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“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”

This beautiful quote is something that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. referenced several times in his writing and speeches. Although the words are most often attributed to King, they are, in fact, succinctly paraphrased from a sermon titled “Of Justice and the Conscience” by 19th century Unitarian minister and abolitionist, Theodore Parker, in which he says:

“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one […] But from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”

It’s not hard to see why these words inspired King as he fought for equality for Black Americans despite the harsh and violent opposition to civil rights activists, like himself, in the 1950s and 60s. Although the struggles King faced, and sacrifices he ultimately made, are beyond what most of us will ever experience, those of us who work towards a healthier and more equitable North Carolina also have reason to take solace in the idea of a just moral arc of the universe, even when where we stand on it seems a long way away from where we want to be. 

It was indeed a long time from 2013 when, through the Affordable Care Act, all states had the option to expand their Medicaid programs in a way that would provide access to health coverage to more of their citizens, and when Medicaid Expansion finally took place in North Carolina on December 1, 2023. 

However, looking back on that time from where we are now ( with over 270,000 North Carolinians already newly enrolled in “expanded” Medicaid ) this quote from Dr. King rings very true:

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” 

Despite North Carolina’s original decision not to take advantage of Medicaid Expansion, many advocates from every sector of the sate – healthcare, business, faith leaders and members, individuals advocating for their communities, families, or themselves – held on to that “infinite hope” for ten years in order to continue to fight to make it so that hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians now have access to low or no cost healthcare. 

Today, with this accomplishment, it’s little easier to believe that we live in a universe that is ultimately just. However, it’s also ultimately our actions which create justice, and it is therefore up to us to maintain those justices that have been so hard won.

There’s continued work to be done to make sure the benefits of Medicaid Expansion reach every North Carolinian who is entitled to them, and also continued work so that those who might not be eligible for it will one day have access to equally inexpensive and comprehensive healthcare coverage, regardless of who they are.

Working for health equity never ends, and, as Dr. King also said, “The time is always right to do what’s right.” 

Care Share Seeks NC Based Marketing Agency/Firm for Market Research On Medicaid Expansion for Hard-To-Reach Audiences

Please note that this RFP replaces the previous RFP for a Marketing Firm/Agency Care Share published on 12/4/23.

RFP Issued: Thursday, December 14, 2023
Deadline for Response: Friday, January 5, 2023

Purpose:
Care Share Health Alliance is seeking a North Carolina based marketing agency or firm to conduct phone interviews, personal interviews, discussion groups and/or door-to-door surveys with demographic groups that are identified as likely being eligible, but not having applied for North Carolina Medicaid Expansion. These groups will be identified from data to be shared by NCDHHS in early 2024.

Data collected will include:

• Barriers identified demographic groups perceive, or have encountered, to applying for Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina
• Messaging that inspires identified demographic groups to apply for Medicaid Expansion in NC
• Most useful marketing channels to reach identified demographic groups
• Common misconceptions held about NC Medicaid/Medicaid Expansion among identified demographic groups

Timeline:
Submission deadline: Friday, January 5, 2024
Proposal selection date: No later than January 10, 2024
Market research will start in February 2024
Research should be complete by April 2024

Budget: Up to $130,000

Please send your proposal, examples of similar work, and client references by Friday, January 5, 2024 to:
Erin Storie, Director of Communications at estorie@caresharehealth.org

Organization background: 
Care Share Health Alliance is a North Carolina based non-profit that builds capacity, creates networks, and partners for systems change so that communities are healthy and equitable. Our work is guided by the prioritization of community voice and the lived experience of community members, with a focus on historically marginalized and underserved populations. 

As Thanksgiving day quickly approaches, we’d like to take this time to reflect on the things our organization is thankful for.

This year, we’ve been happy to announce new additions to our Care Share staff, including our Virtual Assistant, Kyndal Dodd, and Medicaid Expansion Outreach & Education Coordinator, Hollis Smith. Hollis is leading Care Share’s collaborative work with the NC Community Health Center Association and NC Navigator Consortium to promote Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina, which begins Dec. 1, 2023. This work is generously supported by combined funding from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, the Duke Endowment, Dogwood Health Trust, the Cone Health Foundation and the John Rex Endowment. We are so grateful to have these – and other – important partners working together to make sure Medicaid Expansion is a success in our state!

