New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in the country, founded in 1718 at a sharp bend on the Mississippi River by French explorers. Its nickname, the “Crescent City,” is derived from its location along the bend in the Mississippi River. New Orleans’ distinctive culture arises from the amalgamation of its French, Spanish, African, Caribbean, and American settlers who created a unique city rooted in rich traditions of history, architecture, cuisine, and music. Strategically located at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a thriving international port that links mid-America to the Gulf of Mexico and the world.
The City of New Orleans is geographically contiguous with Orleans Parish and is bounded by the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. The city consists of a network of 73 distinct neighborhoods, distinguished by their history, architecture, and residents. Hurricane Katrina destroyed 80% of the city in 2005, creating a challenge to a very resilient population to rebuild their beloved city. In the years since Hurricane Katrina, some of the neighborhoods have been rebuilt and are thriving while others are still recovering. New Orleanians have overcome extreme adversity that has given rise to an engaged and vibrant community.
Tulane University School of Public Health and School of Medicine are pleased to bring the National Children’s Study to New Orleans. The Center for Applied Environmental Public Health (CAEPH) leads the implementation of the Study in New Orleans. Study partners include the Louisiana Public Health Institute, Louisiana Office of Public Health, and local hospitals and clinics. Battelle Memorial Institute provides logistic support. The Study is guided by our Community Advisory Board and by a partnership with Women With A Vision, Inc.
New Orleans is one of 30 Study Centers participating in the Vanguard Recruitment Pilot. The goals of the recruitment pilot are to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of three alternative strategies for recruitment, retention, and operations of the Study. The Tulane University Study Center is one of ten Centers participating in the Two-Tiered Recruitment Strategy (High Intensity/Low Intensity). In this strategy, potential participants are introduced to the Study through mass media, direct mail, and community outreach and engagement techniques. Participants enroll in a low intensity data collection effort which involves completion of brief questionnaires on a periodic basis. Some participants who live in randomly selected neighborhoods will be invited to join a higher intensity data collection effort which may include home and clinic visits in addition to completion of brief questionnaires.
We invite you to explore this Web site to learn more about the Study and ways to participate. Contact the Tulane University Study Center at 504-988-1627 or ncsnola@tulane.edu.
The Future Is Now
Women and their families in New Orleans can have a major impact on the health of future generations by joining the National Children’s Study, as well as helping their communities and country gain a better understanding of children’s health and development.