PRESS RELEASE — Babies born in North Carolina will now be screened for two additional disorders, along with the other disorders screened for by the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ Newborn Screening Program. Newborns will now be screened for Infantile Krabbe Disease and Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase (GAMT) Deficiency. This comes as NCDHHS celebrates the 60th anniversary of the state’s Newborn Screening Program this September during National Newborn Screening Awareness Month.
Topics Related to Children Services
PRESS RELEASE — Today Governor Stein, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina announced the application window will open soon for $20 million to build and expand child care programs in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. This funding is part of a total $75 million federal grant for Helene- and Debby-impacted areas announced earlier this year through the American Relief Act’s Disaster Supplemental Funds for Child Care.
PRESS RELEASE — Today during National Farmers Market Week, Governor Josh Stein and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai visited the Durham Farmers’ Market to highlight the SUN Bucks program, which provides nutritious food for more than a million North Carolina children throughout the summer. While private philanthropies have stepped in during past years to help the state cover its share to activate the federal program, this year’s budget includes state funding to operate SUN Bucks in the summer of 2027.
PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of SUN Bucks benefits for summer 2026 will reach more than 1 million children, with $121 million distributed to eligible families across the state in this first issuance alone.
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.
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 — 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.