happen anywhere--at home, work, on the field, or in your neighborhood. Your readiness can be the difference between life and death.

Join the American Heart Association at the Acadiana Heart Walk on Saturday, November 22, at the City Club River Ranch in Lafayette.

Together, we can train more people in lifesaving CPR, support vital research and create more lifesaving moments for everyone in our community. https://bit.ly/3LK6sfc

11/18/2025

“Service to others will continue to drive my purpose.”

Meet Vashaun Rodgers, BSN, RN, CPTC, whose two decades of involvement with Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center (SWLAHEC) in Lafayette, Louisiana, have shaped both his career and his commitment to community.

Vashaun has partnered with SWLAHEC in roles ranging from community outreach educator to president of the Board of Directors.

He supported HIV and STI prevention efforts across the Acadiana region and worked directly with teens through the “Be A Responsible Teen” (BART) program, helping equip young people with skills for healthier decision-making.

These experiences, he says, strengthened his belief in staying engaged locally and mentoring the next generation. They also reinforced the values he carries into his work today: advocacy, empathy, understanding, and education.

Vashaun sees AHECs as essential connectors, linking emerging health professionals with the communities that need them and supporting programs that improve care now while preparing the workforce for tomorrow.

Thank you, Vashaun, for your longstanding dedication to SWLAHEC and for investing in the young people of your community.

11/17/2025

REMINDER: Tune in to our upcoming webinar: "Advancing Rural Health: Revenue, Reimbursement & Community Health Worker Impact"

📅 Tuesday, November 18
🕐 1:00 p.m.
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/48W28mB