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This week, NCDHHS is celebrating the second anniversary of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Help through 988 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. During the past two years, 988 counselors have responded to nearly 190,000 calls, texts and chats, providing critical access to mental health and substance use crisis support and in the second year, the number of North Carolinians contacting 988 each month has nearly doubled. In the past year, 988 Lifeline services have expanded to include chat and text options in Spanish and video chat capabilities for people with disabilities, furthering its commitment to accessibility and inclusivity. The 988 Performance Dashboard enables the department to make data-informed decisions to continue to improve access to services. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is an important component of NCDHHS’ ongoing work to ensure every North Carolinian has someone to contact, someone to respond and a safe place for help when experiencing a behavioral health crisis. |
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NCDHHS is partnering with NC Emergency Management and the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), as well as agencies in Virginia, to help mitigate impacts from a fire that occurred on July 6 at a warehouse in South Hill, Virginia.
The warehouse contained a large quantity of agricultural chemicals and runoff from the firefighting efforts has entered several water systems in southern Virginia, including the Meherrin River from its confluence with Mountain Creek, and the Miles and Dockery Creeks, upstream of the Roanoke River (Lake Gaston).
NCDHHS has recommended that local health departments in the impacted areas issue recreational water advisories mirroring those in Virginia; the need for and timing of those advisories will depend on available data. People should avoid swimming or fishing in any water where advisories have been issued and monitor reputable sources of information like verified government agency social media accounts, websites and local media. You can check the NCDEQ website for ongoing updates. |
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$11 Million Investment in Behavioral Health for Children with Complex Needs
This week, NCDHHS announced an $11 million investment in treatment services designed to keep children who have complex behavioral health needs in homes and communities, and out of inappropriate boarding. NCDHHS is contracting with Rapid Resources for Families to expand access to Intensive Alternative Family Treatment® (IAFT) – a specialized program that enables children with complex behavioral health to receive family-based services through a therapeutic foster home with counseling and psychiatric supports. Candidates for IAFT® include children and teens who have severe behavioral difficulties, are at risk of hospitalization, have experienced multiple failed placements and/or have co-occurring needs. The program is available to families regardless of whether children are in DSS custody. NCDHHS will continue to invest in a continuum of services – in homes, schools, communities and residential settings – that expand equitable access to high-quality, trauma-informed, family-centered care.
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Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities Job Fair
NCDHHS' Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD) is holding a job fair on July 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Dogwood Event Room in the Hilton Raleigh North Hills, 3415 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. The event is free and open to the public. Current EIPD staff and HR specialists will be on-site to conduct informational interviews. Join the in-person event to learn more about permanent and temporary opportunities in North Carolina, diverse positions and potential career paths with EIPD, and much more. Contract Tracy Broadnax for more information at
Tracy.broadnax@dhhs.nc.gov. |
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Sustainable Diversion and Reentry Programs Webinar
NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services is hosting a webinar on Aug. 1 from 9 to 10 a.m. to share information about an upcoming funding opportunity to support capacity building for diversion and re-entry programs, to promote access to treatment and prevent incarceration for individuals with substance use disorders, mental health disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or traumatic brain injury. This webinar will explore the rationale and vision for improving the lives of North Carolinians through this initiative and provide details on the next steps. You can register for the webinar via Zoom.
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$2.5 Million Grant Will Help Expand School-Based Health Care
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded NCDHHS $2.5 million to ensure school-aged children and their families have equitable access to health care and behavioral health services readily available in the same places where they learn and grow. While youth suicides have doubled in the last decade, schools across the state continue to face critical shortages in behavioral health resources. When last surveyed in 2022, North Carolina schools had less than 20% of the recommended number of school psychologists and school social workers for the state’s student population. NCDHHS will use the funds to support schools over the next three years in operationalizing new policies from CMS that expand eligibility for school-based services to all students enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The goal is to improve schools’ capacity to provide critical health and behavioral health services by maximizing Medicaid reimbursement potential, while also reducing the administrative burden on school personnel. |
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Transgenerational Trauma Webinar
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services is hosting a webinar to increase awareness and address how transgenerational trauma affects minority communities. This observance provides an opportunity for NCDHHS to highlight the unique mental health challenges and needs of historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups in North Carolina and the United States. The Zoom event will take place on July 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Register for the Zoom and view the event's flyer to learn more.
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Side-By-Side Webinar
NCDHHS' Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services will host the next Side-by-Side webinar on Aug. 5 from 2 to 3 p.m. This month staff will focus on the behavioral health workforce. Each month, the Side-by-Side webinars cover policies and programs that affect the MH/IDD/SU/TBI community and bring everyone together in one (virtual) place. This group includes consumers, families, advisory groups, LME/MCOs, community members and partner organizations. Side by side, we will work together to better understand and improve our system. We will listen closely to one another, and we will share ideas for public policy that will improve lives in NC. Register for the webinar via Zoom and view the English and Spanish flyers to learn more. |
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