Press Releases

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 ByHeart Inc. Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. As of Nov. 8, there were 13 confirmed cases of infant botulism across 10 states according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. There is one suspected case currently under investigation in North Carolina.

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 response, Governor Stein and NCDHHS Secretary Sangvai issued these statements.

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 their cards often. This follows USDA’s statement it would use $4.65 billion in emergency funds to cover about half of the federal SNAP program for the month of November in response to a lawsuit filed by North Carolina and 24 other states.

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.

PRESS RELEASE — First Lady of North Carolina Anna Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services celebrated the opening of the Jubilee Home for women in Durham on Thursday. Serving as reentry support for women who are released from prison or jail, the center will provide mental health, housing, employment, and other services to assist in improving outcomes.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend as First Lady Anna Stein and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announce a new program to help people with severe mental illness released from detention on Monday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE — To encourage and support more registered nurses to serve in rural areas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is providing the opportunity for tax-free educational loan repayments. This new North Carolina Nurse Initiative is available to qualifying nurses committed to delivering high-quality care in safety net organizations and private practices in underserved areas across the state.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the November benefits for the 1.4 million North Carolinians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new community-based housing support for women in Durham, North Carolina, on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, at 11 a.m. Jubilee Home, is a recipient of NCDHHS funding to support people involved in the justice system in North Carolina. Much like the Jubilee men’s home, in active operation since 2020, the women’s home provides a safe space for justice-involved women to live in community with one another and receive wraparound supports: including mental health care, substance use treatment, employment resources and general wellness care as they begin their healing journey post-incarceration.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is celebrating one year of All Ages, All Stages NC, the state’s Multisector Plan for Aging. This plan addresses the needs of the state’s rapidly growing aging population in transforming the infrastructure and coordination of services to better serve these populations, ensuring that all North Carolinians can live and age well in their communities. To celebrate this milestone, NCDHHS’ Division of Aging is announcing a “Future Self Contest,” inviting students from Pre-K through 12th grade to imagine their future selves and reflect on what it means to live in an age-inclusive society.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Trillium Health Resources and Integrated Family Services PLLC celebrated the state’s continued investment in building a comprehensive mental health system today with a ribbon-cutting at a new Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in Pitt County. The facility will open its doors to clients on Monday, Oct. 27. NCDHHS is committed to ensuring there is someone to contact, someone to respond and a safe place to go if you are experiencing a mental health crisis.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), CHESS Health and Diamond Mind, LLC, have launched an initiative to provide specialized resources and services for military veterans and mental health providers through the Connections app – the state’s free digital recovery platform.

MEDIA ADVISORY — Credentialed media are invited to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for a new peer respite mental health wellness center in western North Carolina on Oct. 23, 2025, in Henderson County.

MEDIA ADVISORY — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Trillium Health Resources and Integrated Family Services PLLC are hosting a ribbon-cutting on Monday, Oct. 20, for a new Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in Pitt County. The facility is scheduled to open on Monday, Oct. 27.

PRESS RELEASE — The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the creation of the AdvaNCe Health Together Learning Community, a new initiative developed in partnership with national consulting firm Open Minds and Trillium Health Resources, a North Carolina LME/MCO. AdvaNCe Health Together is a training and collaboration model that will help Community Behavioral Health Clinics prepare to meet certification standards in their goal to increase access to care across North Carolina.

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein and NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai announced today that through North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Program, more than $6.5 billion in medical debt has been relieved for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians over the past year. 

PRESS RELEASE — Governor Josh Stein, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities along with members of the community celebrated October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month on Friday at a reception at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh. The event highlighted the personal stories of workers with disabilities and employers who are building a strong and disability-inclusive workforce in North Carolina.