In addition to staff, Care Share is deeply appreciative to welcome five new members to our board of directors. Thank you to Dr. Carrie Rosario, Honey Yang Estrada, Jamilla Pinder, Dr. Meredith Gringle and Yesenia Cuello for being willing to dedicate your time and expertise to our mission!

We also want to extend our thanks to all of the guests who were part of the first season of the Equity+ Podcast. Without your willingness to share your knowledge, passion and lived experience, in the service of uplifting your community’s voice, our podcast wouldn’t have been such a success!

And, although bittersweet, we are thankful for the work that our past Director of Community Engagement, Shaunessy Lofton, and Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Jalah Clayton, have done, and the lasting impact they have made on Care Share as an organization. We wish them all the best in their new professional endeavors. 

Finally, we are thankful for you, our partners, who work hard every day to make your communities healthy and more equitable. We hope that this week you are able to take time for yourself, to connect with friends and family, and have the chance to truly feel appreciated for all that you are and what you do. Have a wonderful holiday!

Episode 8: Creating Equitable Internships | Listen Here

In this episode, we’ll hear a conversation between our Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Jalah Clayton, our former Director of Community Engagement, Shaunessy Lofton and the inaugural interns of our Equitable Health Leadership Pathways Program, Jasmine Riddle and Claire Hopkins about their experiences with both being mentors and mentees while at Care Share Health Alliance.

Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!

Episode 7: Hearts & Hands Food Pantry with Kenya Joseph | Listen Here

In this episode we’ll hear a conversation between our Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Jalah Clayton, and Kenya Joseph of Heart and Hands Food Pantry, located in Mecklenburg County, about the unique approach the organization takes to addressing food insecurity in their community. 

You can support Hearts & Hands Food Pantry via their Amazon Wishlist.

Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!

Reports to: Executive Director
Type: Full Time (40 hours per week)
Location: Remote

This is a full-time position, 40 hours per week, requires some travel and evenings and weekends.

The primary responsibility of the Director of Innovation and Capacity Building is to direct all aspects of the NC Collaborative on Medicaid Transformation. This includes supporting the collaboration and alignment of interests and priorities between partners impacted by Medicaid Transformation and the shift towards value-based care across the state. Shared learning and further engagement will be achieved by facilitating and expanding the NCCOMeT (North Carolina Collaborative on Medicaid Transformation) convening and other convenings supporting the link between healthcare and social drivers of health, also known as the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, as part of NC DHHS’ Medicaid Transformation; providing onsite and/or virtual technical assistance for the delivery of effective strategies and services; and the development, sharing and implementation of promising practices.

Program Expansion and Management of NCCOMeT and Medicaid-related convenings (50%)
• Design, plan, and implement convenings to support the connection between healthcare and social drivers of health with a focus on housing, food, transportation, and interpersonal safety in collaboration with Care Share team members.
• Serve as an advocate and voice for historically marginalized populations, including rural communities and populations who experience health, social and economic barriers, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA+, low-income, disabled, women, etc.
• Gather, create, and compile best practices, tools, and strategies for the Equity+ Network, including the identification and development of new technical assistance services for Community Based Organizations across the state.
• Review program contracts and grant reports regularly with appropriate staff; provide reports to Executive Director, funders, and partners as appropriate.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with all partners including philanthropy, NC DHHS, state, and community-based organizations.
• Facilitate peer-to-peer learning by convening in-person and virtual meetings.
• Lead internal/external multi-disciplinary partnerships to establish, implement and monitor strategy, standards, and initiatives.
• Work to achieve specific outcomes by collaborating with a variety of partners including Care Share team members, funders, Care Share board of directors, existing and new partners.
• Ensure compliance with all grant requirements.

Technical Assistance (30%):
• Provide direction and management for the implementation of technical assistance services,
including tracking services provided, dissemination and implementation of best practices,
measuring progress towards outcomes.
• Identify and develop new technical assistance services for Humans Service Organizations
support delivering services to the NC DHHS Healthy Opportunity Pilots regions.
• Work collaboratively with Care Share staff for promising practices development and
communication needs

Thought Leadership (20%):
• Evaluate quantitative & qualitative data while performing high-level strategic thinking and facilitation of initiatives.
• Contribute to long-term team project planning, including identifying future activities and searching and applying for additional funding to support their designated specialty area of work.

