Applications for the Medicaid Expansion Outreach & Education Coordinator are currently closed.
News
Help Your Community Keep Medicaid Coverage
Help Your Community Keep Medicaid Coverage
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.
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
My Medicaid was terminated, but I think I should be eligible:
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
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
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 10: The Power of Community Created Solutions
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 10: The Power of Community Created Solutions
Episode 10: The Power of Community Created Solutions | Listen Here
In this episode, we talk with Daniella Runyambo, Co-Executive Director, Programs & Community Impact at Refugee Community Partnership about RCP’s community led efforts to make language justice a reality for their members.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
CSHA Welcomes New Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Renee Harvey, MAHEd, CHES
CSHA Welcomes New Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Renee Harvey, MAHEd, CHES
Care Share Health Alliance is excited to welcome our new Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Renee Harvey, MAHEd, CHES.
Harvey is a native of Washington, North Carolina. She holds an Associate in Applied Science-Medical Laboratory Technology from Beaufort Community College, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Studies and a Master of Arts in Health Education from East Carolina University. Additionally, Harvey is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and a North Carolina Rural Center Homegrown Leaders East Alum.
Harvey has a strong background in community health. She previously worked with the Health Assist Program as the Community Health Program Specialist where she assisted the uninsured population. Harvey also served as the Catalyst Coordinator for Healthy Eating and Active Living for Beaufort County with the North Carolina Public Health Foundation. Most recently, Harvey held the position of Community Health Improvement Manager for the Healthy Opportunities Pilot with Access East. The Healthy Opportunities Pilots (HOP) is the nation’s first comprehensive program to test and evaluate the impact of providing select evidence-based, non-medical interventions related to housing, food, transportation and interpersonal safety and toxic stress to high-needs Medicaid enrollees.
“We are thrilled to have Renee join our team here at Care Share Health Alliance,” says Executive Director, Weyling White, “Renee’s wealth of knowledge and passion for community is essential to our collaborative efforts, as we further expand our support of the NC Medicaid Healthy Opportunities Pilots. I look forward to our work together as we strive to improve health equity in the state.”
Harvey is passionate about supporting community based organizations’ capacity to address the social drivers of health and believes authentic community engagement is one of the keys in advancing health equity.
As Director of Innovation and Capacity Building, Harvey will guide 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 continued shift towards value-based care across the state. Harvey will also lead Care Share’s work with the Healthy Opportunities Pilot to convene key partners to facilitate successful collaboration between different parts of the Pilot, as well as strengthen the capacity of Human Service Organizations for service delivery and community members’ well-being.
“Care Share is thrilled to continue to convene partners invested in strengthening health equity in North Carolina through Medicaid transformation and the Healthy Opportunities Pilots,” says Care Share Health Alliance Board Chair, Alice Pollard, “I am excited that Renee has joined the talented team at Care Share to lead this work.”
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.
Job Opportunity: Medicaid Expansion BIPOC Community Engagement Coordinator
Job Opportunity: Medicaid Expansion BIPOC Community Engagement Coordinator
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
Position: Medicaid Expansion BIPOC Community Engagement Coordinator
Reports to: Director of Communications
Type: Part-Time
Location: North Carolina
The Medicaid Expansion BIPOC Community Engagement Coordinator will work closely with Care Share Health Alliance, the NCCommunity Health Center Association, the NC Navigator Consortium and the NC Justice Center to craft Medicaid Expansion implementation efforts towards communities of color through relationship building and outreach for monthly events they will plan.
This is a part-time, contracted position which will require travel and some evenings and weekends. This position is grant funded for one year.
