Tag Archive for: #ncdhhs

Area Christians Together In Service Latest Needs List

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Food insecurity relief efforts continue to be a priority in Vance County for organizations like Area Christians Together in Service (ACTS), and the disruption to November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds will apply even more pressure here and across the state.

The Vance County Department of Social Services director, and other directors across the state, received written notice October 27 indicating: “The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has directed North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to suspend the issuance of November 2025 … (SNAP) to the approximately 1.4 million North Carolinians who need assistance…”

Any assistance you may be able to provide to ACTS now may become especially important in the days to come as the federal government shutdown continues.

ACTS most recent needs list includes:

GENERAL PANTRY

  • Pinto beans, navy beans, great northern beans, pork and beans, baked beans, blackeye peas
  • Sliced/diced potatoes, mixed veggies, carrots
  • Collard greens, turnip greens, mixed greens
  • Diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce
  • Tomato soup, chicken noodle soup
  • Canned chicken, canned beef, luncheon meat
  • Dry pasta, dry rice, dry beans, instant potatoes
  • Cereal, jelly, canned peaches

BACKPACK BUDDIES

  • Single serve (microwave) Chef Boyardee
  • Vienna sausages, Beanee Weenees

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Laundry detergent, dish detergent, bleach, ammonia-free glass cleaner, Awesome all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, steel wool/scouring pads, toilet paper, paper towels

The “TownTalk” radio show on WIZS is a public affairs presentation of WIZS News.

Disruption in SNAP Benefits in North Carolina as the Federal Government Shutdown Continues

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— from Gov. Josh Stein, Who Urges USDA to Deploy Contingency Funds

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.

On Oct. 10, 2025, NCDHHS was directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to delay the issuance of November SNAP benefits due to the ongoing federal shutdown. While October benefits are not impacted, this federal inaction means there is a significant risk that November benefits will not be issued on their normal schedule. As of Oct. 27, 2025, NCDHHS has not received the necessary federal funding for the program.

Additionally, the USDA sent guidance and a notice to states on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, stating it would not be using the roughly $6 billion in federal contingency funds available to keep the SNAP program running for November. The notice also explained that the federal government would not reimburse any state funds used to cover SNAP benefits. SNAP benefits in North Carolina represent about $230 million to $250 million each month. NCDHHS will stay in close communication with federal partners and will issue SNAP benefits to beneficiaries as soon as federal funding is provided.

“I am urging the USDA to take immediate action to prevent more than 1.4 million North Carolinians – including children, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families – from going hungry,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Specifically, USDA can deploy federal contingency funds and prevent a disruption of SNAP benefits on November 1. The administration’s refusal to use these available funds as temperatures cool and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches is a cruel abdication of the responsibility to support families and communities. Congress owes it to the American people to return to the negotiating table and come together to reopen the government, stop health care premiums from skyrocketing, and ensure stability for hardworking people across our state and country.”

“We know how vital these benefits are for children, seniors, and hardworking families in every corner of our state,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai.  “Our priority is to be transparent and provide clear, factual information so families can prepare for a potential delay in benefits. We will continue to process applications and stand ready to issue benefits as quickly as possible once we receive authorization and funding from our federal partners.”

More than 600,000 households comprising 1.4 million individual North Carolinians are due to receive SNAP benefits to help put nutritious and healthy food on the table in November. Four in five North Carolina families participating in SNAP have either a child, senior or an adult with a disability. There are more than 580,000 children in North Carolina that rely on SNAP and more than 80% of people receiving SNAP benefits are working.

Additionally, NCDHHS does not currently have funding to maintain benefits past early November for the more than 262,000 people who depend on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This critical program provides healthy food, infant formula, nutrition education and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers and young children. While it is possible the federal government may allocate additional funding, at present there is no certainty that funding will be received. NCDHHS is currently exploring all options to maintain these benefits if NCDHHS does not receive federal funding for WIC.

The federal government shut down began on Oct. 1, 2025, because Congress did not pass a budget for the new fiscal year. The administration has paused or reduced many federal programs, and more than a million federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more serious the impacts may become.

NCDHHS is doing everything it can to reduce the impact on North Carolinians. The department understands the uncertainty can be very concerning for individuals and families who rely on these programs. NCDHHS is committed to being transparent and will share the latest updates on the www.ncdhhs.gov/shutdown website.

