The NCDHHS Strategic Plan serves as our roadmap for navigating a complex environment while still delivering essential services for the people of North Carolina.
Guided by the vision of our leadership and the dedicated work of our staff, this plan defines the goals and priorities we aim to achieve. It ensures that our work remains aligned with the evolving needs of those we serve, supports thoughtful decision‑making about resources, and provides a structure for evaluating progress.
View the current 2026-2030 NCDHHS Strategic Plan.
Priority Areas
Priority 1: Deliver Critical Services to Improve the Health and Well-Being of North Carolinians
Support timely and coordinated implementation of NC Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) child welfare and child care services, with a focus on maintaining access, minimizing disruption for beneficiaries, and supporting state and county DSS partners.
Priority 2: Transform Rural Health
Strengthen and sustain programs, including the Rural Health Transformation Program, that enable rural communities to thrive, leveraging full federal investments and prioritizing stakeholder engagement.
Priority 3: Strengthen Behavioral Health Crisis Care and Its Coordination with the Justice System
Improve North Carolina’s behavioral health crisis system to better support individuals with mental health needs, including those who are justice-involved.
Priority 4: Partner with Key Stakeholders to Drive Reforms that Promote Affordable and Accessible Healthcare for Every North Carolinian
Advance health care affordability and access by leveraging the Department’s expertise, engaging partners, and proposing innovative solutions that lower costs and expand access to high quality services.
Goals
Goal 1: Access to Care
Support North Carolinians’ ability to safely, easily and fully access the services, programs and systems of care of NCDHHS and our partners.
Goal 2: Whole Person Well-Being
Improve the well-bring of North Carolinians by delivering comprehensive, high-quality services that address complex factors shaping outcomes for individuals and families.
Goal 3: Transform and Modernize Health Care in North Carolina
Transform North Carolina’s health care ecosystem by modernizing delivery, strengthening community and rural care, and optimizing strategic partnerships to expand access, improve outcomes and manage costs.
Goal 4: Sustainable Workforce
Develop a skilled workforce that supports North Carolinians’ health and well-being through training, career pathways and innovative strategies to attract and retain talent.
Goal 5: Organizational Excellence
Promote efficient and effective operations through continuous improvement, leveraging data, modernizing systems, using resources wisely and strengthening accountability and transparency across the department.