New Maternal Care Center
Louisiana's New R.I.S.E. Center Targets Maternal Mortality and Substance Use Disorders
Northeast Louisiana now has a first-of-its-kind, 60-bed residential treatment center for pregnant women and mothers struggling with addiction. PR Newswire reports that the Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) officially cut the ribbon on the Reaching Independence through Support & Education — or R.I.S.E. — Treatment Center in Monroe, Louisiana, on June 11, 2026. The center lets mothers stay with their children during recovery, a major break from traditional programs that force families apart.
The opening comes as Louisiana faces a dire maternal health crisis. Accidental overdose has been the leading cause of pregnancy-associated death in the state since 2018, according to WFMZ. A Louisiana Department of Health review found that 83% of the state's pregnancy-associated deaths were preventable. Louisiana also ranks 51st out of 52 states and territories in preterm birth rates, at 14.0%.
A Family-Centered Model Built to Keep Mothers and Children Together
The R.I.S.E. center was built around one core idea: mothers should not have to choose between getting help and keeping their children. The facility combines detox, OB/GYN care, and pediatric services under one roof. Dr. Peter Seidenberg of LSU Health Monroe called it a direct community need, saying, "The ability to take care of mothers and children together is an amazing opportunity for the community," according to PR Newswire.
NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer described the stakes plainly. "Across our region, far too many pregnant women struggle with untreated mental illness, addiction, OBGYN care, and a lack of stable support," he said. He added that R.I.S.E. "is more than a treatment center; it is a reflection of who we are, what we value, and what we believe Northeast Louisiana can become," PR Newswire reported.
Louisiana's Maternal Death Crisis Disproportionately Hits Black Women
Substance use played a role in 37% of all pregnancy-associated deaths in Louisiana, according to research cited by WFMZ. The crisis hits Black mothers hardest. Black women in Louisiana die at four times the rate of white mothers, per America's Health Rankings 2026 data. The R.I.S.E. center directly targets this disparity by serving the Northeast Louisiana region, where these gaps are most severe.
Many women previously avoided seeking help out of fear. Prenatal substance use in Louisiana can be reported to child protective services, risking custody loss or incarceration. The R.I.S.E. model was designed to offer a safe, medical alternative to that punitive system. It aims, as advocates say, to pull women "out of the shadows" and into care.
A High-Level Partnership and Rare Bipartisan Support Drove the Opening
The center was built through a partnership between NEDHSA, the Louisiana Department of Health, and Ochsner LSU Health – Monroe. The two health organizations signed a formal agreement in October 2024 to create integrated care services for pregnant women in Northeast Louisiana, PR Newswire reported. State Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews and State Representative Pat Moore were both present at the ribbon-cutting and helped clear funding and regulatory hurdles.
Bipartisan support was key to getting the doors open. Louisiana lawmakers passed SB 26, which removed a "facility needs review" requirement that had previously slowed the opening of opioid treatment centers across the state. A governor's proclamation, read at the ceremony, called the center a "significant investment in the health of Louisiana's communities and a shared commitment to recovery, resilience, and opportunity," according to PR Newswire.
R.I.S.E. Seen as a Statewide Model Worth Replicating and Scaling
State health officials hope R.I.S.E. becomes a template for other parts of Louisiana that lack maternal addiction care. The Louisiana Department of Health plans to use the Monroe facility as a pilot model for regions it calls "care deserts." Research from SAMHSA shows that early maternal addiction treatment returns between $2 and $10 for every dollar spent, in savings across healthcare, criminal justice, and education costs.
NEDHSA provided more than 23,000 integrated services in the fiscal year before R.I.S.E. opened, according to PR Newswire. Louisiana's legislature also advocated for $31 million in new Medicaid funding to raise addiction treatment reimbursement rates in the 2026 session. The R.I.S.E. center now stands as the most visible result of that push — a 60-bed answer to a crisis years in the making.
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