During COVID-19, social capital is proving to be a necessary ingredient for positive health and economic outcomes.

In 2018, 12% of adolescents in NC attempted suicide, with an even greater number expected to attempt suicide in the context of COVID-19. School closures and mandatory social distancing, coupled with stressful home environments, place adolescents with suicidal urges at significantly greater risk for suicide. Appalachian State University is partnering with seven schools and three counties to prevent suicides in Allegheny, Ashe, and Watauga Counties.

Join ncIMPACT Initiative Director Anita Brown-Graham as she explores related challenges and collaborative solutions with a panel of North Carolina experts.

– Anna Yaros, Research Clinical Psychologist at RTI
– Conor O’Neill, Medical Instructor at Duke University School of Medicine
– Dana Griffin, Associate Professor at UNC School of Education

Dr. Wanda Boone describes the Opioid Response Project experience as extremely rewarding, not only because of shared information at forums, but because of the dialogue that happened during presentations and with speakers. “Presenters have been knowledgeable, respectful and open to hearing feedback,” said Boone. “The School of Government took time to think about the balance of speakers between novices and experts in the room, and to me, that was the most wonderful aspect of the project.”

Health outcomes are impacted by a person’s access to nutritious food, physical activity, education, and their job status. For high risk communities, improving outcomes means tackling these upstream issues with a multi-faceted approach. Learn about a collaboration happening in Gaston County to bring better outcomes to a low-income African American community.

The statewide Opioid Response Project forums offered the teams support as they worked toward their collective impact goals. The team found the forums to be a great opportunity to get out of their silos and collaborate as a district.

Access to efficient, healthy water and wastewater services is a significant problem for historically disadvantaged communities, both in North Carolina and nationally. The North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure exists to improve access to efficient, healthy water and wastewater services for rural communities. The Division was created in 2013 to bring all water infrastructure funding programs together, providing support to get water utilities on firmer footing, making them more logistically and financially sustainable. When small communities struggle to provide services to residents, the Division often encourages combining into regions for long-term success.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Carolina textile industry has been at the forefront of the PPE manufacturing effort, organizing a rapid response to the rising needs of front line workers. The Carolina Textile District, a network of textile manufacturers in North and South Carolina, responded to the pandemic by arranging a collaborative solution to their members’ financial challenges that also provides vital personal protective equipment that remains in short supply. 

The Cabarrus team is proud of their accomplishments and excited to have built what they hope is a sustainable collaboration for their county. In years to come, they hope to take action toward building a more supportive recovery community.

North Carolina is the 10th hungriest state in the nation. Nearly 1 in 5 children in NC faces hunger on a regular basis. Wake County’s Capital Area Food Network brings together nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, and local government to ensure that all residents have adequate access to healthy food.
Join ncIMPACT Initiative Director Anita Brown-Graham as she explores these challenges and collaborative solutions with expert panelists:
– Dr. Monique Bethell: Capital Area Food Network
– Abbey Piner: Center for Environmental Farming Systems at NC State University | Community Food Strategies, Project Lead
– Jamie DeMent: business owner (Coon Rock Farm & Bella Bean Organics) and author

At least 10% of elders are abused in some way each year, including through physical abuse, financial fraud, scams, caregiver neglect, psychological abuse and sexual abuse. Financial exploitation is the most prominent form of elder abuse in North Carolina and nationally. Usually, it is someone close to the victim who exploits them, or fraud efforts that target the elderly via phone or email. In Johnston County, a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), made up of the Clerk of Superior Court, DA’s Office, Department of Social Services, and Sheriff’s Department are working together to identify resources in the community, share information about scams and perpetrators, and resolve complex cases of abuse and exploitation through multiple supports for seniors.