Baton Rouge Health District Awarded $2 Million to Strengthen Local Healthcare Workforce

BATON ROUGE, La., June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Baton Rouge Health District has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Care Employment Reinvestment Opportunity (H.E.R.O.) Fund, along with $1 million in matching contributions from partners, to expand its BRHireD regional workforce initiative, focused on addressing critical healthcare staffing shortages in the Louisiana Capital Region. This $2 million investment supports an unprecedented regional coalition of 14 partners.

Health Education and Workforce is a focus area for the Baton Rouge Health District. The BRHireD project will build on an ongoing employer-driven health workforce coalition developed by the Health District, as well as ongoing shared workforce recruitment efforts between area health institutions. "This investment is about more than job training; it is about building a stronger, healthier Baton Rouge through collaboration and synergy," said Steven Ceulemans, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Health District. "We are working as a regional coalition of 14 H.E.R.O. partners to take action on one of the most prominent challenges faced by our area hospitals: the need for human capital."

Over the next 24 months, BRHireD will recruit, train, and place 100 nursing support professionals into jobs at Baton Rouge's leading hospitals. The program will offer free education and training, support services for student success, stipends and incentives, and committed employer partners at 5 regional health systems including Baton Rouge General, Our Lady of the Lake, Ochsner Health, Woman's Hospital, and Mary Bird Perkins.

Community funding partners include Louisiana Blue Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Huey and Angelina Wilson Foundation, Capital Area United Way, and the City of Baton Rouge, along with matching contributions and support from the Baton Rouge Health District and its hospital members.

"This initiative gives Baton Rouge area residents a clear path to enter successful careers in healthcare," said Chris Meyer, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Chair of the Baton Rouge Health District Board. "It also helps streamline the pipeline for local hospitals to hire the talent they need to continue delivering quality care to the community."

By expanding the pipeline of trained healthcare workers, BRHireD will reduce pressure on overburdened hospital staff and build long-term capacity for Baton Rouge's healthcare system. "This initiative tackles today's urgent staffing shortages while creating a long-term framework for collaboration with our region's leading healthcare providers," said Michael Tipton, President of the Louisiana Blue Foundation. "It's a smart, strategic investment that supports both our clinical partners and the future of healthcare in Baton Rouge."

BRHireD is actively recruiting talent. In addition to completing a two-semester training program, ideal candidates are willing to work on-site in healthcare settings, perform both administrative and clinical tasks, and take pride in caring for and helping others. If you would like to learn more, please complete the interest form at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/brhired-interest-form.

About the Baton Rouge Health District
The Baton Rouge Health District is a place-based health collaborative that delivers health and economic development benefits to its partners, community, and beyond. To learn more about the Baton Rouge Health District, visit the website at https://www.brhealthdistrict.com/ 

Contact:
Steven Ceulemans
225-763-2818
[email protected] 

SOURCE Baton Rouge Health District