Required & Desirable Skills:

Required Skills:
• The ideal candidate will have experience in and be a passionate advocate of health focused on racial equity and social justice who will creatively and boldly drive organizational, and community-level public health systems change. They will have a firm understanding of public health, including the drivers of inequity and social injustice, have a successful track record leading projects and teams, and have strong presentation, writing, and facilitation skills.
• Commitment to advancing health equity, including an understanding of institutional and structural racism and implicit bias and their impact on historically marginalized communities in NC and their health.
• Strategic thinker, team and network builder, and thought leader.
• Strong ability to present to racially, ethnically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse people and communities.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination education and lived experience.
• Minimum of 3 – 5 years leadership experience in healthcare and/or nonprofits.
• Strong facilitation and partner engagement skills.

Desirable Skills:
• Master’s degree in public health, health administration, public policy, organizational
development, or other related field
• Grants management experience
• Collaborative learner who has community engagement skills.
• Bi/multi-lingual and experience working directly with racially, ethnically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse people and communities.

Additional Responsibilities:
• Performs other tasks and duties as assigned.

Compensation:
Salary & Benefits:
Salary Range: $70,000 – $80,000
Benefits include: Health, Dental and Vision, 401K with Employer Match, Life & Disability Insurance, Flexible Spending Account, Paid Time Off & Holidays

Application: 
Process & Required Documents: To apply, candidates should send a cover letter and resume to kdodd@caresharehealth.org

As an equal opportunity employer, Care Share is committed to building a diverse, inclusive culture with a commitment to our values and mission. Care Share strongly encourages applicants from people of color and other diverse backgrounds.

Register Here

Care Share is excited to offer this opportunity, in collaboration with Non-Profit Finance Fund, to our Equity+ Network CBOs! Want to become one? NC Community Based Organizations can join the Equity+ Network by adding your org to the Community Resource Map!

Care Share Health Alliance is pleased to partner with Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) to offer a virtual, introductory workshop on the financial implications of Medicaid contracting, Tuesday, October 17, 2023 from 1:30pm-3:00pm. This workshop is intended for Equity+ Network community-based organization members like you!

NFF believes that the CBOs in the Equity+ Network best understand their communities’ aspirations and challenges and have the clearest insights about how to drive healthier outcomes. We see the greatest potential for advancing health equity and the success of Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina by delivering services in a manner that follows the lead of those closest to the work in their communities.

To support Equity+ Network members’ engagement in these efforts, NFF will facilitate a 90-minute workshop which aims to have participants leave with:

• An understanding the challenges of operating and achieving financial strength in the nonprofit sector
• A greater awareness of the major ways in which partnering with healthcare could impact their organization’s financial situation
• Knowledge of resources, tools and consulting available from NFF to support organizations’ continued consideration of and planning for Medicaid contracting

Following the workshop, participating organizations can opt into a one-on-one follow-up call with NFF staff to discuss follow-up questions, their organizational priorities and potential interest in engaging in financial management coaching and consulting from NFF in the future. 

NFF supports community wealth and well-being through our lending, consulting, and our work to positively influence how money flows to nonprofits. We contribute to a more equitable world by helping mission-driven organizations adapt, thrive, and drive positive change. Learn more at nff.org. 

During the Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to COVID-19, states had to follow federal requirements around the “Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Condition”, and were therefore not allowed to remove individuals from their Medicaid programs.  However, in March, 2023 the Consolidated Appropriations Act unlinked the continuous enrollment condition from the PHE, which allowed states to begin redetermining Medicaid recipients’ eligibility, and potentially removing them from the program. North Carolina began our redetermination process on April 1, 2023; this is called the “Continuous Coverage Unwinding” or “Medicaid Unwinding”.

Unfortunately, more North Carolinians than expected have lost Medicaid coverage during the Continuous Coverage Unwinding due to “procedural terminations”. This means that these individuals may still be eligible for Medicaid, but just need to update certain information with their local DSS.

Some may have received “Medical Assistance Renewal Notice” or “Request for More Information” letters from their local DSS and not known what to do about them. Others may not have received anything, because their DSS does not have their up-to-date mailing address.

There’s also concern that some people who received termination letters from Medicaid won’t try to re-enroll because they feel they’re healthy and don’t need coverage. We highly encourage all individuals to maintain the health coverage that is available to them so they don’t have to seek coverage in a crisis, and have access to the care they need and deserve.

