WNC Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP)

Research Page

NC Center for Health and Wellness @UNCA

This site includes updates on research that we are co-conducting to better understand and share the impact of HOP services and supports in Western North Carolina.

We are working with groups on existing and new research and communication and invite you to get in touch if we can work with each other or support you. Please contact Ameena Batada at ameenabatada@gmail.com or Alex Mitchell at abatada@unca.edu.

New! June 30, 2026 - NC Legislature Proposes a State Budget that includes $9 million for HOP and $1 billion toward Medicaid.

Read the NC Newsline story here.

NEW Policy Report! - June 26, 2026

Read a new policy report from the Milbank Memorial Fund:

Community Voices from North Carolina’s Healthy Opportunities Pilots Program: Implications for Designing and Evaluating Programs to Address Upstream Drivers of Health

HOP Evaluation - June 2, 2026

Read the UNC Sheps Center's multi-year statewide HOP evaluation results:

Research Summary

Summative Report on the Healthy Opportunities Pilot

NCCHW WNC HOP Preliminary Findings - May 23, 2026

Read the two-page summary of themes from focus group discussions with 42 HOP organization staff and leads.

Research Brief: From Thriving to Just Surviving

Thanks to the organization staff and leads who shared their time, expertise, and experiences! Thanks to research team members Patrick Baron and Kayla Alvis for writing and formatting this summary.

WNC HOP Client Survey Results - May 23, 2026

Read the one-page summary of findings from the survey of HOP clients with the Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement (ABIPA).

Research Brief: Food insecurity in the aftermath of HOP discontinuation

Thanks to Meade Inglis-Jenson for research collaboration and devleoping this one-pager.

UPDATED! Research Planning Table

This table contains some key information about the methods, potential partners, and timelines for the projects within the larger research program/set of questions.

Please email abatada@unca.edu if you have ideas for, would like to join, or are already conducting research related to any of the efforts described in the table.

Healthy Opportunities Pilot Resources

This folder contains reports, articles, and fact sheets about HOP and Impact Health.

Jan 14, 2026 Research Planning Meeting

We came together to discuss proposed research questions, existing information, and potential measures.

Group Discussion Notes

Page updated

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