Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a $20 million investment made possible by the NC General Assembly in Non-Law Enforcement Transportation, a promising practice of providing trauma-informed transportation for people in mental health crisis who need to be transported from emergency rooms to residential treatment. In the past, much of this transportation was provided by law enforcement; but non-law enforcement transportation provides a safe, therapeutic alternative for people already in mental health distress.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a $1.5 million investment to expand behavioral health services in school-based health centers across the state. This funding is a critical step in ensuring children have access to the right care at the right time by providing behavioral health support that meets families where they are — in schools and communities.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office are partnering to offer additional services for defendants with mental illness whom the court has determined Incapable to Proceed to trial. Building on the success of NC RISE in Mecklenburg County, the program in Pitt County is part of the department’s continued work to ensure the right behavioral health care is available at the right time for all North Carolinians. The Mecklenburg County Detention Center will also be expanding its program and services for ITP defendants from 10 to 25 beds. Additionally, the Pitt County Detention Center and Mecklenburg County Detention Center programs will be regional and will accept ITP defendants from other counties.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a $4 million investment to expand and professionalize family peer support services statewide. This initiative is designed to improve outcomes for children and families by ensuring that families navigating complex systems have access to support and guidance from someone who truly understands their journey. The investment will strengthen the behavioral health workforce by offering support for 40 new Certified Family Peer Specialists that combined will help nearly a thousand families each year.

MEDIA ADVISORY — As part of an ongoing effort to transform North Carolina’s behavioral health crisis response system, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with Alliance Health and Promise Resource Network to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new Peer Respite Center in Wake County.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced more than 600,000 people have enrolled in Medicaid Expansion in the first year of implementation, in half the time that was first projected.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Ahead of Radon Action Month in January, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is releasing updated, county-level data on radon levels across the state. NCDHHS staff and partners will host a virtual roundtable to share radon resources on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. via Zoom. News media and interested organizations are invited to participate in the discussion.

PRESS RELEASE — The NC Department of Health and Human Services this week completed the successful hiring of seven regional directors who will provide vital support to North Carolina’s 100 local departments of social services. These regional directors will work closely with county DSS directors and their agencies to enhance leadership, build capacity and strengthen service delivery to improve outcomes for children and families across the state.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office will hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, to announce the launch of the new capacity restoration program at the Pitt County Detention Center. NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley will be joined by Senator Jim Burgin, Pitt County Sheriff Paula Dance and Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the NC Sheriff’s Association Eddie W. Caldwell Jr. during the press conference and brief Q&A with credentialed media after.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released a toolkit aimed at assisting other states seeking to tackle the burden of medical debt. The Medical Debt Toolkit is based on an innovative program recently launched by NCDHHS to address the issue of medical debt among North Carolinians. It builds on record enrollment as North Carolina marks one year of Medicaid expansion.