NCDHHS is providing the following guidance for people who depend on food and nutrition benefits:  

Continue to Apply and Renew: All residents should continue to apply for SNAP benefits and submit renewal paperwork on time. County DSS offices remain open and are processing all applications to prevent a backlog when funding is restored.

Check Your Balance: Any benefits currently on your EBT card are still available to use. Check your balance on the ebtEDGE app, at ebtEDGE.com, or by calling the number on the back of your card (1-888-622-7328).

If you or your family is in immediate need for food resources, please call 2-1-1 to be connected with local resources. You can also visit the NCDHHS website dedicated to food access to find a food pantry closest to you.

— press release from Office of Governor Josh Stein

Learn About Child Care Options, Challenges At Upcoming Forums

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N.C. Rep. Frank Sossamon is hosting forums to discuss the topic of child care in the area – choices, challenges and access to licensed child care facilities for working families. Featured speaker at the forums is Ariel Ford, director of Child Development and Early Education at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

The first forum will be held Tuesday, Apr. 30 at Perry Memorial Library in Henderson; the second forum will be held Thursday, May 23 at The Grand at Oxford Days Inn & Suites, 913 Martin Luther King Jr., Ave., Oxford.

The public is invited to attend the forum at 6 p.m.; there will be a session earlier – 1 p.m. – for individuals interested in opening a child care site. According to information from Sossamon’s office, North Carolina is considered a child care “desert” when it comes to infant/toddler care, with a statewide average of five families with babies competing for every available slot in licensed child care facilities.

The events seek to raise awareness to the child care crisis in the state and the need for more child care opportunities in North Carolina which support children’s healthy development and learning, allow parents to work and keep businesses running.

Last year, 278 child care facilities closed across the state and the demand for child care far surpasses the supply. A recent survey of North Carolina child care programs from the National Association for the Education of Young Children shows 60 percent of facilities are reporting a staffing shortage and 55 percent are under-enrolled due to the lack of staff. Rural counties in North Carolina are disproportionately impacted.

The child care forums are hosted by Representative Frank Sossamon. NCDHHS. Smart Start, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, Granville County Chamber of Commerce, Childcare Services Association, local child care centers and others participating.

Franklin Health Dept. Gets Grant $ For Women’s Health Services

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-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James F. Hicks, III

More grant money is coming to Franklin County to bolster women’s health services.

Franklin County Health Department is set to receive $460,000 in grant funding from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services over the next four years to provide women’s health services in a variety of ways. The health department will provide expanded clinical hours, home visits for post-natal assessment and integrate community health workers into department programs to bridge the gap in health care access, enhance cultural competence and provide essential support to our community.

The department will receive $115,000 annually over the course of four years.

“Receiving these funds from the state will allow us to enhance birth outcomes and reduce infant mortality by expanding our services beyond our current programs to pregnant and postpartum women,” Franklin County Health Director Scott LaVigne said.

Funding is expected to begin in February 2024.

For more information about this grant or the Health Department, contact LaVigne at 919.496.8111 or slavigne@franklincountync.gov.

TownTalk: Changes Coming To FNS And WIC Programs

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Recipients of WIC and SNAP benefits can expect to see some changes to the programs, now that exceptions brought about by the federal public health emergency have ended.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services administers both programs – WIC stands for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It is also called Food Nutrition Services, or FNS.

According to information from NC DHHS, more than 260,000 North Carolinians are currently enrolled in WIC, and about 1.6 million North Carolinians currently receive FNS benefits. Beneficiaries in the WIC and FNS programs should take action to keep their contact information up to date with these programs and be on the lookout for official mail, emails or texts from the programs.

Some of the restrictions were relaxed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain disruptions created shortages in WIC-eligible foods such as particular types of milk, yogurt and whole grain breads. After Aug. 1, substitutions will end. Families can access their WIC shopping list or access the BNFT® app to identify which food benefits are on their eWIC card.

A full list of approved brand, size and form of foods that can be purchased with WIC can be found on the NC WIC Program Shopping Guide; individual products can also be scanned at the store using the BNFT® app to check for eligibility.

For more information about the WIC program, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/ncwic.