Job Duties
- Ensure we are all working together and leveraging our resources in a coordinated and collaborative way to maximize enrollment and education efforts for communities of color
- Create plans to engage people that may be harder to reach, develop an effective feedback loop tracking best practices, lessons learned, concerns and opportunities for improvement and adjustment
- Develop/maintain relationships with key partner organizations that serve historically marginalized populations, especially communities of color
- Organize and lead community outreach and enrollment events each month with the key community partner organizations to reach historically marginalized populations
- Serve as an advocate for historically marginalized populations, especially communities of color
Additional Responsibilities:
- Performs other tasks and duties as assigned
Required & Desirable Skills
Required Skills
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination education and lived experience
- Experience working directly with racially, ethnically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse people and communities
- Commitment to advancing health equity and healthy communities
- Very strong organizational skills with attention to detail
- Flexible, able to adjust to changing priorities
- Willingness to learn new skills
Desirable Skills
- Master’s degree in public policy, public health, public health administration or related field
- Good understanding of North Carolina Medicaid policy and eligibility requirements
- Bi/multi-lingual
- Good written and verbal communication skills
- Familiar with Zoom, Microsoft Teams and/or other group platforms
Compensation:
Salary: $31.25 per hour (up to 80 hours per month.) Travel / lodging will be provided.
Application:
Process & Required Documents:
We are no longer accepting applications for this position.
As an equal opportunity employer, Care Share is committed to fostering a diverse, multicultural work environment with a commitment to our values and mission. Care Share strongly encourages applicants from people of color and other diverse backgrounds.
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 9: What Should You Know About Medicaid Expansion?
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 9: What Should You Know About Medicaid Expansion?
Episode 9: What Should You Know About Medicaid Expansion? | Listen Here
In this episode, we talk to Nick Riggs, Director of the NC Navigator Consortium, April Morgan, Outreach & Enrollment Manager at NC Community Health Center Association, and Care Share’s Medicaid Expansion Outreach & Education Coordinator, Hollis Smith, about what you should know about Medicaid Expansion!
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
CSHA Statement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
CSHA Statement for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“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.”
Updated Request for Proposal: NC Based Market Research Firm/Agency
Updated Request for Proposal: NC Based Market Research Firm/Agency
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.
A Message Of Thanks From Care Share
A Message Of Thanks From Care Share
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!
Equity+ Podcast Episode 8: Creating Equitable Internships
Equity+ Podcast Episode 8: Creating Equitable Internships
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!
Equity+ Podcast Episode 7: Hearts & Hands Food Pantry with Kenya Joseph
Equity+ Podcast Episode 7: Hearts & Hands Food Pantry with Kenya Joseph
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!
CSHA Welcomes new Medicaid Expansion O&E Coordinator
CSHA Welcomes new Medicaid Expansion O&E Coordinator
Care Share Health Alliance is excited to welcome Hollis Smith as our new Medicaid Expansion Outreach & Education Coordinator.
As the Medicaid Expansion O&E Coordinator, Smith will lead Care Share’s work promoting Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina to primarily underserved communities, educating enrollment assisters and community partners on new eligibility guidelines, and supporting their efforts to inform their communities about opportunities to enroll.
This work is in collaboration with our partners at the NC Navigator Consortium and the NC Community Health Center Association, made possible 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 thrilled to see North Carolina take this historic step to expanding access to affordable health coverage,” says Care Share Board Chair, Alice Pollard. “With partners, Care Share has led collaborative efforts in North Carolina to promote health insurance coverage since we opened our doors. We’re grateful to have funding and support from partners to continue this work.”
Beginning Dec. 1, 2023, Medicaid eligible income will increase, so North Carolinians may be able to get healthcare insurance through Medicaid even if they didn’t qualify before. Most people will be able to get healthcare coverage through Medicaid if they live in North Carolina, are age 19 through 64, are a citizen or qualified non-U.S. citizen, and have a household income that is below 138% of the federal poverty level.
