September 21 2007 - Essential Learning has been selected by the Louisiana Department of
Health and Hospitals (LDHH) to provide on-line training to 3,900 of its employees. Since hurricane Katrina, Louisiana
has experienced a shortage of professionals in the healthcare industry, affecting capacity to provide necessary
services to those who need it. This training effort will support the staff of LDHH in their challenging work.
Essential Learning is the largest provider of e-learning services in the human services industry and
will provide continuing education and required training for both the state-run and locally managed mental health
systems in Louisiana. The department's Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, Office of Addictive
Disorders, Office of Mental Health, as well as four state mental hospitals and an inpatient Developmental Center will
participate in this project.
"Our system will help the state develop consistency in training staff across the many regions and
parishes and save on training costs in an environment where resources are very tight," said Sue Erskine, CEO of
Essential Learning. "This project also presents a unique opportunity for state officials to track, measure and report
on training outcomes across the entire state," Erskine further adds.
According to Mr. William Payne, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals' Office
of Mental Health, "As our state transitions its mental health care system to locally run agencies, the Louisiana
Office of Mental Health will begin to serve a technical support role. The availability of Essential Learning is
therefore an important way we can support the further development of our work force across the state in their
knowledge of current evidence based practices."
LDHH provides extensive training and continuing education to staff in mental health, developmental
disabilities and addiction services as well as, the locally operated regions within the state. Essential Learning
will broaden the training opportunities available to staff through access to its extensive online library of more
than 300 courses. LDHH will collaborate on development of additional online training courses designed to meet the
unique requirements of the state.
Essential Learning was founded in 2002 and is based in San Diego, California. The company contracts
with more than 300 organizations in more than 41 states. For more information, visit
www.essentiallearning.com.
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