Newsletter Articles

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examines the potential for integrating services addressing social needs and the social determinants of health into the delivery of health care to achieve better health outcomes and to address major challenges facing the U.S. health care system.

Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic Americans who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

For young adults struggling with mental health and substance use disorders, the transition to college can be challenging. To put that into perspective, more than 570,000 people in North Carolina – or 6.3 percent of North Carolinians over age 12 – are living with a substance use disorder.

A DHHS employee was a contestant in a singing competition; the Western Controller's Office and Broughton Hospital collected school supplies; Dix Café celebrates one year; and DVRS and DSB staff present at Raleigh Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities.

Gremeko Stuart, an executive assistant with DHHS' Division of Public Health, organized a relief effort to collect and deliver clothing and non-perishable items to the Hurricane Dorian damaged Bahamas.

Governor Roy Cooper recently issued proclamations for numerous awareness efforts and causes the NC Department of Health and Human Services is involved in with the support of partners throughout the state.

DHHS and partners across North Carolina are helping people get back to work through Individual Placement Support (IPS), a community-based service for adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders who are entering or reentering the workforce.

NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen joined Caswell Developmental Center Director Marsha Meadows and other DHHS employees on Aug. 20 to present school supplies donated by DHHS employees to Lenoir County Public Schools Superintendent Brent Williams.

Black Mountain Promotes Recycling

DHHS’ Division of Services for the Blind recently celebrated the graduation of students with visual impairments from a program that helps them prepare for college and the workforce.

To create a more relaxing environment, Wright School has two therapy dogs to support the students and staff. 

Kody Kinsley, DHHS Deputy Secretary of Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, recently joined a North Carolina delegation at the Appalachian Regional Commission Substance Abuse Advisory Council (SAAC) in Knoxville, Tenn. 

The Project SEARCH Transition to Work Program celebrated nine graduates during a ceremony held last month at Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Campus.

Dr. Michelle Aurelius has been appointed Chief Medical Examiner for the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NC OCME).

The opioid epidemic has been devastating to North Carolina, causing an average of five deaths in the state every day. North Carolina leaders, including Governor Roy Cooper, have taken steps over the past several years to address the epidemic in our state.