Some changes in North Carolina include:

Six-month recertifications: Most households again will need to recertify every six months to continue receiving FNS benefits. FNS beneficiaries will receive their recertifications in the mail, and it will indicate the date by which they need to submit the recertification to their local Department of Social Services.

Suspensions of claims collections: Some North Carolina households have received FNS overpayments. While repayments were suspended during the PHE, these overpayments are now to be repaid by the beneficiaries through a repayment plan with their local DSS. FNS beneficiaries will be notified if there are new overpayments that must be repaid and will receive instructions about how to make payment arrangements.

Three specific groups of FNS recipients will also be uniquely affected by the end of the PHE:

College Students: The exemption for college students is no longer available. During the PHE, students with $0 family contribution noted on their FAFSA could receive FNS benefits.

Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents: An ABAWD is a FNS applicant or recipient who is between the ages of 18-49, physically and mentally capable of employment and not responsible for or living in a household with a minor child. With the conclusion of the PHE, the ABAWD time limit on benefits goes back into effect, meaning ABAWDs can receive FNS benefits for only three months in a three-year period unless certain extra work requirements or exemptions are met.

Individuals with class H or I felony convictions: A substance abuse assessment will again be required for anyone convicted of a class H or I felony as part of the eligibility process. Individuals will be required to complete the assessment at application or their next recertification.

For more information about the FNS program, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/fns. To apply for benefits online, visit epass.nc.gov.

To learn more about additional food resources, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/foodresources.

 

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The Local Skinny! COVID Has Not Gone Away

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There aren’t as many people still following the CDC guidelines that call for mask-wearing in public, but there remain some for whom “COVID fatigue” has not affected.

Schools, hospitals, doctors’ offices and other places that once required temperature checks and masks before entering have loosened those protocols.

Dr. Tracei Ball, a spokesperson for NC Department of Health and Human Services, encourages everyone to stay current on COVID vaccinations to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.

As long as it’s around, people are susceptible, so it’s imperative to stay protected, Ball said.

Ball is chief medical officer for OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness in the Charlotte Metro area, and she told Bill Harris on Wednesday’s segment of The Local Skinny! that even though COVID no longer steals the headlines and news broadcasts as it did over the past couple of years, it still poses a risk.

“We’re still seeing hospitalizations and deaths,” she said. “We need to stay abreast of what’s happening with COVID regardless of what’s happening in the headlines.”

The bivalent vaccine against COVID works, she said. “That’s going to give you the greatest protection against COVID right now,” Ball said.

And by the way, if the last vaccine you received was before September 2022, you’re due for a booster. And anyone 65 or older or who has a medical condition that puts you in a higher risk for infection is eligible for a booster if it’s been more than four months since your last one.

“If we all work together  and do our part, we protect not only ourselves, but our loved ones as well,” Ball said. “We may have to deal with COVID for some time.”

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Franklin Health Dept. Getting $631K To Reduce Infant Mortality Rate

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The Franklin County Health Department is getting more than half a million dollars from the state over the next three years to reduce infant mortality in the county.

The health department was notified that it will receive $631,914 in grant funds from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services – $210,638 each year, according to a press statement from public information officer James Hicks.

“We are thankful for the state of North Carolina making this significant investment toward reducing infant mortality in Franklin County,” said Franklin Health Director Scott Lavigne.

“We look forward to using these funds to implement evidence-based strategies designed to reduce this health inequity in Franklin County as it furthers our mission to prevent disease, provide care, promote health and protect our community.”

Funding is set to begin on June 1, 2023 and will continue for three years based on continued availability of funds and program performance.

For more information about his grant or the Health Department, contact Scott LaVigne at 919-496-8111 or slavigne@franklincountync.gov.

According to information from NCDHHS, Franklin County had eight infant deaths in 2020 per 1,000 live births, the most recent year for which data is available.

By comparison, Vance County reported five deaths per 1,000 live births, Granville and Warren counties each reported four. The two counties with the most infant deaths were Wake County with 69 and Cumberland County with 50.

The Local Skinny! NCDHHS Launches COVID 19 Telemedicine Program

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You feel bad, so you take the test. And, 15 minutes later, you get the results you were NOT hoping for: you just tested positive for COVID-19.

Now what?

