“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.