Press Releases

Temperatures are climbing this week as summer arrives, and the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for most of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are advising North Carolinians take precautions to protect themselves and their children from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise and remain high throughout the summer.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released a new funding opportunity to create collegiate recovery programs that increase access to healthy and supportive environments in colleges and universities for those who are in addiction recovery.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released two funding opportunities to award a total of $6,755,000 to community-based mental health providers. These programs will help individuals with serious mental illness involved with the criminal justice system, and they reflect the department’s vision to advance innovate solutions that foster independence, improve health and promote well-being for all North Carolinians.

Families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can now use their benefits for a much wider variety of infant formula brands and types, helping them access the formula available in stores during the nationwide shortage when Gerber products are not available. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has made 55 additional formula products temporarily available for WIC recipients today as part of its efforts to support families during the shortage. This is in addition to eight options added last week for different sizes and types of Gerber products.

A group of students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) stepped into offices across the Division of Public Health within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today, perhaps marking the first day of a career in public health.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Wednesday, June 1, from 6-7 p.m. to discuss COVID-19 recovery, ways to prevent and overcome long-term complications, and available treatments, and to hear firsthand accounts from North Carolinians who experienced varying severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

Families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) can now purchase more sizes and types of Gerber formula thanks to efforts by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to support families during the ongoing infant formula shortage.

As North Carolinians start their summer voyages to beaches, lakes, rivers and pools this holiday weekend, officials at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offer suggestions to maximize the health benefits of swimming and other water-based activities while minimizing the risk of illness, injury and death.