The first step could be as simple as making a phone call.

People who test positive for COVID-19, particularly those who are uninsured or don’t have a primary care doctor, will have better access to treatments thanks to a time-limited telemedicine program launched by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with StarMed Healthcare.

After a positive test, early treatment is key to avoiding severe illness and hospitalizations, and treatment may even reduce complications from post-COVID conditions, also called long COVID.

“More than 1 million people in North Carolina don’t have health insurance, which has made accessing care for COVID-19, as with other diseases, very challenging,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “This program provides a temporary bridge to care for many in rural and historically marginalized communities, but we still need long term investments to close the coverage gap.”

Free telemedicine appointments to screen for COVID-19 treatment eligibility will be available, while funding allows, to North Carolinians who have tested positive for COVID-19 with an at-home test or other method.

To set up an appointment visit https://starmed.care/nc or call 704.941.6000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. If the telemedicine provider determines a patient is eligible for oral antiviral treatment, such as Paxlovid, they can send a prescription to the patient’s chosen pharmacy or through a mail-order pharmacy.

“Authorized COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid can prevent hospitalizations and save lives if started within five days of symptoms,” said NCDHHS Assistant Secretary for Public Health and State Public Health Officer Dr. Susan Kansagra. “Everyone, especially people at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, should have a plan to contact a health care provider right away if they test positive. This telemedicine program offers another option for quick access to lifesaving treatments.”

This telemedicine screening service is available regardless of insurance status and IDs are not required. If you have insurance, StarMed Healthcare will bill your health plan and NCDHHS will pay for any additional balance. If you do not have insurance, you will not be charged for your appointment. Oral antiviral pills are available at no-cost to the patient.

Telemedicine appointments through StarMed’s registration form are available in English and Spanish and six additional languages will be made available by the end of the week. Consultations are available in more than 200 other languages through an on-demand interpretation service. American Sign Language interpretation is also available. The telemedicine program will last from mid-December until funding runs out, which is estimated to be about mid-March.

COVID-19 trends are again rising according to the NCDHHS COVID dashboard. Flu and RSV have already stretched hospital capacity this year. One way to help is to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. Everyone 6 months of age and older should stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Find a vaccine location near you at MySpot.nc.gov. Everyone 6 months or older should also get a flu vaccine annually. Visit MySpot.nc.gov/flu to find locations and more information.

NCDHHS strongly encourages everyone to stay prepared by knowing what to do and where to go if you get sick with COVID-19.

  • Keep at-home tests on hand and take one if you have symptoms or if you have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19, even if you are up to date on your vaccines. Get tested at least five days after you last had close contact. For more information and to find tests, including free at-home tests, visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTests (Spanish).
  • If you test positive, stay away from others and follow the CDC’s isolation guidelines. Seek medical care immediately if you have trouble breathing or experience other warning signs. COVID-19 treatments are available and can lower your risk of hospitalization or death. For more information, visit MySpot.nc.gov/FindTreatment (Spanish) or set up a telemedicine appointment online or by calling 704.941.6000.

Through the pandemic, StarMed Healthcare operated 750 test sites across 29 North Carolina counties, administering more than 900,000 tests and more than 500,000 vaccines.

En español:

Gracias a un programa de telemedicina de duración limitada, el cual ha lanzado el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS) en asociación con el servicio de StarMed Healthcare, quienes den positivo con COVID-19, particularmente si no tienen seguro médico, o no tienen médico de cabecera, ahora tendrán mejor acceso a tratamientos. Luego de dar positivo en la prueba, recibir tratamiento temprano es un factor clave para evitar una enfermedad grave y hospitalización, y el tratamiento incluso pudiera reducir las complicaciones de afecciones posteriores al COVID, también conocidas como el COVID prolongado.

“En Carolina del Norte, más de un millón de personas no tienen seguro médico, lo que ha hecho que sea dificil para muchos tener acceso a atención para el COVID, al igual que para otras enfermedades”, dijo el secretario del NCDHHS, Kody H. Kinsley. “Este programa proporciona apoyo temporal para dar atención a muchas personas dentro de comunidades rurales e históricamente marginadas. Sin embargo, aún necesitamos hacer inversiones a largo plazo para lograr cerrar esta brecha de cobertura de seguro médico”.