“The passing of Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina marks the beginning of a new era where we are able to provide eligible North Carolinians with the healthcare coverage and services they need,” says Weyling White, Care Share’s Executive Director. “I am grateful for our funders that have made it possible for Care Share Health Alliance, in collaboration with the Navigator Consortium and the NC Community Health Center Association, to provide education, community preparedness and support of Medicaid Expansion efforts to communities across North Carolina. Our newest addition to the Care Share team, Hollis Smith, has hit the ground running, and I look forward to future community engagements and healthier community members as we embark on this momentous opportunity for health in our state”.
Smith has lived in the Carolinas all of her life. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics with minors in Spanish and Social and Economic Justice from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Smith is passionate about a systems-level approach to achieve equity. In her previous position, she served as a Health Insurance Marketplace Navigator as part of the NC Navigator Consortium, where she performed outreach and enrollment efforts to uninsured and underinsured individuals in the High Country Region. She believes that healthcare is a human right and understands the power of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion in creating a healthier, more equitable North Carolina.
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.
Job Opportunity: Director of Innovation and Capacity Building
Job Opportunity: Director of Innovation and Capacity Building
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.
Equity+ Podcast Episode 6: The Only One in the Room
Equity+ Podcast Episode 6: The Only One in the Room
Episode 6: The Only One in the Room | Listen Here
In this episode, CSHA Executive Director, Weyling White, talks about what it’s like to be “The Only One in the Room” as Black man in public health and healthcare with our guests Brandon Allison, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Cornell P. Wright, owner of Wrightway Equity Solutions, and Omari Richins, Program Officer for Health Improvement in North Carolina at the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
Learn more about our guests in our Show Notes
Note: Cornell is a member of Care Share’s board of directors.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
Financial Considerations of Medicaid Contracting: A Virtual Workshop with Nonprofit Finance Fund
Financial Considerations of Medicaid Contracting: A Virtual Workshop with Nonprofit Finance Fund
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.
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 5: Yesenia Cuello, NC Field & NC’s Farmworker Communities
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 5: Yesenia Cuello, NC Field & NC’s Farmworker Communities
Episode 5 of the Equity+ Podcast is live! This episode features an interview with Yesenia Cuello who shares what is was like for her to grow up in rural Eastern North Carolina while working in tobacco fields with her mother and sisters, and how that inspires the work she does today advocating for farmworkers and their families as the Executive Director of NC FIELD.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
NC Medicaid Expansion Will Launch on Dec. 1, 2023
NC Medicaid Expansion Will Launch on Dec. 1, 2023
It is our sincere pleasure to share that North Carolina Medicaid Expansion will launch December 1, 2023!
Although we know Medicaid Expansion in our state is long overdue, we are grateful that the over 600,000 North Carolinians eligible for coverage will finally have the opportunity to access the care they need and deserve.
We are grateful to Governor Cooper and members of the NC General Assembly for working together to reach a bipartisan solution that will benefit the health of all North Carolinians.
And, of course, we thank all of you who have continued to advocate for expansion – no matter how unlikely it seemed! Please know that the work you have done will go on to profoundly change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in our state.
We hope that you are able to take some time to celebrate this substantial victory for healthcare justice in North Carolina before we begin the much anticipated work of helping individuals enroll into “expanded” Medicaid!
More information about NC Medicaid Expansion can be found at:
NC Medicaid Expansion Will Launch on Dec. 1, 2023 – NCDHHS Press Release
UNC Greensboro Public Health Education Department Students Spring 2024 Internship Program at Care Share
UNC Greensboro Public Health Education Department Students Spring 2024 Internship Program at Care Share
Spring 2024 Internship Program – Request for Applications
Application Deadline: September 22, 2023
Overview:
Care Share Health Alliance is pleased to announce our Spring 2024 Internship Program for students at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Public Health Education Department. We are seeking dedicated and motivated individuals to join our team and contribute to our mission of improving healthcare access and quality for underserved communities. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the health nonprofit industry while making a meaningful impact.
