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Taijah Growe, 21, enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette intent on pursing an education that would enable her to parlay an empathetic disposition into a career helping others.
“I’ve always been a good listener, and people have always talked to me about things that were bothering them. I find that rewarding,” she said.
Growe, who is from New Orleans, will earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UL Lafayette during the College of Liberal Arts’ Commencement ceremony at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Cajundome. Individual Fall 2021 Commencement ceremonies for the University’s eight academic colleges and Graduate School will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Cajundome and the Cajundome Convention Center.
Growe, who minored in business, began considering a career as a mental health counselor in middle school. Private practice, however, is no longer the plan. During her time at UL Lafayette, Growe decided she will use her academic foundation in psychology at a college or university.
Following graduation, Growe intends to pursue a master’s degree in education – with a concentration in higher education administration. She is considering graduate schools in several states.
“My long-term goal is to work with students, helping them get through college, grow as leaders, get involved, become well-rounded. That’s important, because college is about more than simply school,” Growe said.
It’s a dynamic she experienced firsthand as part of the Louisiana Educate Program. The program is in place to help academically accomplished, lower-income students remain in college; it’s funded with a blend of private gifts, institutional grants, and federal and state financial aid.
LEP is also designed to get students like Growe, who will become its first graduate on Saturday, heavily involved in campus activities and organizations. Students accepted into the program are required to have work-study jobs on campus, meet structured study hall requirements, live on campus, join student organizations, and complete internships.
Growe was accepted into the Louisiana Educate Program among an inaugural cohort of 43 students that enrolled in the University in Fall 2018. The program has since grown to 98 students. “It has enhanced my academic experience. Getting more involved definitely helped with my social skills and time management,” she explained.
Growe’s achievements illustrate the point.
She earned a 3.43 GPA while being heavily involved in campus organizations and activities. Growe served as a counselor for the Office of Orientation’s Soul Camp, and was a peer mentor for Office of First-Year Experience’s UNIV 100, which is in place to help high school students transition to campus life. She was a member of the National Society for Leadership and Success and the campus chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving as recording secretary and fundraising chair. As part of her Louisiana Educate Program work-study job, Growe tutored fellow students in psychology courses, and provided advice about considerations such as time management and study habits.
She said accepting her diploma will be “bittersweet,” because while she’s anxious to get on to the next chapter of her life, “I love the program and the people I’ve met.”

BATON ROUGE – The Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted approval for Louisiana Medicaid to launch Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option, or TEFRA, effective January 1, 2022. This program allows certain children under 19 years of age with disabilities to receive Medicaid coverage, regardless of parental income.
The TEFRA option disregards family income for children with disabilities who meet specific criteria, so they may qualify for Medicaid to cover the services they need to grow and thrive while living at home.
To qualify, children must have a disability that is recognized under the definition utilized in the Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Administration and must meet basic Medicaid and institutional level-of-care requirements. Additionally, their care must cost less at home than in an institution.
“In our work each day within the Louisiana Department of Health, our goal is to help individuals receive care in a safe setting of their choice. We are grateful for both of our legislators and to CMS for approval to offer an option allowing children to remain in their homes to receive care that will help them thrive,” said LDH Secretary Dr. Courtney N. Phillips.
“This is a great day for families with children with disabilities in Louisiana,” said Rep. Dodie Horton. “TEFRA will allow these children to avoid long stays in hospitals and get the care they need while living at home in the comfort of their family and friends.”
“We are excited about this new program and the significant impact it will have on our working families and children with disabilities to help make their lives easier while providing much-needed services,” said Rep. Dustin Miller. “Thanks to all of our stakeholders and other community partners for working with us to help move this forward.”
“Good health insurance often only covers a small portion of what children with disabilities need. This puts working families in a terrible predicament. Families can’t quit their jobs to get help. And they can’t help their kids without jobs," said Ashley McReynolds, Parent and Program Director at The ARC of Louisiana. "TEFRA will be such a huge help in assisting families with the extraordinary cost of raising a child with a disability.”
Applications for the TEFRA program may be submitted beginning January 1, 2022. Applicants must complete four steps which include 1) Medicaid Application, 2) Level of Care Assessment at your Local Governing Entity, 3) Disability Determination, and 4) Enrollment/Service Coverage through a Healthy Louisiana plan.
Consideration for Act 421 coverage will not occur before January 1, 2022. Anyone applying before that date will only be considered for existing Medicaid programs. Visit http://www.ldh.la.gov/act421 for additional information and answers to frequently asked questions.

