North Carolina Department of Health And Human Services Announces Expansion of NCServes and Launches AskMeNC Initiative
This week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced extended hours for NCServes and the launch of AskMeNC initiative. These two services seek to improve services to North Carolina’s veterans.
“Veterans deserve care and wellness that are coordinated and streamlined – anything else would be unfair,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “By better aligning mental health, primary care, housing, employment, and peer supports, we are building a stronger, more compassionate network of care for those who served and those who continue to serve.”
Since its launch in 2014, NC Serve has delivered more than 150,000 services to nearly 70,000 veteran households across North Carolina. The first time type of program in the country. The program integrates with NCCARE360 to ensure every veteran and their family has access to comprehensive, whole-person care. With its expanded hours, the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s (ABCCM) Veterans Services of the Carolinas program, which manages NC Serves, anticipates serving an additional 2,000 veterans in the first year.
Beginning November 11, Veteran’s Day, the NCServes call line and coordination center, managed by ABCCM and in partnership with Vaya Health, will offer extended hours to meet veterans where they are and reduce barriers to care. These expanded hours, including evenings and weekends, make it easier for veterans and their families to connect to care when they need it most. NCServes is the first statewide coordinated care system in the country for veterans and their families. Veterans, service members, and their families in need of housing, transportation, physical and mental health care, employment services, and other resources are encouraged to call 855-962-8387 or visit www.ncserves.org to connect with the care coordination teams.
“North Carolina has the fourth-largest veteran population in the country and the second-largest rural veteran population,” said Debra Farrington, NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Health. “We have a responsibility to ensure they have access to the care and support they deserve.”
The AskMeNC Initiative and website provide a single point of entry for services that include: health care, housing, benefits navigation, employment, education services, and family support that may be available to veterans and their families. The initiative utilizes the existing NCServes coordination system to connect users with trusted, community-based providers across the state.
