Newsletter Articles

Eight of North Carolina’s WIC and Public Health offices earned Breastfeeding Awards of Excellence from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service this year. Six won the Gold Award, and both of the Premiere Awards given this year – the most prestigious presented in the region – were claimed by WIC offices in North Carolina.

NCDHHS' Hospital-Based Public Health Epidemiologist (PHE) Program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. NCDHHS' Division of Public Health (NC DPH) developed the program in 2003 to increase the surveillance of significant events in public health by placing public health epidemiologists in the state's largest hospital systems. The partnerships between NC DPH and the state's hospitals have had a profound effect on communicable disease surveillance and have enhanced the protection of North Carolinians.

NCDHHS' Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is accepting comments on its WIC State Plan for Fiscal Year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023 - Sept. 30, 2024) through Aug. 15.

On Monday, Aug. 7, the American Red Cross began accepting blood donations from newly eligible individuals, many in the LGBTQ+ community, under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's expanded eligibility recommendations.

Traffic stops can be nerve-wracking for anyone – even more so for drivers who may have difficulty communicating with law enforcement officers due to hearing loss. That’s why the Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) has partnered with NC State Highway Patrol to develop a Driver Communication Card.

This week, NCDHHS celebrated 33 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990.

The North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP) Community Council was recently honored with the Social Sector Hero designation by Clear Impact at the annual meeting on July 12. The Social Sector Hero Spotlight recognizes exceptional organizations and agencies that have made a significant and measurable difference in their communities.

Charles Hill, a certified rehabilitation counselor with DHHS’ Division of Services for the Blind, shares his story about the importance of accessibility for people with visual impairments, as NCDHHS celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Nearly 33 years ago, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law to ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including public services, telecommunications, education, transportation and establishments that are open to the public.

NCDHHS’ Sickle Cell Syndrome Program (NCSCSP) celebrated its 50th Anniversary on May 23 at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. The event was well attended by community trailblazers, community supporters, NCSCSP staff, sickle cell medical center staff, individuals and family members living with sickle cell disease, and NCDHHS officials.

A personal story written by a client of NCDHHS' Vocational Rehabilitation (NCDVRS) Program, David Camfield, outlining how the program helped him achieve success after an automobile accident.

More than 61,000 services have been delivered to over 8,500 NC Medicaid members across 33 counties as part of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (NC HOP) since the program began in March 2022.

Dr. Cara McComish, a Speech Language Pathologist at the NCDHHS' Durham Children’s Developmental Services Agency, co-authored an academic paper in March 2023 to help clinicians support children with pediatric feeding disorder (PFD). 

For NCDHHS’ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the goal of helping people with disabilities achieve their goals for employment and independence is often complicated by the fact that some 15 percent of their clients are justice-involved individuals. Through a partnership between VR and Dr. Crystal McIver’s Experience 180 nonprofit, Lee County’s network of service providers came together for the second annual Reentry Resource to Resource Network and Share event on April 25.

The application period is open for NCDHHS’ Historically Black College/University and Minority Serving Institutions (HBCUs/MSIs) Internship program's Fall Cohort. The HBCUs/MSIs Internship program, in coordination with the Division of Public Health, is a component of the department’s workforce development initiative that encourages college students to seek careers in public health and government.