Community Based Organizations can help their clients and community members understand how to maintain their Medicaid coverage, or seek other affordable coverage several ways:

Inform Them the “Unwinding” Is Happening
Many people still don’t know the Continuous Coverage/Medicaid Unwinding is happening, or that it affects them. You can help spread the word about the Unwinding with pre-made materials from NC DHHS & CMS:

• NC DHHS CCU Unwinding Toolkit
• NC Medicaid Recertification Video – 15s
• NC Medicaid Recertification Video – 30s
• NC Medicaid Recertification Video – 60s
• All Hands-on-Deck: Keeping People Covered As States Restart Routine Medicaid Renewals
• Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility Renewals: A Communications Toolkit

Make Sure Medicaid Recipients in Your Community Know 3 Key Messages:

• Update their current contact information with their local DSS
• Check their mail and open all letters from DSS
• Sign Up For an Enhanced EPASS Account – This lets you update your contact and other Medicaid information online without having to call your local DSS.
  • Enhanced ePass Account Fact Sheet

Let Them Know There are Options if their Medicaid has Been Terminated

You can help community members know what steps to take if their Medicaid has been terminated by directing them to FREE resources, like the ones below:

Who to Contact if…

I received a letter from Medicaid/DSS that I don’t understand

• Your Local DSS – Find Your Local DSS Number
• NCMedHelp.org / NCMedHelp.com
• NC Medicaid Ombudsman
  • NC Medicaid Ombudsman Fact Sheet

My Medicaid was terminated, but I think I should be eligible:

• NC Med Help: Legal Services

I don’t qualify for Medicaid, but might qualify for financial help through the Health Insurance Marketplace:

• Get Covered Connector –  Find local help understanding your options through the Marketplace
• Healthcare.gov 

I don’t qualify for Medicaid, but I may qualify for Medicare:
Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program – Find a local SHIIP Counselor to help you understand your Medicare options

I don’t qualify for any affordable health insurance options:

• Find a Health Center – Find a local Federally Qualified Health Center that could offer low cost sliding-scale payment options
• NC Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
• NC Networks of Care for Low-Income, Uninsured

What About Medicaid Expansion?
Eligible individuals will be able to enroll in NC’s “expanded” Medicaid program starting December 1, 2023.

Additional Resources

NC DHHS Resources

• NC Medicaid Recertification Page
• NC Medicaid Beneficiary Webpage
• NC Medicaid Beneficiary Help Center
• Sample Medical Assistance Renewal Notice | Spanish
• Sample Request for More Information | Spanish

• CMS Resources

• Partner Education on Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding Webinars
• HHS Announcement of State Flexibilities to Minimize Coverage Loss
  

Protecting Immigrant Families

• Connected to Coverage
  

If you have questions about how your CBO can help your community understand the Medicaid/Continuous Coverage Unwinding, Marketplace and other low cost healthcare options, contact Erin Storie at: estorie@caresharehealth.org

At Care Share Health Alliance we approach this statement with intense sadness for the loss of life of Tyre Nichols and with the deepest sympathy for his family to have lost a loved one in such a horrific way. 

We also approach the statement almost with trepidation – because we again must address the murder of a Black man at the hands of police in America.  These murders continue to happen over and over, many of them never acknowledged by the media, but enough so that we fear our nation is becoming desensitized. This should be a wakeup call.

It’s well past the time to ask why this continues happening, and face the hard truth that it is because our criminal justice system has origins in the racial persecution of Black Americans and intentional dehumanization of Black men. It allows for the abuse of power and lack of accountability which have been the hallmark of these terrible events.

It’s tempting to think that because the officers who murdered Tyre Nichols were also Black that means racism can’t be a motivator. But when we work within systems that are built around a racist structure, and take advantage of their inequities, we are complicit in their abuses. 

Unfortunately, the majority of American social and political systems are built on a culture of White Supremacy which, more often than not, goes unacknowledged. This lends to the desensitization we feel when we are confronted with the news of another terrible tragedy like what happened in Memphis. When entire social structures are built upon intentional injustice, we become desensitized because we feel like there’s nothing we can do to make change.

In that light, we’d like to share ways to help Tyre’s family and to donate your time or money to organizations working toward police reform:

The GoFundMe started by the family of Tyre Nichols:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/tyre-nichols

Emancipate NC:
https://emancipatenc.org/

Campaign Zero:
https://campaignzero.org/

NAACP:
https://naacp.org/actions/action-alert-uniformed-police-reform

If you are an organizational leader, you are probably also wondering how you can help your staff and colleagues process their responses to these events. We suggest the following:

• Encourage open conversation on the impact of recent events and structural racism with your staff
• Encourage use of EAP, if available
• Give employees time and space to work through their emotions 
• Recognize that employees may be re-experiencing trauma from times that have felt unsafe with law enforcement

Care Share Health Alliance hopes to never have to publish another statement like this. We do not want to see any more lives lost to police brutality. However, for that to be a reality, our country must be brave enough to face hard truths about the racist heritage of our law enforcement system and make changes that holds itself accountable for the safety of all Americans.

