Press Releases

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media and members of the public are invited to attend Ignite Your Future: A Project Spark Event, hosted by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Project Spark was created by NCDHHS to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) explore, prepare for and keep a job in their community and is paid for by the U.S. Department of Education. Project Spark also helps people with I/DD transition from subminimum wage jobs to competitive, integrated employment alongside their peers.

PRESS RELEASE — Today at Cherry Hospital, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrated the launch of an electronic health record powered by Epic for North Carolina’s 13 state-operated healthcare facilities. These facilities provide critical medical and behavioral treatment of adults and children with mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and neuro-medical conditions. This advancement in patient care will allow for improved and more comprehensive care, streamlined processes for staff, enhanced security for protection of patient data, and

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend a ceremony marking a significant advancement in patient communication and health care from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The launch of electronic health records, powered by Epic, will bring health records from 13 State Operated Healthcare Facilities online allowing for better data management and patient care.

PRESS RELEASE — North Carolina on Tuesday took an innovative step in efforts to reduce opioid use and related deaths with the launch of the state’s first Mobile Opioid Treatment Program. First Lady Anna Stein helped celebrate the occasion at a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Kelly Crosbie, Director of the NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services, and Dr. Eric Morse, founder and president of Morse Clinics.

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.

STATEMENT — Effective Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will temporarily assume leadership of child welfare services at the Bertie County Department of Social Services (BCDSS), as authorized under state law. This is the fifth time NCDHHS has taken over a county’s department of social services and the first time a county DSS has been taken over twice.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the unveiling of the first Mobile Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) unit in North Carolina. Mobile OTPs reduce barriers to participation in treatment by making it easier for those seeking treatment to move into and maintain recovery. The mobile unit is sponsored by Morse Clinics opioid treatment programs in North Carolina. Morse Clinics are committed to providing Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and counseling services for those experiencing Opioid Use Disorder. Morse Clinics serve Wake, Chatham, Johnston, Halifax, Granville,

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of a two-year pilot program in which 22 Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTF) for youth, operated by seven provider agencies, will begin using an innovative system called Ukeru® to de-escalate crises. Ukeru is a safe and comforting alternative to restraint and seclusion, which are high-risk techniques used to contain someone who is considered a danger to themselves or others.

STATEMENT — North Carolina lawmakers passed a stopgap spending plan also known as a "mini budget" which was signed by Governor Josh Stein today. $600 million was included to support both the Medicaid rebase and the Medicaid Oversight Fund, however, this appropriation equates to a shortfall of $319 million for the Medicaid rebase. Despite careful efforts by NCDHHS to avoid disruptions to service, fully funding the rebase is necessary to maintain the current level of care across the state. To remain within budget, NCDHHS now has two options to address a shortfall from an insufficient rebase;

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Community College System have partnered to launch an Advanced Training Certificate program for current Direct Support Professionals or people interested in pursuing a career in the field. The DSP workforce is critical in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live, work and thrive in communities of their choice. They provide a wide range of supports from daily tasks like bathing, eating and taking medications to connecting people with community resources and employment