Hearings

Breaking Barriers: Improving Veterans’ Mental Health in Louisiana

August 14, 2025 09:00 AM CST Delgado Community College – City Park Campus, Student Life Center, Lac Ponchartrain Room, 2nd Floor, New Orleans, LA 70119 (See below for Directions and Map)

Agenda

                    WITNESS LIST

                       Panel One

Fernando O. Rivera, Director, Southeast Louisiana Healthcare System & Network Director, VISN16(Interim), Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

       Accompanied by:
                Catina McClain, MD, Chief Mental Health Officer, VISN 16, Veterans Health Administration

                Laurel Harlin, PhD, Chief, Psychology Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, Veterans Health Administration

The Honorable Charlton Meginley, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs

                      Panel Two

Dr. Cheryl Magee-Baker, Director, Hope Center, Inc.

Emily Meyers, LPC, Chief Executive Officer, Longbranch Recovery and Wellness

Jackson Smith, JD, Executive Director, Bastion Community of Resilience

Kirk Long, Former Chief Executive Officer, Crescent City Surgical Centre

Paul Hermann, Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans, Department of Louisiana

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Directions and Parking:

Delgado Community College - City Park Campus

Student Life Center (entrance on Navarre Avenue)

Lac Ponchartrain Room, 2nd Floor

615 City Park Avenue

New Orleans, LA 70119

• The Student Life Center (Building 23) is accessible via Navarre Avenue.

• Parking is available in the lot located between the Student Life Center and the Gayle and Tom Benson Athletic Complex (Building 20).

• Please refer to the attached campus map for details.

Testimony

  • Fernando O. Rivera

    Director, Southeast Louisiana Healthcare System & Network Director, VISN16 (Interim)
    Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
    Download File (154.47 KB)

  • The Honorable Charlton Meginley

    Secretary
    Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs
    Download File (301.53 KB)

  • Dr. Cheryl Magee-Baker

    Director
    Hope Center, Inc.
    Download File (154.71 KB)

  • Emily Meyers, LPC

    Chief Executive Officer
    Longbranch Recovery and Wellness
    Download File (130.74 KB)

  • Jackson Smith, JD

    Executive Director
    Bastion Community of Resilience
    Download File (82.67 KB)

  • Kirk Long

    Former Chief Executive Officer
    Crescent City Surgical Centre
    Download File (60.23 KB)

  • Paul Hermann

    Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans
    Department of Louisiana
    Download File (181.08 KB)

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