Care Share Health Alliance is dedicated to collaborating for health equity and our vision is that communities are healthy and committed to healthy equity for all. Internships at Care Share Health Alliance are designed to mentor and embolden the next generation of healthcare leaders. We aim to create an environment of institutional support, structural empathy, and systemic accountability for students pursuing experiences that are transferable to their endeavors in the health professions.
Internship Details:
Position: Program Coordination Intern
Duration: Spring 2024 semester; minimum 240 hours
Location: Virtual
Compensation: $1,800 stipend
Hours: Part-time; 20-25 hours/week
Start Date: January 8, 2024
End Date: April 19, 2024
Qualifications:
– Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student in UNCG’s Public Health Education program
– Strong communication and interpersonal skills
– Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively
– Willingness to learn new skills
– Commitment to advancing health equity and healthy communities
– Proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Office 365, Zoom and Teams (or similar file sharing platform like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.)
– Bonus: Relevant work experience and/or related educational background in administration, non-profit operations, or healthcare settings
Internship Focus Areas:
– Professional Development
– Relationship Building and Community Engagement
– Capacity Building and Technical Assistance
– Community Health and Healthcare Access
– Nonprofit Organizational Administration
Major Duties and Responsibilities
– Attend staff, board, and other meetings
– Identify and foster strategic organizational partnerships & sponsors
– Partner with board and staff members to support health equity convenings and conference planning
– Notetaking (staff meetings, board meetings, NC Collaborative on Medicaid Transformation meetings, NC Get Covered meetings and trainings, Equity+ Network webinars, meetings and convenings), agenda development, and notes transcription
– Prepare communications such as emails, reports, presentations and other correspondence
– Write and edit documents such as white papers, reports, or instructional documents as resources for our community-based organization resource hub
– Collects and responds to collaboration inquiry requests from our community-based organization resource hub and network
*This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities that may be required of an intern. Internship preceptors will determine a specific work plan with interns upon onboarding.
Application Process:
1. Interested candidates should submit the following documents to jclayton@caresharehealth.org AND slofton@caresharehealth.org:
– Resume/CV
– Cover Letter
2. Applications must be received by September 22, 2023, to be considered.
Selection Process:
– Applications will be reviewed by the Care Share Health Alliance selection committee
– Selected candidates will be invited for an interview, if application is not selected, applicants will be notified
For more information about Care Share Health Alliance, visit our website: https://www.caresharehealth.org/internships/
NC Medicaid Expansion Will Not Launch on Oct. 1, Due to Budget Delays
NC Medicaid Expansion Will Not Launch on Oct. 1, Due to Budget Delays
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced that Medicaid Expansion will no longer launch on October 1st, as the North Carolina General Assembly failed to take needed action to meet that date. The department is confident that legislators will not sign a budget this month, nor pass separate legislation giving the final authorization to provide health coverage to more than 600,000 North Carolinians. A new date will be announced following needed legislative action, but it will not be Oct. 1
Read More: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/press-releases
North Carolina Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Renewal Posted for Public Comment
North Carolina Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Renewal Posted for Public Comment
NC Medicaid’s Section 1115 Demonstration Renewal has been posted for public comment, which includes language about the Healthy Opportunities Pilot. Please see the e-mail notice below from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services about how to share public comments:
North Carolina will be requesting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services renew the NC Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver for a second five-year period, from Nov. 1, 2024 through Oct. 31, 2029. The Demonstration Waiver application has been posted for public comment through September 20, 2023.
The Demonstration Waiver, initially approved in October 2018, supports the state’s goal to improve health and well-being for all North Carolinians through a whole-person, well-coordinated system of care that addresses both medical and non-medical drivers of health, while advancing health access by reducing disparities for historically marginalized populations.
Renewing the Demonstration Waiver will allow North Carolina to build on successes and continue the work of the state and its partners, in addition to requesting four new initiatives that will help drive the Department’s overall goals. North Carolina is requesting:
· extensions of ongoing managed care authorities;
· expansion of and refinements to the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program; and
· implementation of four new initiatives focused on streamlining Medicaid enrollment for children and youth; improving care for justice-involved individuals; and investing in behavioral health.