Mayor Mark Piazza and the Abbeville City Council have declared January 7, 2022, as Catherine Brookshire Blanchet Day.
In the 1940s, Catherine documented songs and round dances in French by recording school children and adults when she was the music supervisor of Vermilion Parish Schools. She dedicated the rest of her life to teaching and sharing this treasury.
On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the descendants of the people she recorded, her students, and the community are invited to the Vermilion Parish Public Library to remember Catherine, to sing and dance. The goal is to pass on these traditions to a new generation.
This public event is sponsored by the Acadian Museum of Erath, aided by the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and funded with support from the Louisiana Folklore Society, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Louisiana Division of the Arts and the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.

Proclamation for Catherine Adelaide Brookshire Blanchet

Below is the proclamation signed last Friday by Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza:

WHEREAS, Catherine Adelaide Brookshire was born on April 20, 1921 in Kaplan the only child of C.H. (Harry) Brookshire and Julia Jacob Brookshire; and

WHEREAS, upon graduating from Kaplan High School she attended Tulane University’s Newcomb College, earning a degree in music; and

WHEREAS, during WWII Catherine joined the American Red Cross, and was stationed in Key West, Florida and taught adult literacy and volunteered for Tuberculosis Association, Easter Seals, American Cancer Society to name a few; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Newcomb College, Catherine realized that the rich culture of South Louisiana was in danger of being lost due to assimilation. She became determined to help preserve and perpetuate that heritage. She travelled to remote areas of Vermilion Parish and recorded adults singing ballads in their homes. She was taught how to use a spinning wheel, weave, and raised brown cotton for use in spinning and weaving; and

WHEREAS, in 1950 Catherine married R. Edward Blanchet. In 1970 they decided to open the Blanchet School. At the Blanchet School Catherine established Acadian Assembly, a group of students who performed traditional Acadian music and dance including dances from Les Danses Rondes; and

WHEREAS, in 1955, with Maria Del Norte, she published Les Danses Rondes, a collection of Acadiana folk songs and round dances. In 1984 at the Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans she demonstrated traditional Acadiana Crafts; and

WHEREAS, she enrolled in the USL School of Music, earning a Master’s degree in Musicology, publishing her thesis: Louisiana French Folk Songs Among Children in Vermilion Parish 1942 to 1954; and

WHEREAS, in 1996 Catherine received the Lifetime Achievement Award from CODIFIL for her work in perpetuating Acadian Culture; and

WHEREAS, in 2019 Catherine received the ICON Arts and Cultural Awards, posthumously, as a Trailblazer for inspiring others to study our history and heritage, organizing musical festivals, always promoting Acadian folk songs, and for being an early advocate of French language education in public schools; and
Now, Therefore, I, Mark Piazza, Mayor of the City of Abbeville and the Abbeville City Council Declare
January 7, 2022
Catherine Adelaide Brookshire Blanchet Day

In honor of all that Catherine contributed to our community and Vermilion Parish in preserving our unique heritage through music, dance and education

ABBEVILLE – Funeral services for Ella (Jane) Landry, 83, will be held Friday December 17, 2021, at 1:00 PM at St. Theresa Catholic Church with Father Francois Sainte-Marie Pastor of St. Theresa Catholic Church officiating.
Visitation will be held Thursday December 16, 2021, from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary recited at 7:00 PM and will continue Friday from 8:00 AM until time of services. Burial will follow in St. Paul Catholic Cemetery.
A native of Kaplan and a resident of Abbeville Jane was a loving wife, mothe,r and great grandmother, she will be missed by all. Jane passed away Tuesday December 14, 2021, at Kaplan Health Care.
Survivors include her three sons, Mark and his wife Theresa Landry, Tod and his wife Angie Landry, and Duris Landry Jr.; her sisters Joyce Istre, and Margie Fontenot; grandchildren Jared, Kacey, Jed, Derick and Hanna Landry; and her great granddaughter Bayli Landry.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband Duris Landry Sr.; son Jed Landry; sister May Rose Abshire; and her brothers Robert, Dallas, Mervis and Clement Fontenot Jr.
Condolences may be sent to the Landry family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home 2600 Charity St. 337-893-3777 is in charge of arrangements.