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May is Mental Health Awareness Month and NCDHHS wants to remind you that 988 is the number to use when you need help or don't know where to turn. Let’s get through it together. Call, text, or chat 988 day or night. Visit 988lifeline.org for more information about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. |
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NCDHHS Pilots Mobile Crisis Behavioral Health Response
NCDHHS announced a $1.35 million investment to begin piloting trauma-informed mobile crisis and crisis co-responder services. These services will deploy teams who are trained and experienced to respond to people experiencing a behavioral health emergency, including mental health professionals and peer support specialists who can de-escalate crises and provide appropriate support. This investment is part of the department’s ongoing effort to transform the behavioral health crisis response system to ensure North Carolinians have someone to call, someone to respond and somewhere to go for care. NCDHHS’ investment includes nearly $775,000 in federal funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) granted to Vaya Health and RHA Health Services to pilot a Crisis Co-Responder for Law Enforcement (CORE) model in Buncombe County, Person County and the City of Burlington. Under the CORE model, mental health professionals trained in trauma response work together with law enforcement to determine the best response when someone is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. In addition to the CORE model, NCDHHS is investing nearly $580,000 from the $835 million investment in behavioral health to pilot mobile crisis response services in Orange County. Read a news release for more information. |
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Medicaid Expansion Hits More Than 450K Enrollees
Communities across the state continue to experience the life-changing impacts of Medicaid expansion as the state surpasses 450,000 North Carolinians signed up and more than one million prescriptions covered. The milestone means three-fourths of those eligible for expansion have now gained coverage. Since Dec. 1, 2023, Medicaid has covered more than 1 million prescriptions for new enrollees for things like heart health, diabetes, seizures and other illnesses and covered more than $17.9 million in claims for dental services. Additionally, more than $347.5 million in reimbursements has gone directly to providers in North Carolina. Rural North Carolina counties are seeing higher percentages of enrollments. More than 12% of the adult populations in Edgecombe, Robeson and Swain counties now have health coverage through Medicaid. See the Medicaid Expansion dashboard for further trends in enrollment. The data analytics are as of May 3, so the latest number is not reflected. The NCDHHS Medicaid expansion website provides eligibility information, how to apply and where to find support. To learn more or apply for North Carolina Medicaid, visit Medicaid.nc.gov. |
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NCDHHS Announces $6.25 Million for Youth Substance Use Prevention
NCDHHS will distribute $6.25 million to seven NC counties (Duplin, Halifax, Hoke, Martin, Robeson, Tyrrell and Washington) to provide youth substance use prevention within their communities. NCDHHS applied for and was awarded the funding through the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as part of its National Drug Control Strategy. North Carolina was one of only 12 states to receive funding for its efforts to invest in behavioral health care prevention. NC counties receiving this award experience high levels of economic distress, have a higher-than-average level of substance use among youth and young adults and have a higher number of youths who primarily identify as a racial or ethnic minority. NCDHHS is assisting organizations in the seven counties to implement strategies to enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors for substance misuse. The goals of the programs include reducing the progression of high-risk drinking behaviors and/or underage alcohol use, reducing prescription medication misuse, reducing cannabis product use and reducing negative consequences related to substance misuse among youth and young adults ages 12-25. NCDHHS is continuing its partnership with Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC) to provide training and technical assistance support for all awarded subrecipients. |
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Child Fatality Task Force Releases Annual Report, New Policies
The NC Child Fatality Task Force (Task Force) has submitted its 2024 Annual Report to Gov. Cooper and the NC General Assembly. The report contains data on child deaths, updates on Task Force work, and recommendations for changes in law and state funding to prevent child deaths and promote child well-being. Recommendations from the Task Force for 2024 reflect a continued focus on the importance of firearm-safe storage through seeking sustained funding for the NC S.A.F.E. firearm safety campaign and the newly created NC Office of Violence Prevention, as well as an effort to strengthen the state’s child access prevention law. On May 13 at 11 a.m., the Task Force is hosting a webinar addressing the recently released 2022 child death data and infant mortality data from the NC State Center for Health Statistics. Learn more about the Task Force, a legislative study commission that examines data surrounding child deaths, strategies to prevent child deaths, and makes recommendations to the governor and General Assembly to prevent child death, prevent abuse and neglect, and support the safety and well-being of children. |
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