Topics Related to Office of Rural Health

PRESS RELEASE — To encourage and support more registered nurses to serve in rural areas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is providing the opportunity for tax-free educational loan repayments. This new North Carolina Nurse Initiative is available to qualifying nurses committed to delivering high-quality care in safety net organizations and private practices in underserved areas across the state.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the "Responding to the Opioid and Substance Use Crisis in North Carolina’s Rural Coastal Communities" conference on September 19, 2025, in Morehead City. Kelly Crosbie, Director of the Division of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Use Services at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, will deliver the keynote address on how opioid use impacts rural coastal communities.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today it will begin preparing to submit its application to receive funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The program is part of H.R. 1, a federal bill signed into law by President Trump in July to address rural health concerns due to federal cuts to the Medicaid program.

PRESS RELEASE — To commemorate National Rural Health Day on Nov. 21, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health is proud to announce the annual Community Star award winner.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health is proud to join communities across America in celebration of National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 21. National Rural Health Day falls on the third Thursday in November each year and recognizes the “Power of Rural” by honoring the individuals, organizations and community members dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by rural communities.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today 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. The department is partnering with Rapid Resources for Families to expand access to family-based therapeutic programs, enabling children to receive trauma-informed treatment in a home-based setting.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Thursday, March 21, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how rural and farmworker communities can support their health and access resources across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss Medicaid expansion, including impacts on rural communities, who is newly eligible and ways to apply for health care coverage.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Rural Health is proud to recognize the selfless, community-minded spirit of health professionals and volunteers in communities across the state during National Rural Health Day 2023. National Rural Health Day falls on the third Thursday in November each year and recognizes the efforts of those serving the health needs of residents in rural areas, including those who serve the 4.6 million people living in one of the 70 rural counties across North Carolina.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health, the first Office of Rural Health in the nation, is “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Embracing the Future” as they celebrate 50 years serving North Carolina’s rural communities on Thursday, Nov. 16.