Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) expects to process full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments by Friday morning. Approximately 600,000 households should see the full benefit amount loaded on their EBT cards by Friday. The development comes following the U.S. House and U.S. Senate resolution to end the federal government shutdown announced late Wednesday evening, and subsequent guidance from the USDA on Thursday to states to issue full benefits.

PRESS RELEASE — Update: As of Nov. 13, 2025, the Oral Rabies Vaccination Program bait distribution over western North Carolina has been postponed to spring 2026. NCDHHS will provide updates as they become available in the coming months. 

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss ways to defend your family from respiratory illness; who should get updated flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines; and how to find testing and treatment.

JOINT PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are alerting providers, parents and caregivers of an outbreak of infant botulism that prompted a nationwide recall of all ByHeart Inc. Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. As of Nov. 10, 15 infants have been reported with suspected or confirmed infant botulism cases due to exposure to Byheart Whole Nutrition infant formula across 12 states according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There is one suspected case currently under investigation in

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Rural Health is proud to join communities across the country in celebration of National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20. National Rural Health Day falls on the third Thursday each November and celebrates the "Power of Rural" by recognizing the individuals, organizations and communities dedicated to addressing the unique health care needs of rural residents.

STATEMENT — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) acknowledges the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision issued late Friday night granting the Trump Administration’s appeal to temporarily halt the distribution of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. After issuing partial November SNAP benefits to North Carolinians on Friday morning, NCDHHS was on track to issue the remaining full benefits over the weekend. However, due to the White House decision to appeal a court order that would have provided full benefits, NCDHHS paused this effort. In

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received notice Friday afternoon that the United States Department of Agriculture will fully fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. While NCDHHS works with federal partners to get the remainder of November processed, beneficiaries could see the additional funds on their EBT cards possibly as soon as this weekend. Partial payments were loaded onto EBT cards Friday morning for more than 586,000 households that rely on SNAP in North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — In recognition of National Diabetes Awareness Month, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the expansion of the Minority Diabetes Prevention Program — an initiative dedicated to reducing the rising rates of diabetes in certain communities. This program provides culturally responsive education, early screening, and personalized resources to empower individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes to take control of their health.

PRESS RELEASE — As the federal government shutdown continues, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture to issue partial benefits for November to the nearly 1.4 million people who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. NCDHHS is updating its payment system according to USDA’s specifications to prepare to issue benefits. If federal funding is provided this week as expected, NCDHHS expects all partial benefits to be loaded onto EBT cards by next week, so beneficiaries should check the balances on

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and First Lady Anna Stein today unveiled a pilot program focused on helping people who have severe mental health needs and are involved in the justice system successfully reenter their communities while reducing their likelihood of reoffending. The $9.5 million investment will create Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams based in Pitt, New Hanover, Wake, Durham, Buncombe, and Mecklenburg counties.