NC Center for Health & Wellness

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• WNC Health Policy Institute
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Our Mission

Our mission is to foster healthier NC communities by leading innovation and developing equitable opportunities with partners statewide.

Who We Are

We believe that everyone deserves a level playing field, no matter station in life, to pursue optimal health without undue burdens beyond one’s control.

What We Do

We work to influence policy changes through research and education, build capacity among networks of providers, transform data systems, and implement innovative initiatives. Collectively our work builds resources to impact conditions and improve health outcomes for various populations across North Carolina, particularly for those at highest risk and with the lowest access. We achieve these results through four core initiatives: Culture of Results, Healthy Aging NC, WNC Health Policy Initiative and Health Policy Research Consortium.

One of our core initiatives is NCCHW’s Culture of Results (COR) empowerment evaluation training and technical assistance program and Healthy Aging NC (HANC), which provides statewide training, data reporting and management, and technical assistance for evidence-based health programs.

The Culture of Results (COR) initiative provides training and support to assess opportunities and impact, strengthen coordination, plan strategically and improve and sustain programs and systems statewide. We conduct rigorous research and provide capacity, coordination, communication, and accountability support to our partners. Culture of Results team members engage partner organizations in learning and using Results-based Accountability (RBA) and its evidence-based tools to identify community results, prioritize and collect data, and plan, evaluate and improve their strategies. We strive to build trust, collaboration, and lift the voices of those with diverse expertise and lived experiences in our planning processes.

NCCHW’s Healthy Aging NC initiative (HANC) supports multi-sector agencies statewide to offer evidence-based health programs, increase access to health promotion and disease management resources, and build sustainability of these services. Our HANC website (www.healthyagingnc.com) is a statewide hub for information, referrals, and program registration. Programs offered through this hub address: chronic disease self-management, falls prevention, physical activity and balance, arthritis and pain management, social isolation and loneliness among others. Standing Strong NC educates community members about how to prevent falls and save lives. Our “No Wrong Door” project seeks to improve the data and systems by which caregivers access long term services and support for their families.

The Western NC Health Policy Initiative (www.wnchealthpolicy.org), educates and engages partners in planning to inform policy solutions to challenging health issues facing our region.

The Health Policy Research Consortium is an inter-institutional collaboration to develop and implement a shared research agenda addressing factors that influence health policy opportunities in WNC.

Finally, the NCCHW collaborates with UNC Asheville faculty and students regionally to support training in health workforce opportunities, to engage students in promoting a culture of health on their college campuses and communities, and to deepen the practice of health promotion and public health among learners, alumni, and the communities they serve.

NCCHW is fully funded by grants and contracts. Currently, federal funding sources include the US Department of Human Services, Administration of Community Living to support many of our healthy aging initiatives and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which supports our arthritis prevention and management work. State funding comes from the Human Services Injury and Violence Prevention Branch. The Dogwood Health Trust funds our regional initiatives, and NC Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation was the founding private funder for the Center’s work. NCCHW has contractual relationships to support a wide variety of clinical and community partners in their work as well.