Five New Community Coalitions to Join The Duke Endowment’s Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas Initiative in North Carolina

Cary, NC — January 24, 2023 — The North Carolina Healthcare Foundation has announced that five new community coalitions will join Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas (HPHC), an initiative of The Duke Endowment, as part of HPHC’s fourth cohort in North Carolina effective this month. North Mecklenburg Economic Mobility Collaborative (sponsored by Atrium Health), Rockingham Primary Care Initiative (sponsored by Cone Health), Duplin Coalition for Health (sponsored by ECU Health Duplin Hospital), Healthier Highland Collaborative – Highland Neighborhood Association (sponsored by Caromont Health), and Healthy Guilford Coalition (sponsored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist) will all receive financial and technical support to strengthen their infrastructure and community engagement aimed at measurably improving health of residents struggling with health issues such as unhealthy weight, diabetes and heart disease. At the end of a one-year readiness phase, each coalition can reapply for up to five more years of funding to support implementation and policy change.

The five newly awarded coalitions are joining 24 existing coalitions across North and South Carolina that are supported by CaroNova. In the HPHC approach, diverse community organizations collaborate to address systemic conditions that have led to poor health outcomes by implementing evidence-based interventions and then sustaining them through policy, systems and environmental changes.

Since the initiative’s inception in 2015, HPHC coalitions have implemented 194 programs impacting an estimated 2 million residents of North Carolina and South Carolina. “It’s exciting to expand this program in our state that is already showing impressive results,” said Trish Vandersea, director of Performance Improvement and Population Health at the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, which supports all North Carolina based coalitions through technical assistance and specialized expertise.  “The coalitions selected to join the initiative are all unique but share several common characteristics, including representing high-need areas of North Carolina, a clear understanding of strategies that bring their communities together in a collaborative way, and a track record of intentional actions that address equitable health for underserved populations.”

“The health challenges facing the Carolinas have been decades in the making,” said Lin Hollowell, director of Health Care of The Duke Endowment. “They cannot be effectively addressed overnight, though we’re starting to see the roots of progress take hold in the first set of Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas communities. The health challenges also cannot be solved by individuals and organizations working alone. Through Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas, communities can work together to confront their problems and make the most progress in achieving solutions.”

# # #

About Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas

Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas is an initiative of The Duke Endowment. The program promotes behavior changes that address chronic issues such as unhealthy weight, diabetes and heart disease by increasing physical activity and nutrition.

Based in Charlotte, N.C., and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has awarded more than $4 billion in grants.

About NCHF 

Established in 1961, the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation is the 501(c)(3) affiliate of the North Carolina Healthcare Association. Its mission is to foster and accelerate the collective impact of hospitals, health systems and community partners to improve the health of North Carolinians. Learn more by visiting https://www.ncha.org/foundation/.

About NCHA  

Founded in 1918, North Carolina Healthcare Association (NCHA) is the united voice of the North Carolina healthcare community. Representing more than 130 hospitals, health systems, physician groups and other healthcare organizations, NCHA works with our members to improve the health of North Carolina communities by advocating for sound public policies and collaborative partnerships and by providing insights, services, support and education to expand access to high quality, efficient, affordable and integrated health care for all North Carolinians.