In addition to fulfilling the work owned by our six core service lines, our program also coordinates a number of designated statewide projects. These projects often cross service lines and our model to recruit, train, retain the health care workforce needed to create a healthy North Carolina. With goals and outcomes set by the Program Office and work led by regional AHECs, these initiatives touch on multiple areas of our mission statement. Click the buttons below to explore our most recent statewide work to help secure the health of North Carolinians in the months and years ahead. 

What is Healthy North Carolina 2030 and the NC State Health Improvement Plan?

Every 10 years, the state of North Carolina embarks on a goal setting process to identify the indicators or measures of good health and well-being for the people of our state over the next decade. The culmination of this process for the current decade, led by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is known as Healthy North Carolina 2030 (HNC 2030). These indicators were selected based on evidence of impact on health and with input from over 400 experts and community members. In developing HNC 2030, the team recognized the important roles of health behavior, social and economic factors, and the physical environment in contributing to health care. HNC 2030 serves as the foundation for the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan (NC SHIP). 

What is the role of NC AHEC?

NC AHEC is a key partner for NC SHIP implementation.  Through programming designed to contribute to a healthier NC, much of our statewide work aligns with the indicators identified in HNC 2030.  

Our programming:

• Supports the improvement of statewide Behavioral Health outcomes through educational training and practice support.  
• Delivers educational programming to address substance abuse issues through Opioid Screening, Buprenorphine training and Tobacco and Alcohol use treatment/education. 
• Helps primary care practices close care gaps with adult diabetes screening rates, pediatric immunizations and timely access to prenatal care at no cost.
• Supports medical residency training programs, aiming to increase residency positions in rural areas as a means of decreasing health inequities. This is done via programmatic and financial assistance.
• Provides educational courses addressing the community health disparities outlined in NC SHIP, delivering the training needed to keep NC’s providers current within emerging public health issues. 

This brief video, featuring Dr. Adam Zolotor, NC AHEC Associate Director for Medical Education and former President and CEO of the NCIOM, provides a high-level overview of HNC 2030 and its impact on the health of individuals in North Carolina. 

Where can I get more information at one of our Regional AHEC Centers?

Please view this directory to find the contact at your Regional AHEC for each HNC2030 indicator that aligns with our statewide work. We have designated contacts for indicators 5, 10-15, and 17-19.

NC AHEC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Modules for Primary Care Clinical and Non-clinical Staff

In order to ensure high-quality care, health care providers are required to be competent not only in medicine but also in communication and caring for people with different disease burdens, socio-cultural realities, expectations, values, and beliefs. Be it the result of a language barrier, differences in philosophy, differences in cultural norms (and expectations), or even cultural bias, a lack of understanding can lead to communication breakdown with patients. Consequently, when patients cannot fully communicate or express their needs, health inequities and health disparities occur.

Health equity means ensuring that every person in every community can get the same high-quality care. A number of social, economic and cultural factors significantly affect both physical and mental health. Health care providers benefit from education to recognize and eliminate these disadvantages that lead to health care disparities through initiatives that increase diversity in leadership, improve training for cultural humility, and strengthen community partnerships.

The program consists of 11 individual modules and will focus on implementing strategies of health equity that are proven to improve patient care including:
• Articulating how health equity plays a heightened and essential role in today’s healthcare environment
• Educating clinical providers and non-clinical staff on fundamental concepts to assist providers and staff to increase knowledge and adopt equitable practices  
• Integrating values and core principles into the patient care environment
• Building core competency and shared language across staff