Care Share Health Alliance is seeking a qualified auditing firm to provide accounting services. Specific questions to which we ask your response are listed in Exhibit I.  Please note that your proposal fees should be for a two year period, beginning August 2022 through June 2024 and should be based on a single, annual fee for the routine and consultative services outlined below. All proposals should be sent to business@caresharehealth.org by close of business day August 31st, 2022. 

We use our accounting firm as follows:

• Audit of the financial statements including IRS Form 990 for the year ending December  31, 2021
• Preparation of the management letter.
• Consultation on financial and other matters related to the organization as required annually.
• Very limited consultation on tax matters as required.

The primary users of the financial statements are the Management team, Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee.  In addition to the audit of the financial statements and meetings with management and the Audit Committee, we also require approximately 10 hours of partner and manager time for consultation with management throughout the year. In an effort to minimize the time required for you to prepare your proposal, we have enclosed the following background information for your consideration:

Exhibit I     Questions for Prospective Accounting Firm

Exhibit II   Audit Timetable and Deliverables

Exhibit III  Scope of Operation

Any additional information which you may require to prepare your proposal may be obtained by scheduling an appointment with Care Share Health Alliance Executive Director, Weyling White (wwhite@caresharehealth.org). The Audit Committee of the Care Share Health Alliance reserves the right to reject any or all proposals submitted and to also make an award where it appears it will be to the best interest of Care Share Health Alliance.

EXHIBIT I

Questions for Prospective Accounting Firm

Profile of Firm:

1. Describe the Firm on an overall basis, both locally and nationally.

1. Summarize the Firm’s qualifications regarding nonprofit organizations from an audit, EDP and tax perspective (How many non-profit clients do you currently work with).

Quality of Audit:

1. Describe the Firm’s audit approach, including review of internal controls.

1. Describe how your Firm will obtain a basic understanding of Care Share Health Alliance operations and activities for planning the audit.

1. Describe the local office’s experience on dealing with other nonprofit clients similar to Care Share Health Alliance

1. Describe the local office’s capability to audit in a computer environment.

1. Describe any services, other than audits, that are offered by the local office especially as related to internal controls and EDP operations.

Responsiveness to Care Share Health Alliance:

1. Estimate total fees and hours by employment classification given the services required.

1. Estimate the “first time through” hours, which would be required of your Firm and our staff.

1. Submit client references for each key member of the proposed client service team.

1. Submit local non-profit client references.

1. Provide any other information you deem desirable.

 EXHIBIT II

Time Tables (estimated):

August- October Audit Work

October 31, 2022 Final Audit Work

November 15, 2022 Copy of Audited Financial Statements (We will be responsible for printing)

November 15, 2022 Management Letter

Deliverables:

1. Audited financial statements of Care Share Health Alliance for year ending December 31, 2021

1. IRS Form 990

1. Management letter comments.

Other Consultation Services:

Financial, operational, and very limited tax consultation will be required annually on matters related to management.  These services are expected to be included in your base fee for services which are expected to require approximately 10 additional hours annually from a partner or manager.

EXHIBIT III

Scope of Operations

Care Share Health Alliance was organized in 2008 and has been located in Raleigh, NC since 2008.  It is a North Carolina nonprofit corporation.

Care Share Health Alliance mission is collaborating for health equity and we envision communities that are healthy and committed to health equity for all. We believe that everyone should have a fair and just opportunity for health.

There are approximately 4 staff members.

Total annual revenue is $275,000.  Care Share Health Alliance derives its income from both the public (government agencies) and private (foundations, corporations and individual contributors) sectors.

All proposals should be sent to business@caresharehealth.org by close of business day August 31st, 2022. 

The mission of Care Share Health Alliance is “collaborating for health equity”, which means working to increase access to safe and affordable healthcare for all. We are therefore deeply saddened by the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade after 50 years of legal precedent, unequivocally making access to safe and affordable reproductive services more difficult, if not impossible, for our fellow Americans. 