Las citas gratuitas de telemedicina para revisar la elegibilidad para recibir tratamientos contra el COVID-19 estarán disponibles, mientras haya los fondos necesarios, para los habitantes de Carolina del Norte que hayan dado positivo con COVID-19, ya sea por una prueba hecha en casa o por otro método. Para hacer una cita, visite https://starmed.care/es/nc/ o llame al 704.941.6000. Puede llamar los siete días de la semana entre las 9 a.m. a 7 p.m. Si el proveedor de telemedicina determina que un paciente es elegible para obtener tratamiento antiviral oral, como Paxlovid, puede enviar una receta a la farmacia que el paciente elija o bien, obtener el producto a través de una farmacia de servicio por correo.

“Los tratamientos para el COVID-19 autorizados como Paxlovid pueden prevenir hospitalizaciones y salvar vidas si se toman dentro de los cinco días después de que empiecen los síntomas”, dijo la Dra. Susan Kansagra, subsecretaria de salud pública y oficial de salud del estado del NCDHHS. “Todos, especialmente las personas en alto riesgo de enfermarse gravemente a causa del COVID-19, deben tener un plan para comunicarse con un proveedor de atención médica de inmediato si dan positivo. Este programa de telemedicina ofrece otra opción para acceder rápidamente a tratamientos que salvan vidas”.

Este servicio de evaluación a través de telemedicina está disponible independientemente del seguro médico y no requiere presentar una identificación. Si usted tiene seguro médico, StarMed Healthcare facturará a su seguro y NCDHHS pagará cualquier costo adicional. Si no tiene seguro médico, no se le cobrará la consulta: las pastillas antivirales están disponibles gratuitamente para el paciente.

Las citas de telemedicina hechas a través del formulario de registro de StarMed están disponibles en inglés y en español, y seis idiomas adicionales estarán disponibles al final de la semana. Las consultas están disponibles en más de 200 idiomas a través de un servicio de interpretación, si se solicita. También está disponible el servicio de interpretación en lenguaje de señas americano. El programa de telemedicina funcionará desde mediados de diciembre hasta que se agoten los fondos, lo que se calcula ocurrirá a mediados de marzo.

De acuerdo a datos del tablero informativo de COVID de NCDHHS, las tendencias de COVID se están elevando nuevamente. Este año, la gripe (influenza) y el virus sincitial respiratorio ya han sobrepasado la capacidad de atención hospitalaria. Una forma de ayudar ante esta situación es vacunarse y recibir la dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19. Cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses de edad debe estar al día con sus vacunas y dosis de refuerzo contra el COVID-19. Encuentre un centro de vacunación cercano visitando Vacunate.nc.gov. Cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses de edad también debería vacunarse anualmente contra la gripe. Para encontrar centros de vacunación y más información, visite Vacunate.nc.gov/gripe.

NCDHHS motiva a todas las personas a mantenerse preparados, sabiendo qué hacer y dónde ir en caso de enfermedad a causa del COVID-19.

  • Tenga a la mano pruebas caseras y hágase una en caso de presentar síntomas o bien, si ha estado en contacto cercano con alguien que tenga COVID-19, incluso si usted está al día con sus vacunas. Hágase la prueba unos cinco días después de dicho contacto cercano. Para obtener más información y encontrar sitios de pruebas, incluyendo pruebas gratuitas en casa, visite Vacunate.nc.gov/Pruebas.
  • Si su resultado es positivo, manténgase alejado de los demás y siga las guías de aislamiento emitidas por los CDC. Si tiene dificultad para respirar o presenta otras señales de advertencia, busque atención médica de inmediato. Los tratamientos para el COVID-19 están disponibles y pueden reducir riesgos de hospitalización o muerte. Visite Vacunate.nc.gov/BuscarTratamiento para obtener más información o para hacer una cita de telemedicina en línea o llame al 704.941.6000.

Durante el curso de la pandemia, StarMed Healthcare operó 750 localidades de realización de pruebas en 29 condados de Carolina del Norte, y realizó más de 900,000 pruebas y aplicó más de 500,000 vacunas.

 

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The Local Skinny! Immunizations For Children Returning To School

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-information courtesy of N.C. Department of Health and Human Services

As children across North Carolina head back to school this month, the N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services reminds families that vaccinations are an important part of back-to-school success and overall health and well-being.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month to highlight the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life.

