The NC Public Benefits Collective works to improve the lives of North Carolinians by increasing access to public benefits that support health, economic opportunity, and workforce participation. The Collective strengthens the exchange of information between community-based organizations, advocates, and public partners to identify barriers, share solutions, and align strategies for systems change and policy advocacy. Through this coordinated effort, North Carolina can become a better place to live for all residents and a national leader in advancing public health through accessible and effective public benefits systems.
WHAT ARE PUBLIC BENEFITS?
Public benefit programs like Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, housing assistance, and child care subsidies are vital for North Carolinians. They play a crucial role in:
- Reducing poverty
- Improving health outcomes
- Strengthening workforce participation
- Injecting federal and state resources into local economies
When these programs are accessible and well-functioning, they foster community stability and economic mobility. However, navigating complex eligibility rules and administrative processes can be challenging for families, impacting their access to essential services. In this evolving policy landscape, ensuring timely information flow and reducing administrative burdens is critical for equitable access.
CORE STRATEGIES
Through facilitated convenings and coordinated Topic Tables (or Hubs) focused on key benefit areas and cross-cutting system challenges, the Collective creates structured spaces for:
- Real-time policy analysis and shared interpretation
- Elevating community voice and feedback loops from directly impacted residents
- Strengthening immigrant access and language equity strategies
- Responsible technology and modernization oversight
- Coordinated education and aligned advocacy campaigns
- Cross-sector relationship building and data-informed problem solving
By increasing the flow of accurate and timely information, centering the work on people, and building relationships across sectors within the benefits access ecosystem, the Collective mobilizes coordinated action, reduces administrative burdens, and builds long-term power for equitable access to public benefits across North Carolina.
CORE VALUES
Equity and Inclusion: Expanding access for historically excluded communities.
Community Voice and Dignity: Centering the lived experiences of benefit participants.
Collaboration Over Competition: Promoting shared ownership and partnership for sustainable change.
Trust and Radical Transparency: Ensuring openness and accountability.
Continuous Learning and Improvement: Operating with humility as we learn, adapt, and strengthen our processes together.
Systems Thinking: Recognizing that public benefits are interconnected and require coordinated approaches.
MORE ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE
In the fall of 2025, a small group of nonprofit and philanthropic leaders came together to explore the potential of a Public Benefits Hub. That vision has since evolved into the NC Public Benefits Collective, which aims to align and amplify the work already happening across North Carolina by strengthening information-sharing among community-based organizations, advocates, and public partners to identify barriers, share solutions, and coordinate strategies for systems change and policy advocacy.
Original Steering Committee
September – December 2025
Care Share, Code the Dream, Dogwood Health Trust, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Eva Clayton Rural Food Institute (GRRO NC), Hispanic Federation, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Legal Aid of NC, NC Alliance for Health, NC Association of County DSS Directors, NC Budget & Tax Center, NC Community Health Worker Association, NC Health Care Association, NC Justice Center, NCDHHS, Partners in Health.
Current Steering Committee
January – June 2026
Care Share, Code the Dream, Dogwood Health Trust, FIEL-NC, Kate B. Reynolds CharitableTrust, NC Alliance for Health, NC Budget & Tax Center.
The NC Public Benefits Collective is a collaborative effort of organizations and individuals across North Carolina facilitated by Care Share.
Contact NCCollective@caresharehealth.org for more information.
