|
|
|
|
 |
August is Immunization Awareness Month in North Carolina and NCDHHS reminds families to get children and teens up-to-date on their vaccinations before school starts for the year.
Keeping children up-to-date on vaccinations is the best way to keep them healthy and reduce severe illness and 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 eligible children through 19 years of age.
This year, the CDC is recommending a new RSV immunization starting this fall to help protect all infants under 8 months and some older babies at increased risk of severe illness. State health officials encourage parents to talk to their child's physician about the importance of the COVID-19 and flu vaccines for their children ages 6 months and older.
See a list of all vaccines required for school attendance, from kindergarten through 12th grade. Additional information on vaccine-preventable diseases and immunizations for North Carolina families is available on the NCDHHS website. |
|
|
|
 |
NC Working to Attract Early Childhood Teachers
NCDHHS has announced early care and learning teachers can now use their previous training and skills development to qualify for NC Community College credits to earn certificates and further their higher education. This change will make it easier for aspiring and current early childhood teachers to get classroom experience and college credit to meet the state’s growing child care needs. Teachers can now receive up to nine community college credits toward either an Early Childhood Workforce certificate, Early Childhood Education diploma, or a certificate and/or an associate in applied science (AAS) degree in early childhood education. Second, anyone working in a licensed child care program is eligible for classes at no cost to earn a Child Development Associate® (CDA) certificate. Finally, through the Career and College Promise (CCP) program, eligible high school students can attend community college classes and earn college credit and credentials tuition free. For more information about the full range of programs available, visit the Raise NC website. |
|
 |
Walter B. Jones Ranked One of the Best Addiction Treatment Centers in America
NCDHHS' Walter B. Jones (WBJ) Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center in Greenville has been recognized as one of the Best Addiction Treatment Centers in America for 2023 in Newsweek’s annual rankings. The most recent rankings were released by Newsweek on Aug. 16 and are based on Nationwide Online Survey, Quality Score and Accreditation Data. This is the second year in a row that WBJ has been recognized as one of the best treatment centers in North Carolina. WBJ provides inpatient and outpatient services including medical detox, psychiatric stabilization, substance use disorder and mental health treatment, and uses best practices such as Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care and Seeking Safety. Perinatal services are also available for women at all stages of pregnancy, from all 100 counties, who are in need of specialized inpatient treatment. Walter B. Jones Center is one of two state-operated Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Centers specifically designed to provide medically monitored detoxification/crisis stabilization, and short-term treatment preparing adults with substance use and co-occurring disorders for ongoing community-based recovery services. |
|
|
|
 |
Next Mental Health Town Hall Aug. 24 in Lillington
The next Mental Health Town Hall will be held on Aug. 24 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Campbell University, Levine Hall, Lecture Hall 201, 4350 US 421 South in Lillington. The town hall will be live-streamed on the NCDHHS YouTube channel. See a flyer for more information. Improving Behavioral Health and Resilience is a top priority for NCDHHS, as more than three million people in North Carolina have mental health or substance use disorders. NCDHHS is committed to speaking with individuals in communities across the state about North Carolina’s behavioral health needs and key department initiatives through mental health town halls. NCDHHS hopes to visit as many counties as possible in the coming months and encourages residents to attend and join in the conversation. Go to the NCDHHS website to watch recordings of previous town halls and to find out when and where the next one will be scheduled. County representatives interested in hosting a Mental Health Town Hall can contact Annelyse Iglesias via email at annelyse.iglesias@dhhs.nc.gov.
|
|
 |
Spotlighting Excellence in Breastfeeding Support Across North Carolina
North Carolina has received several awards recognizing the incredible dedication of communities, health departments, schools, daycares, workplaces and businesses that provide the essential support to make breastfeeding possible. Breastfeeding provides important health benefits to both mothers and babies. It takes systemic and environmental change to succeed in increasing breastfeeding rates and in helping lactating people feel supported. Normalizing breastfeeding in the community is an essential step in this support and takes dedicated and caring people to make it happen. Read more about entities that have received breastfeeding designations from NCDHHS' Division of Child and Family Well-Being, as well as other breastfeeding support awards given by non-profits that also help protect and promote breastfeeding in our communities in an NCDHHS newsletter article. Learn more about breastfeeding promotion and support on the NCDHHS website. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