Whether children are homeschooled or attend a public, private, charter or religious school, state laws require they stay up-to-date for certain vaccinations based on their age, as recommended by the CDC.

Gov.Roy Cooper also proclaimed August as Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina. Alongside the proclamation, the NCDHHS is partnering with health care providers and stakeholders in a statewide awareness campaign to help ensure school-age children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Following CDC recommendations to control the spread of all vaccine-preventable diseases is an essential piece of both child and family well-being,” said Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist. “NCDHHS is helping health care providers, parents and guardians take this essential step to protect children’s health in school and at home.”

Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as chicken pox, meningitis, measles, pertussis (whooping cough) and others are still seen across North Carolina. Keeping children up to date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce unnecessary absences from school.

Children who are uninsured can still be vaccinated at low or no cost through the Vaccines for Children program which offers free vaccines to children through 19 years of age. “Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective and successful means available for preventing disease and death,” said Steven Gunn and Karin Szymanski, co-chairs of North Carolina Immunization Coalition.

“They help protect vaccinated individuals and our entire community by reducing and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.” Teens also face unique risks related to communicable diseases. “As children move into their preteen and teen years, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, making it especially important to stay current with immunizations. At the same time, preteens and teens tend to have fewer visits to their doctor’s office, increasing the chance that they are not up to date,” said Dr. Dimitrios Hondros, president of the N.C. Academy of Family Physicians. “This decrease in immunizations accelerated among adolescents during the pandemic, when stay-at-home orders went into effect.”

“You can use any health care visit, including for sports or camp physicals, school health assessments, checkups and sick visits to receive vaccines,” said Dr. Christoph Diasio, FAAP president of the N.C. Pediatric Society. “Talk with your pediatrician or health care professional to make sure your kids are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.”

NCDHHS encourages parents to talk with their child’s healthcare provider about recommended vaccinations. During that same visit, parents can talk with their physician about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children ages 6 months and older. Many pediatricians and family practitioners will provide the COVID-19 vaccine for all eligible family members, as well as teens, during that same visit.

Visit MySpot.nc.gov for more information about COVID-19 vaccines.

The CDC has more information and resources for parents and guardians, including a list of all vaccines required for school attendance from kindergarten through high school.

Find out more at immunize.nc.gov/family

 

 

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Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

‘Operation Fan Heat Relief’ Provides Fans To Eligible Elderly, Disabled

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-Information courtesy of N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging and Adult Services is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans to eligible recipients through Operation Fan Heat Relief.

People over the age of 60, as well as adults with disabilities, are eligible to sign up for assistance now through the end of October at local aging agencies across the state, according to information from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

Residents in Vance, Granville, Warren, Person and Franklin counties can contact the Kerr Tar Regional COG, 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson at 252.436.2040 or visit their website https://www.kerrtarcog.org/

Since 1986, the relief program has purchased fans for older adults and adults with disabilities, providing them with a more comfortable living environment and reducing heat-related illnesses.

The program is made possible by donations from Duke Energy Carolinas, Duke Energy Progress, Dominion Resources and Valassis, and allows regional area agencies on aging and local provider agencies to purchase fans for eligible individuals. Local provider agencies can also purchase a limited number of air conditioners based on a person’s specific health conditions.

Last year, DAAS received $85,500 in donations, allowing for the distribution of 3,240 fans and 26 air conditioners.

As individuals age and develop chronic medical conditions, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, and they may also be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe during the summer.
In addition to applying for fans, people ages 60 and older, as well as adults with disabilities, can take the following steps during high temperatures:

  • Increase fluid intake
  • Spend time in cool or air-conditioned environments regularly
  • Reduce strenuous activity during the afternoon
  • Speak with their physician before summer about how to stay safe while taking medication that can affect the body’s ability to cool itself (e.g., high blood pressure medications)

For more details, individuals may contact their area agency on aging or the Division of Aging and Adult Services’ housing program consultant at 919.855.3419.

More information about Operation Fan Heat Relief, including tips on preparing for extreme heat and a list of local agencies distributing fans, is available at www.ncdhhs.gov/operation-fan-and-heat-relief.