Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE — The 47th annual holiday parade at J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at 3 p.m. This year’s theme is a “Parade of Songs.” The Center is expecting marching bands, fire trucks, floats and a visit from Santa Claus. This year’s Grand Marshal will be America’s Got Talent Semi-Finalist Dani Kerr.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is issuing a public health alert following five stillbirths or neonatal deaths in babies with congenital syphilis born between Jan. 1, 2023, and Sept. 1, 2023. This alert follows a provider memo issued last week by NCDHHS asking for health care providers’ help to prevent congenital syphilis and reverse the alarming trend. Previous provider memos from NCDHHS were released Dec. 20, 2022, Nov. 15, 2021, and Nov. 9, 2018.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Cafecito and tele-town hall on Tuesday, Nov. 14, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss diabetes prevention, management and support available for Hispanic/Latino communities across North Carolina, as well as the importance of staying up to date on regular health visits and vaccinations.

MEDIA ADVISORY — North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley and Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will be celebrating North Carolina’s first Collegiate Recovery Program and its successes during a visit to UNC Charlotte. The Charlotte program began 11 years ago and is one of 18 Collegiate Recovery Programs supported by NCDHHS. There are approximately 30 total collegiate recovery programs across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — Today the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services began contacting up to 300,000 people who are enrolled in Medicaid’s limited Family Planning program and who are eligible for full NC Medicaid benefits starting Dec. 1. Text messages, phone calls and emails will be sent by the department starting today letting those eligible know to look out for a letter from their local Department of Social Services.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first two reported flu-related deaths of the 2023-24 flu season. Two adults in the western part of the state died due to complications of influenza during the third and fourth weeks of October. One person had tested positive for both influenza and COVID-19. To protect the privacy of both families, additional information will not be released.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission announced $750,000 in funding to expand hospital-based violence prevention and intervention programs in North Carolina. Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center was awarded a portion of the funds to support its regional hospital-based violence intervention project and expand its use across its footprint.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall on Thursday, Nov. 2, from 6 to 7 p.m., to discuss how people can access support to help quit smoking, vaping or using tobacco, as well as other ways they can care for their health and manage stress.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Members of the media are invited to speak with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley and other state and hospital leaders Wednesday about measures to reduce firearm violence.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is enhancing access to its buildings for people with disabilities. The NCDHHS Division of Vocational Services local office in New Bern will update its parking lot with new accessible icons on parking spots on Friday. The office will be the first to replace the old “handicapped” parking symbol with the new accessible icon with the help of the Accessible Icon Project.

PRESS RELEASE — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today released an advisory for consumers not to buy or feed WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches to toddlers and young children because the product may contain elevated levels of lead. This announcement comes after a joint investigation by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, local health departments, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the FDA.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced recent updates to the NC State Health Improvement Plan, which includes priorities for addressing the full set of factors that impact a person’s health and updates data on the progress of improvement.

PRESS RELEASE — This week, Southwestern Child Development announced it will be closing seven child care centers in North Carolina’s westernmost counties effective Oct. 31, 2023. Combined, these early care and learning programs serve nearly 300 children from birth through 5 years old, the majority of whom receive child care subsidy or NC Pre-K services. Southwestern, county departments of social services and NCDHHS are working with other area child care providers, Head Start programs and local public schools to ensure as many children as possible continue to have access to quality early care and learning.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is awarding $4 million to support choice and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the workforce. This award will help expand and enhance services that support individuals to work in their communities. It also furthers a top priority of the department to build a strong and inclusive workforce.

PRESS RELEASE — Two cases of mpox were reported to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services over the past six weeks, the first cases in North Carolina residents since April 2023. In addition to the two cases, mpox virus was recently detected in one out of 12 wastewater sites where monitoring is being conducted. These cases and wastewater detections were all in different counties, suggesting increased spread of mpox in North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is committed to raising awareness of the contributions made by employees with disabilities through its continued focus on building a strong and inclusive workforce across North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received final federal approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services so North Carolina can launch Medicaid Expansion on Dec. 1, 2023.

MEDIA ADVISORY — In celebration of NC Farm to School and Early Care and Education Month, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services leaders will join the annual NC Crunch on Wednesday, Oct. 18. NC Crunch recognizes the importance of healthy eating habits in supporting child and family well-being while promoting North Carolina agriculture by crunching into locally grown fruits and vegetables.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live Spanish-language Cafecito and tele-town hall on Thursday, Oct. 12, from 6 to 7 p.m. to discuss common health needs in Hispanic/Latino communities, including the importance of Semana Binacional de Salud, preventative care and breast cancer awareness.

PRESS RELEASE — Today, on World Mental Health Day, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services is celebrating an unprecedented $835 million investment in behavioral health. These funds are transformative and will make it possible for more North Carolinians to receive care when and where they need it.