Regional Training for School Social Workers

Piedmont-Triad Region

October 20th | 9:00-4:00

This regional training series equips school social workers with the latest updates, critical response strategies, and practical tools needed to navigate today’s complex student needs. Participants will engage in learning focused on DPI guidance, effective crisis response, and identifying and addressing human trafficking. The day is designed to strengthen readiness, confidence, and impact in real-world situations. Professional development contact hours will be provided by NCDPI. 

 Presented by NC DPI (Pachovia Lovett) and the NC Human Trafficking Commission. Registration is required.

Register quickly; space is limited. 

Join The Youth Engagement Community of Practice!

The Youth Engagement Community of Practice is seeking SHAC teams that want to begin or deepen student engagement in their work.

Beginning this fall, participating SHACs will use the SHAC Student Influence Tool: A Framework for Moving from Student Participation to Influence with one current school health priority. Teams will learn alongside other SHACs, receive implementation support, and strengthen the role students play in shaping school health efforts.

SHACs do not need to already have students involved, but participating teams should be prepared to actively engage students during the process.

A brief onboarding is planned for late September, with the Community of Practice beginning in October.

Interested teams should respond by Friday, September 11: https://forms.gle/UXmLnLQPJmZRUyFm6

Monthly SHAC Learning Collaborative Kicks Off in September

September 21st at 3pm 

Note: This meeting is not the typical last Monday of the month. 

Microsoft Teams meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/224288924913803?p=KN7bntPgbSFBlV1ts0

Evaluating Student Wellness and Key Recommendations for Improvement

The 2025 Youth Risk Behavior results were recently made available for North Carolina. We are excited to have Caroline Keesler, a Master of Public Health student at UNC Gillings, join us to kick off the monthly SHAC Learning Collaborative in September! Caroline worked this summer with the NC Healthy Schools team for her practicum. As part of her practicum, she worked to align data across several statewide surveys, including Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), School Health Profiles, and Teacher Working Conditions.

Caroline will present two data briefs based on this work:

1. Belonging and Connectedness in North Carolina Schools: Student and Faculty Perspectives on School Climate

2. Substance Use Prevention in North Carolina High Schools: Health Education, School Policies, and Student Wellbeing

Additionally, the Healthy Schools Team will share a few brief highlights of YRBS data.

We hope these findings will help participants understand the current state of student health and wellbeing across North Carolina, and spark ideas for improving school policies and practices.

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NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative.

These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.

These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts.

Email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov to be added to the monthly calendar invitation. 

Transform School Culture with Student Leadership

Peer Group Connection-Middle School and When Students Lead provide evidence based leadership curricula taught by your staff, that turns students into peer leaders and advocates who strengthen your school's climate from the inside out.

Peer Group Connection equips older students to guide their younger peers through the transition into middle school. When Students Lead helps students take the lead on the issues that matter most to your school community.

We're offering a limited number of fully grant-funded spots for Middle Schools ready to elevate student leadership — full program cost covered, plus a budget to support rollout at your school.

Apply Today! 

Complete our brief application (3-5 minutes to complete) to learn more about When Students Lead or Peer Group Connection Middle School and how these programs can support your students! 

• Applications close September 4th

• Notifications to selected schools on September 10th — in time to plan for the year.

Click Here to Apply! 

(Application Link:https://forms.gle/pZMsgXF4AHabe5nB9)

Questions about this opportunity? Contact Jordan Harris, Lead Program Manager at: jharris@supportiveschools.org 

Learn more about Center for Supportive Schools at supportiveschools.org 

Join the Third Cohort of the NC Medicaid Learning Collaborative!

The North Carolina Medicaid Learning Collaborative (MLC) helps Public School Units make school Medicaid feel less like a puzzle and more like a plan.

Through free, practical support, participating PSUs receive:

⭐ Step-by-step learning sessions and technical assistance led by a Medicaid expert (Sarah Broome) 🤝 A learning community of NC colleagues doing the same work 🛠️ Tools, resources, and strategies you can actually use 💬 Individualized technical assistance and ongoing support 💰 Help strengthening Medicaid processes so reimbursement can be reinvested in services for students

Whether your PSU is just getting started with school Medicaid or looking to strengthen an existing program, there’s a seat for you.

👉 Ready to learn more—or ready to join us?

•       Cohort 3 Recruitment Flyer

•       Apply for Cohort 3

•       View the Cohort 3 Schedule

 Bring your Medicaid questions. We’ll bring the expertise, tools, and a community to help you figure it out together. 💚

For questions related to the MLC, please contact La’Shanda Person, Innovation Program Manager with Rural Opportunity Institute, la'shanda@ruralopportunity.org

Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program Applications Due October 9th

The North Carolina Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section has released RFA A426 – Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (AP3).

Deadline for Submission: October 9, 2026

The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program (AP3) is a primary prevention program (i.e., prevention of first pregnancies) that is administered by the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives (TPPI) of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section, Reproductive Health Branch. AP3 invests in the future of North Carolina by ensuring that young people across the state have the tools to make healthy, responsible decisions. It provides essential education, supports academic achievement, encourages parent/teen communication, promotes responsible citizenship, and builds the self-confidence of its participants. AP3 is mandated by North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) 130A-131.15A.

The objectives of AP3 are as follows:

1. Increase knowledge that supports the prevention of pregnancy and/or STIs, including HIV; 

2. Improve attitudes and beliefs that support the delay of sexual activity for the prevention of pregnancy and/or STIs, including HIV; and

3. Improve attitudes and beliefs that support the use of condoms for the prevention of pregnancy and/or STIs, including HIV.

Eligibility: For-profit agencies need not apply. Public or private non-profit entities (e.g., schools, local health departments, non-profit community-based organizations) are eligible to apply to this RFA if they meet the following criteria:

• Entities must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) issued by gov.

• Entities must have at least 5 years of experience delivering youth programs in North Carolina, not limited to previous NCDHHS funding.

• Applications are desired from all 100 counties, however those ranking in the top quartile (i.e., the top 25) for fertility rates among females aged 15 to 19 based on a five-year average between 2020-2024 (referred to as “priority counties”) will receive priority.

  • The priority counties are as follows: Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Bertie, Bladen, Columbus, Duplin, Edgecombe, Graham, Greene, Halifax, Lenoir, Northampton, Onslow, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Swain, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes. Applicants in these counties shall receive a demonstrated need score as described in the RFA.

Entities that currently receive primary prevention funding for teen pregnancy prevention from NCDHHS may not apply to implement an additional primary pregnancy prevention program in the same county they currently serve but may propose a new program in a different county.

How to Apply: The RFA is posted on the Program’s website: www.teenpregnancy.ncdhhs.gov/funding.htm, and attached to this email. The budget template and instructions are also attached.

Potential applicants are also encouraged to submit an optional Notice of Intent no later than September 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. by completing the survey found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AP3-RFA-NOI

Email all applications electronically to: tppi-rfa@dhhs.nc.gov

How to Obtain Further Information: Inquires about this RFA are to be sent to tppi-rfa@dhhs.nc.gov, and may be directed to the following Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives staff:

Deborah Hamlin-Aggrey, Program Consultant, Deborah.hamlinaggrey@dhhs.nc.gov

Sarah Hoffert, Program Consultant, Sarah.hoffert@dhhs.nc.gov

Nancy Warren, TPPI Team Lead, Nancy.warren@dhhs.nc.gov