Topics Related to Children Services

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of the Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP), a first of its kind statewide health plan to ensure access to comprehensive physical and mental health services for Medicaid-enrolled children, youth and young adults currently and formerly served by the child welfare system. With approval from and at the direction of the North Carolina General Assembly and in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), the CFSP went live on Dec. 1, 2025. The name of the

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western NC (GROW NC) announce an additional investment to build on the success of the WNC Thrive initiative, one of many NCDHHS efforts to help children and families recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. This announcement brings the total investment in additional resources for children, youth, and families in the 22 counties hit hardest by Helene, including free after-school, weekend, and summer camp programs, to a total of $3.75 million.

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 the North Carolina Social Work Coalition on Workforce Development are partnering to create a Public Service Leadership Program (PSLP) that will strengthen the state’s social work workforce.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the introduction of three new Citizen Review Panels to evaluate child welfare services and make system improvement recommendations aimed at strengthening the safety and well-being of children and families across the state. Applications to serve on a Citizen Review Panel are open now at the NCDHHS Citizen Review Panels website and will remain open until Nov. 15, 2025.

STATEMENT — Governor Josh Stein and governors from 23 other states released a letter to congressional leadership Tuesday, warning of the impact potential changes to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) would have to millions of people across the country, including more than 1.4 million in North Carolina who depend on SNAP to put food on the table. In response, NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and partner organizations released statements further emphasizing the critical need for this vital food and nutrition program in North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), a new statewide information system that marks a major step forward in modernizing the administration of child welfare services. PATH NC equips child welfare staff with real-time data and decision-making tools to better protect children and to improve outcomes for children and families across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of SUN Bucks benefits for summer 2025 has successfully reached more than one million children, with $121 million distributed to eligible families across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — The SUN Bucks food program is back for 2025 and is expected to provide benefits to more than one million school children in North Carolina this summer. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction are partnering again to administer the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program known as "SUN Bucks."

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), Harnett County Schools and Hazel Health are gathering on Wednesday, May 7, to officially kick off their partnership that will bring virtual mental health care services to over 400,000 of North Carolina’s K-12 student population.