The Department knows that public input is crucial to ensuring the Demonstration Waiver will best serve the people of North Carolina. Five public hearings will be held; three will be in-person throughout the state and two will be online. These public hearings will provide an overview of the renewal application and gather comments. To ask questions about accessibility or request accommodations, please email Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov. At least two weeks’ advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, from 9:30-11 a.m. (in person)
Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)
Blue Ridge A & B in the Education Building
121 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, from 9:30-11 a.m. (in person)
McKimmon Conference & Training Center
NC State University, 1101 Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC 27606
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, from 5:30-7 p.m.
Virtual via Microsoft Teams, join on your computer, mobile app or room device.
Click here to join the meeting
Call in (audio only)
+1 984-204-1487, 902948880# United States, Raleigh
Phone Conference ID: 902 948 880#
Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, from 2:30-4 p.m. (in person)
Greenville Convention Center
303 SW Greenville Blvd., Greenville, NC 27834
Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (during the Medical Care Advisory Committee Meeting)
Virtual via Microsoft Teams, join on your computer, mobile app or room device.
Click here to join the meeting
Call in (audio only)
+1 984-204-1487, 412615457# United States, Raleigh
Phone Conference ID: 412 615 457#
Written comments also will be accepted by email or U.S. Mail through 5 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Please include “NC Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver” as the subject.
Email: Medicaid.NCEngagement@dhhs.nc.gov
U.S. Mail:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
NC Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver Team
1950 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1950
More information on the Demonstration Waiver renewal along with the draft proposed application are available on the NC Medicaid website at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/meetings-notices/proposed-program-design/nc-section-1115-demonstration-waiver.
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 4: Affordable Housing: The Cost Helping Communities Get & Stay Housed
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 4: Affordable Housing: The Cost Helping Communities Get & Stay Housed
Join Care Share and our featured guests Dr. Sue Ledford of Four Square Community Action, Charis Blackmon of West Side Community Land Trust, and S.J. Hightower and Hope Williams of Legal Aid of North Carolina for our a discussion on the different ways their organizations approach their work to help individuals and communities get and remain in affordable housing.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
Care Share Health Alliance Welcomes New Board Members
Care Share Health Alliance Welcomes New Board Members
Care Share Health Alliance is excited to welcome five new members to our board of directors: Dr. Carrie Rosario, Honey Yang Estrada, Jamilla Pinder, Dr. Meredith Gringle and Yesenia Cuello.
“Care Share is fortunate to have a strong board of directors that is dedicated to our mission of collaborating for health equity.” says Care Share Board Chair, Alice Pollard. “I am excited to work with the new board members, who will bring new insight and experience, helping us further our bold strategic plan and path forward.”
Carrie Rosario, DrPH, MPH is a health equity advocate, public health leader, and strategist with 15 years of experience in varied health settings. She is currently faculty in the Department of Public Health Education at UNC Greensboro, where she has served in executive leadership roles as Director of Undergraduate Study and Associate Chair of the Department.
Dr. Rosario holds a DrPH in Health Education from Loma Linda University and MPH in Community Health Education from UNC Greensboro. Her research focuses on advancing place-based public health and health equity, with an emphasis on tobacco control. Dr. Rosario is a respected leader in the academic public health community and member of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), American Public Health Association (APHA), and NC Institute of Medicine (NCIOM).
In 2020, Dr. Rosario was appointed by Governor Cooper to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) Board of Directors, where she currently serves as Chairperson. Her deep commitment to a healthier North Carolina has also led her to serve on the Healthy North Carolina 2030 Task Force, the Community Advisory Board for the UNCG Center for Housing and Community Studies, and the North Carolina State Health Improvement Plan Community Council.