Abortion bans and restrictions disproportionately affect those who already face difficulties with accessing care, including BIPOC communities, low-income individuals, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, and people with disabilities. Care Share Health Alliance fully supports the reproductive rights of all women and birthing people, including their right to safe abortion. We stand in solidarity with those affected by the Supreme Court’s decision and those fighting to return this fundamental right to all Americans.

To be clear, abortion is still legal in North Carolina. We are glad for the support for reproductive rights from Governor Roy Cooper and hope to see the right to abortion explicitly enshrined within state law. 

Care Share Health Alliance trusts women and birthing people to make their own decisions about their bodies. That is what the right to abortion is: a fundamental human right to bodily autonomy. If you or someone you love is seeking reproductive care, resources on where and how to obtain abortion services and financial and logistical support can be found at the following organizations: 

Abortion Finder: https://www.abortionfinder.org/

Carolina Abortion Fund: https://www.carolinaabortionfund.org/ 

Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/ 

NARAL Pro-Choice America: https://www.prochoiceamerica.org/

This is a difficult time in our nation’s history. In our country which promises freedom for all, the rights and very lives of women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized communities are under what feels like relentless attack. However, we know that our nation’s unjust present does not have to be its future. Care Share Health Alliance will continue to fight for health equity for all individuals both in North Carolina and throughout the country. We are committed to a just future for our nation, which includes access to the full spectrum of healthcare services for all Americans. 

Care Share Health Alliance is proud to welcome a new Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Jalah Clayton, and Director of Communications, Erin Storie, to its staff.

“We are so grateful to have Jalah Clayton and Erin Storie join our team as Care Share Health Alliance expands our work supporting Medicaid Transformation and health equity across North Carolina,” said Care Share Health Alliance Executive Director Weyling White. “Both Jalah and Erin share a strong passion for equity and community voice which directly aligns with our values here at Care Share Health Alliance. This is such an exciting time for our organization and we are looking forward to their leadership.”  

As Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Jalah Clayton will direct all aspects of the NC Collaborative on Medicaid Transformation, including supporting the collaboration and alignment of interests and priorities between partners impacted by Medicaid Transformation and the shift towards value-based care across the state.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with a progressive, collaborative and dynamic team of individuals to continue advancing health equity in North Carolina,” said Clayton. “As a Community Health Educator, I look forward to upholding the vision of Care Share Health Alliance, and influencing positive change within the network of community organizations and partners aligned with that vision.”

Clayton’s most recent previous position was Program Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council. She received a Masters in Public Health concentrated in Community Health Education from UNC Greensboro, and Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science and Sociology from UNC Chapel Hill.  Jalah was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.

New Director of Communications, Erin Storie, will lead the design, implementation, and management of Care Share Health Alliance’s strategic communication plan and communication initiatives, and advance Care Share’s mission, vision, and values to both internal and external audiences.

“Having worked with Care Share Health Alliance in different capacities throughout my career, I have seen directly their positive impact on the individuals and communities they’ve collaborated with,” said Storie, “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the excellent work of this organization, and to help advance health equity in North Carolina.” 

Storie previously worked with Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center as Communications & Advocacy Coordinator. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from UNC Charlotte. Storie is a native of North Carolina, born in Hickory, NC and raised in Gates, NC.

“I am thrilled to have Jalah and Erin join the Care Share team,” said Alice Pollard, Board Chair for Care Share Health Alliance, “As Care Share continues to grow our capacity to support our mission of collaborating for health equity, the Board is grateful to our partners for their support and to the entire team at Care Share for their dedication. I look forward to everything the Care Share team has in store for 2022 and beyond.”

Care Share Health Alliance is a North Carolina based non-profit that builds capacity, creates networks, and partners for systems change so that communities are healthy and equitable. Learn more about Care Share at www.caresharehealth.org.

The NC Medical Journal’s latest issue Celebrating – and Critiquing – 10 Years of the ACA in North Carolina highlights NC Get Covered: Spotlight on the Safety Net : NC Get Covered – A Statewide Network of Health Care Change Agents. To read the article, visit http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/content/81/6/403 and to read the full issue visit www.ncmedicaljournal.com

If you are in need of health insurance coverage, please visit Healthcare.gov to sign up for a plan today! If you live in NC, you can visit NCNavigator.net or dial 1-855-733-3711 for free enrollment assistance. Open enrollment ends on December 15.