Strategic Goals

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 2021-2023 Strategic Plan is grounded in the Department’s values, driven by equity, rooted in our commitment to whole-person care, and responsive to the lessons learned responding to the greatest health crisis in a more than a generation.

DHHS will further advance its mission to improve the health, safety, and wellbeing of all North Carolinians by working toward the following goals:

1. Advance health equity by reducing disparities in opportunity and outcomes for historically marginalized populations within DHHS and across the state.
2. Help North Carolinians end the pandemic, control the spread of COVID-19, recover stronger, and be prepared for future public health crises with an emphasis on initiatives serving those communities most impacted.  
3. Build an innovative, coordinated, and whole-person — physical, mental and social health — centered system that addresses both medical and non-medical drivers of health.
4. Turn the tide on North Carolina’s opioid and substance use crisis.  
5. Improve child and family well-being so all children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential and thrive.
6. Support individuals with disabilities and older adults in leading safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. 
7. Achieve operational excellence by living our values — belonging, joy, people-focused, proactive communication, stewardship, teamwork, and transparency.

The plan outlines objectives and strategies to be implemented over the next two years to make progress on these seven goals. The work is interconnected. While strategies may only appear once, they often contribute to multiple objectives and goals across the plan.

Finally, the Strategic plan was created in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Containing, mitigating, and recovering from the pandemic will be central to our work over the next two years.

Learn more about the Department in the 2021-2023 Strategic Plan.