The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter

Leading the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

About Our Chapter

The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter was founded in April, 2005 to serve the needs of those living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and their caregivers. The Chapter began providing a monthly support group meeting in Jackson, Mississippi in May of 2008 to support the patients and families in the state, and officially expanded its territory to include the state of Mississippi in late 2009.

The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS. The organization covers all the bases — research, patient and community services, public education, and advocacy — in providing help and hope to those facing the disease. The ALS Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The ALS Association (National Office and the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter) operates under a shared mission: to lead the fight to cure and treat ALS through global, cutting-edge research, and to empower people with Lou Gehrig’s disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support.

We work together to accomplish our mission. The Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter focuses primarily on helping local patients and families living with ALS while the National Office focuses primarily on research and national advocacy. The Chapter supports the National Office through revenue sharing and research contributions. The National Office supports the Chapters by providing up-to-date information and materials.

Our accomplishments are made possible by the generosity of others. From the smallest donation to the largest gift, donors touch the ALS community with hope for the future.

Today, the Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter “covers all the bases” with the following services: • Maintaining a Durable Medical Equipment Loan Closet • Respite Care Program – gives family caregiver an opportunity to take a much-needed break from the daily care that is being provided for a loved one. • Support Group Meetings – six monthly support group meetings throughout Louisiana; and three throughout Mississippi • Offering ALS resources and a library of information such as books and videos. • Distributing our eNewsletter and maintaining our Website • Promoting Advocacy on both local and national levels • Patient Care Support Fund - The Patient Care Support Fund assists patients with ALS to live in their home during the disease progression and utilize natural family supports. • Kids Care Program – provides children with materials to learn about ALS • Maintaining and further Developing a Public Awareness/Education Program • Baton Rouge Credit Bureau Clinic Transportation Program – provides wheelchair accessible van transportation for patients to attend the ALS Multi-Disciplinary Clinic in Lafayette • Multi-disciplinary ALS Clinic – The ALS Multi-Disciplinary Clinic at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, LA will treat the disease with symptomatic relief, prevention of complications, and maintenance of optimal independence.