Honey Yang Estrada is the President of the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association. She was born in Fresno, California and moved to North Carolina when she was 11 years old. The eldest daughter of Hmong refugees who sought refuge in the United States during times of war, Honey understands the struggles families face in navigating various societal systems and the existing barriers that inhibits them from achieving positive outcomes.
A proud Community Health Worker, Honey has worked in healthcare and public health for over 20 years. Her experience is rooted in community health and advocacy. Throughout her career, Honey continues to serve as a catalyst for change where she champions racial and health equity.
She holds a Masters in Public Health and currently lives in Newton, NC with her family and teaches Zumba at the local library.
Over the past 20 years, Jamilla Pinder has dedicated herself to advancing health care access. As a healthcare professional, she has extensive experience serving uninsured and underinsured patients in Guilford and Rockingham counties. Jamilla obtained a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina A&T State University for Agricultural and Environmental Systems (Agribusiness and Food Industry Management). She uses her education and experience to build and support local coalitions. Her work involves strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, healthcare systems, and faith-based communities to address access to healthcare and social determinants of health. Jamilla takes a grassroots approach to improving public health by tackling issues at the block level. As the Psalmist says, “Truth’s shining light guides me to make good choices and decisions; your word makes my pathway clear.” Jamila’s drive and self-confidence are both shaped by this passage.
Dr. Meredith Gringle earned her BA in Political Science and English Literature at McGill University and my MPH and PhD in Community Health Education at UNC Greensboro (UNCG). Dr. Gringle taught her first university course as a first-year doctoral student and fell in love with the ways that teaching and learning together helps create caring, incisive, and equitable community. Soon after receiving her PhD, Dr. Gringle joined the UNCG Public Health Education faculty, serving most recently as Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Internship Coordinator. In the fall of 2023, Dr. Gringle will begin her new role as Assistant Professor of Public Health at North Carolina Wesleyan University. She has extensive experience advising, mentoring, and learning with “traditional” and adult undergraduate and graduate students. Her research interests and scholarly focus areas include stigma and health disparities, reproductive health equity, and qualitative methodologies. Her current interdisciplinary research focuses on perinatal substance use and care-provision.
Yesenia Cuello was born in Los Angeles, CA but moved to NC with her mother and younger siblings when she was 5 years old. Spanish is her first language. Yesenia’s mother is from Morelos Cuernavaca, Mexico and her father is from Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. In NC, she graduated from Lenoir County Early College Highschool and became the first generation high school and college graduate in her family. She received a Nonprofit Management certificate from Duke University in 2019. Yesenia is a former child tobacco worker, became co-founder of a nonprofit organization called NC FIELD in 2009, and in 2019 was voted into her current role of Executive Director of NC FIELD, an organization created by farmworkers for farmworkers.
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 on our About page.
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 3: Connecting Communities to Health w/ Honey Yang Estrada
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 3: Connecting Communities to Health w/ Honey Yang Estrada
Episode 3: Connecting Communities to Health w/ Honey Yang Estrada | Listen Here
In this episode, we talk to Honey Yang Estrada, President of the NC Community Health Worker Association (NCCHWA). We discuss her background and what brought her to CHW work, how CHWs help bridge the gap between their community members and healthcare systems, and how the NCCHWA truly centers equity in the support they provide their members.
Note: Honey is a member of Care Share’s Board of Directors.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 2 Ft. Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson
Equity+ Podcast Ep. 2 Ft. Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson
Episode 2: Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson | Listen Here
Note: This episode deals with the loss of a child.
In this episode, we share an interview with Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson, originally recorded as part of NC BIPOC Leaders series published last year on our blog. Dr. Gibson shares how her life experiences have informed and inspired the incredible work she does at Peletah Ministries, the ministry she founded with her husband, Anthony, which has included mental health support, disaster relief and a trauma informed k-12 school.
Want more Equity+ Podcast? You can find past episodes on our Care Share Podcast page or listen on Youtube!