Good health is crucial.  It directly affects poverty, education, employment, and economic development.

High rates of poverty, obesity, and diabetes contribute to Mid South residents having a lower life expectancy than others in the nation. The decline in health status can also be attributed to the lack of access to health services and unhealthy behaviors.  For example, it is estimated that 40% of the youth in the Mid South are obese, which eventually leads to the region's high number of deaths caused by diabetes.

We believe that good health –which is both physical and mental –is crucial to the prosperity of the Mid South. We view health as an asset that enables people to learn to the best of their abilities and improve their economic situations. 

Focus of Our Work

Our goal is to improve health in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi by empowering communities and residents to take ownership and action to improve their own health.

We support activities that promote healthy behaviors leading to the reduction of obesity and diabetes.

We invest in increasing mental health awareness and access to services.

We seek to expand access to health services, emphasizing the use of technology to serve rural communities.

The Foundation for the Mid South believes that individual and community well-being includes both physical and mental health and solutions require more than simply increasing the numbers of physicians, nurses, and clinics.

Our efforts are guided by three strategies:

Promoting healthy behaviors

We support community-driven strategies to improve health, emphasizing activities to reduce obesity and diabetes and increase access to nutritious foods.

Increasing mental health awareness

In our efforts to promote a comprehensive view of health, we seek opportunities to engage communities in raising mental health awareness and increasing access to services.

Expanding access to health services

We invest in efforts that enable greater numbers of people to access health care services, particularly in rural communities and areas lacking adequate health services.  Our focus is on both access to health clinics as well as access to health services via technology.

Each of our strategies promotes better mental and physical health and wellness in the region. 

• Expanded the number of community playgrounds that provide safe space and equipment for physical activity in the region.
   
• Engaged the faith community in sharing information on nutrition and healthy eating.
   
• Over 16,000 youth and adults enriched their lives with mental health services.
   
• Innovative delivery of health information to thousands in community settings and institution, such as museums, cultural and community events, and faith-based organizations.
   
• Invested in the first neonatal unit in the Delta that provides convenient access to care to over 5,000 rural residents in the region.