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Louisiana Policy Institute for Children appoints Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Netto as new Executive Director

6/24/2019

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Dr. Libbie Sonnier-Netto, an expert with extensive experience in the field of  early childhood, is the new Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC). 

Dr. Sonnier-Netto replaces Melanie Bronfin, an attorney who founded and led LPIC to a leadership position as the state’s foremost authority on early care and education policy by linking academic performance of children to the state’s lack of quality early care, as well as extensively documenting the cost of workplace issues associated with this issue.

“Libbie already has a history with LPIC, thanks to her leadership roles in Louisiana’s education network. Her research skills and extensive knowledge of Louisiana’s educational offerings for children aged 0-4 years have aided our efforts for years and helped us bring attention and action from state leaders to this issue,” said Ms. Bronfin.

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"The Committee of 100, chamber and other business leaders know that Dr. Sonnier-Netto will continue to build on the strong relationship established between employers, corporate decision-makers and LPIC,” said Committee of 100 CEO Michael Olivier. “This relationship is built on strong dialogue and quality research, two traits Libbie has already demonstrated she has."

Dr. Sonnier-Netto assumes directing the strategic mission of the non-profit organization. She said, “This legislative session, I worked side-by-side with Melanie and the partners she has brought to the table from throughout the state to bring needed attention and action to Louisiana's early care and education network. I am humbled to be following in her steps, and to build upon the Policy Institute’s mission and to work with our partners in improving the life chances of children by continuing to focus on outcomes and measurable progress."

Dr. Sonnier-Netto received her Doctor of Philosophy in human development from Virginia Tech. Under the mentorship of world-renowned scholars, Drs. Sharon and Craig Ramey, Dr. Sonnier-Netto'sdissertation involved the 5thdecade follow-up of the Abecedarian Project “babies” who are now in middle-age.

Additionally, she earned a Master of Education in early childhood intervention and family support services from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Dr. Sonnier-Netto began her career as an early childhood interventionist working with families who had children with developmental disabilities. She has led teams of individuals in system-wide initiatives for the betterment of children, families, caregivers, and practitioners. Dr. Sonnier-Netto served as a state director of two federal programs managing multi-million-dollar budgets as well as developing and implementing pilot programs for children birth to age five in four states, including Louisiana, across multiple agencies and community partners to improve the efficiency and efficacy of direct services for children and their families. 

“Her experiences conducting longitudinal and experimental research allow Libbie to translate scientific findings into meaningful and practical policy implications that support better life outcomes for children, as well as make the need understandable for broad audiences,” said Ms. Bronfin.

Dr. Sonnier-Netto is a co-author of multiple research publications in the areas of child development and learning capabilities, and is a licensed educator with specialties in special education, early education interventions and learning disabilities. She is a member of the Society for Research in Child Development,  the American Educational Research Association, the International Society on Early Intervention, the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Council on Family Relations.

“Libbie’s background will only strengthen what we have been able to accomplish in the past five years in improving access by Louisiana families to high quality early care and education programs for their young children,” added LPIC Board President Gwen Hamilton. “The Board of LPIC was very much interested in finding a person who could build upon the incredible history established by Ms. Bronfin. Libbie so perfectly provided that measure and caliber of expertise. We're confident that the road ahead will be navigated well under her leadership.

Ms. Bronfin will continue to serve as a Policy Advisor to LPIC. 

Media: for release or photo, contact Devin Johnson at bcodevin@aol.com or call 504.881-3273

To contact Dr. Sonnier-Netto: lsonniernetto@policyinstitutela.org
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FOUR WINDS TRIBE LOUISIANA CHEROKEE TAKE COURT ACTION AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS

6/19/2019

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The Four Winds Tribe Louisiana Cherokee, through its attorneys at Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson, LLP and the Winch Law Firm, L.L.C., filed a lawsuit this week against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation, said Attorney Ralph Alexis. 

The Four Winds lawsuit is the most recent filed by a Tribal Government and joins more than 100 pending suits by other Tribes. The filing underscores the nationwide show of Tribal solidarity in stepping forward and taking necessary legal action to end the opioid epidemic plaguing Native American Tribal populations, according to Mr. Alexis.

There are currently more than 2000 lawsuits filed across the nation against the opioid manufacturers and distributors, many of which have been aggregated in a Multi-District Litigation proceeding in Cleveland, Ohio, before U.S. District Judge Dan Polster. The lawsuits also focus on the distributors’ violation of the Controlled Substances Act by their failing to report unusual patterns associated with certain opioid purchases and use. 

The Louisiana Tribe’s attorneys point to the fact that there have been on-the-record admissions of wrongdoing by some of the defendant manufacturers and distributors of opioids. 

Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson and the Winch Law Firm are part of a national leadership team of attorneys and medical experts called the Opioid Justice Team, which has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, hospitals, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent and exposed babies, and Native American Tribes, all of which have borne extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic.

The team alleges that civil lawsuits brought against the pharmaceutical drug manufacturers, opioid drug distributors and/or wholesalers, are the only way to remedy the prescription opioid drug epidemic.

“The documented facts show that pharmaceutical manufacturers deceptively marketed their opioid products by exaggerating the benefits of opioids and byintentionally downplayingthe extremely addictive nature of opioids,” said co-counsel Ralph Alexis of Porteous, Hainkel and Johnson. “And it is well established that the Opioid Crisis has disproportionately affected Native Americans,” said co-counsel Justin Winch of the Winch Law Firm.

The suit seeks to create long-term solutions to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic.
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For more information contact: Ralph Alexis, ralexis@phjlaw.com, (504) 581-3838 or Justin Winch, justin.winch@winchlawfirm.com, (504) 214-3400.
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OPIOID JUSTICE TEAM MOVES AGGRESSIVELY TO PROTECT NAS BABIES

6/18/2019

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OPIOID EXPOSED AND DEPENDENT BABIES SEEK REPRESENTATION ON INSYS CREDITORS COMMITTEE IN DELAWARE TOMORROW

TWO-THIRDS OF ALL BABIES EXPOSED OR DEPENDENT ON OPIOIDS SINCE BIRTH NOW REPRESENTED IN CLASS ACTIONS FILED IN 34 STATES
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ALLEGIANCE HEALTH MANAGEMENT ADDS ALL LOUISIANA CARE CENTERS TO SUIT AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS FILED YESTERDAY IN MINDEN

6/14/2019

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For more information contact: Mark Stein (mstein@lowestein.com)  504-581-2450; Craig Williams [craig@mandwlegal.com] - (318) 963-5980

Update: As of June 14, this care provider has added all its Louisiana facilities to this suit. These facilities are: The Carpenter Hospice of Northwest Louisiana; St. Joseph Hospice; St. Joseph Hospice of Acadiana; St. Joseph Hospice of Bayou Region; St. Joseph Hospice of Cenla; St. Joseph Hospice and Palliative Care of Monroe; Grace Hospice of New Orleans; St. Joseph Hospice & Palliative Care-Northshore; St. Joseph Hospice of Southwest Louisiana; Stat Home Health of Northwest Louisiana; Stat Home Health of Southwest Louisiana; Homedica of Louisiana, LLC; Companion Home Services; NOLA SJH II; Stat Home Health Of Southeast Louisiana, LLC. Additionally Allegiance Health Management facilities from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Texas will be included. For more information, contact Mark Stein, Lowe & Stein, et al at (504) 581-2450.

JUNE 14, 2019 Allegiance Health Management has added all its Louisiana facilities, as well as similar health care centers in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas, to a lawsuit filed yesterday by Minden Medical Center which seeks a jury trial for unreimbursed damages it has incurred due to America’s manufactured prescription opioid epidemic, announced Counselors Craig Williams of Marioneaux & Williams and Mark Stein of Lowe, Stein, Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver New Orleans.    

Access the original filed lawsuit here.

Here is the updated lawsuit
.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, is part of a nationwide effort by a legal-medical partnership seeking damages for hospitals and emergency rooms impacted by the opioid epidemic. It makes claims of deceptive practices and racketeering by America’s drug industry.

The suit seeks to recover monetary losses they have incurred treating adults and opioid-dependent born children. The suit is against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation. 
The suit seeks to create a long-term solution to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic. 
Said Attorney Mark Stein, “Hospital damages during the last five years will increase exponentially and will continue to do so. Inpatient care due to opioid use was estimated at $700 million in 2002. By 2012, that number grew to $15 billion. And the estimates for 2017 exceed $25 billion. The cost of an opioid-related adult ICU admission rose from an average of $58,517 to $92,408 between 2009 and 2015. The in-depth analysis we and our experts have undertaken with hospitals like Minden establishes historic damages.”
 
The Opioid Justice Team has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of counties, parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent babies, and Native American Tribes for extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic. Find more information at www.opioidjusticeteam.com
 
 
The Opioid Justice Team media contact: 
C. Brylski/D. Johnson (504) 897-6110
 
 
 

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MINDEN MEDICAL CENTER GOES TO COURT AGAINST OPIOID MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS, SEEKING JURY TRIAL

6/13/2019

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JUNE 13, 2019 (Minden, Louisiana) Minden Medical Center which serves the residents of Webster Parish in Louisiana filed suit today in federal court, seeking a jury trial for unreimbursed damages it has incurred due to America’s manufactured prescription opioid epidemic, announced Counselors Craig Williams of Marioneaux & Williams and Mark Stein of Hoffman, Allweiss & Hauver New Orleans.    

The suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana is part of a nationwide effort by a legal-medical partnership seeking damages for hospitals and emergency rooms impacted by the opioid epidemic. It makes claims of deceptive practices and racketeering by America’s drug industry.

Mr. Williams is also representing the Parish of DeSoto in making similar claims against prescription opioid manufacturers, distributors and marketers for creating a public health problem in that area.

“The question for Minden Medical is not whether to become involved in opioid litigation, since America’s hospitals already are. The question is whether we wanted our own seat at the table to determine the fate of our own claims and be the master of our own future,” said Mr. Williams.

Minden Medical Center seeks to recover monetary losses they have incurred treating adults and opioid-dependent born children. The suit is against America’s pharmaceutical industry for knowingly mislabeling and misrepresenting opiate-based drugs and creating a spiraling addiction crisis across the nation. 

The suit seeks to create a long-term solution to help deal with the medical, social and legal issues related to the epidemic. Minden Medical Center is part of the Allegiance Health Management system which operates 12 hospitals in Louisiana.

Said Attorney Mark Stein, “Hospital damages during the last five years will increase exponentially and will continue to do so. Inpatient care due to opioid use was estimated at $700 million in 2002. By 2012, that number grew to $15 billion. And the estimates for 2017 exceed $25 billion. The cost of an opioid-related adult ICU admission rose from an average of $58,517 to $92,408 between 2009 and 2015. The in-depth analysis we and our experts have undertaken with hospitals like Minden establishes historic damages.”
 
The Opioid Justice Team has filed a number of lawsuits, including class actions, on behalf of counties, parishes, cities, non-profit health providers, drug rehab centers, opioid-dependent babies, and Native American Tribes for extensive unreimbursed costs caused by the opioid epidemic. Find more information at www.opioidjusticeteam.com

 
The Opioid Justice Team media contact: 
C. Brylski/D. Johnson (504) 897-6110
 
Filed Complaint 
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FINALLY! State Budget Increases Funds for Early Childcare and Education

6/13/2019

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For the first time in nearly a decade, more Louisiana working families will have crucial support in sending their children to a quality Early Care and Education Center thanks to a Governor and Legislative-supported budget which includes an $18.8 million increase for ECCE programing and seats, announced Executive Director Melanie Bronfin, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children.

“This is a huge win for families in our state and the reward for a unified voice from business, education, community, non-profit and citizen advocates who spoke up loudly and forcibly,” said Ms. Bronfin. “It’s a very important first step in securing the level of support Louisiana families truly need to be able to afford access to high quality early care and education for our youngest citizens.”
The breakdown of the $18.8 million in new funding for Early Child Care and Education (ECCE) is as follows:

NEW STATE Funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) for children birth through age 3;
o  $2.3 million to raise the state investment rates for the current 15,000 seats (as Louisiana is under corrective action by the federal government to do so).
o  $8.9 million for CCAP slots at the new funding rate, to serve an additional 1450 children on the CCAP waitlist. 
NEW STATE Funding to sustain the current level of the Pre-K Program for 4-year-olds:  
o  $4 million for 800 Pre-K seats for 4-year-olds to replace federal grant funding ending this school year. 
POTENTIAL NEW FUNDING of $3.6 million to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Trust Fund if Harrah’s casino revenues in New Orleans are greater than $60 million.
 
Additionally, legislation by Representative Neil Abramson (HB 560) was passed that could potentially create a dedicated, if unpredictable, funding stream for ECCE by dedicating three percent of an excise tax on each retail sale of industrial hemp-derived CBD products within the state of Louisiana to the Early Childhood Education Trust Fund. 
But while new dollars are finally starting to flow to support children birth to 4 in Louisiana, a sizable gap in need yet remains, Ms. Bronfin warned. Even with the 1450 children off the CCAP waitlist and into ECCE centers, there remains 4050 children on the waitlist who meet the criteria for support, but are unfunded, and the $15 million in new money falls far short of the $86 million needed annually as projected by the state ECE Commission report for birth to 3-year-old’s alone.

“I’m really proud of Governor John Bel Edwards and the bi-partisan support from Legislators in both houses for finding new dollars to start closing the CCAP gap,” said Ms. Bronfin. “We know what the level of need is, we know the cost, and we know the societal and economic benefit gained from establishing access to high quality public ECCE seats.

“But it was the relentless fact-finding done by our statewide Ready Louisiana Coalition for early education funding, the leadership of individual legislators who worked with the Department of Education, the Commission studies and our educators and parents who stood with the Louisiana Policy Institute and parents for years to show that this decrease in attention to our youngest minds was linked to our youngest students’ ability to learn and succeed. We are grateful and remain determined to correct this funding and quality service deficit for our families.”

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