Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help prevent the spread of rabies. Starting in April, Wildlife Services will be distributing oral rabies vaccine for wild raccoons in western North Carolina. This program was postponed from October 2025 due to the federal government shutdown at that time.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCANC) recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, proclaimed by Governor Josh Stein. North Carolina's 2026 Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign theme, "Positive Childhoods Start With Us," reminds us that everyone has a responsibility to create the conditions children and families need to thrive.

READOUT — North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai, and NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs, traveled to eastern North Carolina this week to meet with leadership and participate in discussions with the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services, Chowan County Department of Social Services (DSS) and ECU Health Chowan Hospital.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and Positive Childhood Alliance NC (PCANC) are holding a community event as Governor Josh Stein proclaims April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in North Carolina. The free, family-friendly event will be held on Wednesday, April 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Chavis Memorial Park in Raleigh, North Carolina. The public and members if the media are invited to attend, plant pinwheels and enjoy the provided food, beverages and entertainment while supplies last.

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC) today announced an expansion of Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) programs, an effort to connect people experiencing addiction with support services and help to reduce repeat crime. Entities supported by the expansion are the Fayetteville Police Department, Albemarle Police Department, Gaston County Police Department, Greensboro Police Department and Community Safety Department, New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Robeson County

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to join NCDHHS leadership for a ribbon-cutting at the Promise Resource Network’s (PRN) new respite center in Cabarrus County on Wednesday, March 25, at 10 a.m. Kelly Crosbie, NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Disorders, will speak at the event.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced major updates to the statewide online mental health bed registry that will reduce wait times and ensure people in crisis receive care as soon as possible. The Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator (BH SCAN) is now updated hourly instead of once per day and has been integrated with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988 will be able to connect mobile crisis teams when they are dispatched to someone in crisis to let them know the available mental health beds in their area.

PRESS RELEASE —The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Alliance Health and New Hope Treatment Centers are partnering on a pilot program to improve mental health care for young people involved in the justice system. The $3.5 million investment from NCDHHS will fund a new mental health program operated by New Hope Treatment Centers at the Dillon Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) in Butner.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced a new pilot program to improve Mobile Crisis Teams’ response when someone experiencing a mental health crisis calls for help. The $1.5 million investment to Trillium Health Resources establishes a real-time dispatch process that streamlines response to individuals in crisis wherever they are.

PRESS RELEASE —The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, UNC System and the Social Work Coalition on NC Workforce Development held a kickoff event today to celebrate a new partnership aimed at strengthening the social work workforce in North Carolina. The event recognizing the Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP) coincides with a new report by the Sheps Center for Health Services Research and NCDHHS that identifies a shortage of social workers in North Carolina, particularly in rural areas.