Training & Resource Sharing
If you would like your organization’s resource(s) listed on this page please email jean@i2icenter.org . Paid listings will be highlighted on i2i social media.
Donate to Help Western NC – Hurricane Helene Relief
State and Federal Assistance
NC Department of Public Safety Hurricane Helene Resources
FEMA applications now open for disaster relief
Donations to relief efforts:
North Carolina Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund
Local On the Ground Efforts
Compiled by Blue Ridge Radio; please visit this list of local Western North Carolina organizations accepting donations. (Thank you NC Providers Council for sharing!)
NC DHHS Information
Deadline October 24th: Food Assistance Available for Individuals and Families Impacted by Hurricane Helene!
D-SNAP is a food assistance card available for many individuals and families impacted by the hurricane. It is available to people who may not qualify for other benefits. You can apply by calling the D-SNAP Call Center at 1-844-453-1117 up through October 24th. You can also apply in person. Find out more information about how and where to apply here.
Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) helps people during a disaster that do not have health insurance get prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and medical equipment free of charge.
How Do I Sign Up?
• Contact the EPAP Enrollment Hotline at 855-793-7470 (TTY 800-876-1089)
How Can I Find an EPAP Pharmacy? LINK
Call 911 for emergency assistance
Call 211 for local resources
For those seeking immediate shelter, ReadyNC.gov lists open shelters Specific resource requests should be directed to county emergency management agencies
Individuals residing in counties affected by the disaster can apply for assistance with FEMA by visiting disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-621-3362
Resources for Resilience is providing free daily Listening Circles for all Western North Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Helene. These Listening Circles are an opportunity for community members to connect, lean on one another, and highlight what is getting them through this difficult time.
Visit the NCDHHS Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources website for current information.
Visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website for Hurricane Helene storm information and resources.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received approval to implement the first phase of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in 25 western NC counties and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee households who reside in the 28719 zip code.
Southern Coalition for Social Justice has set up a hotline for anyone concerned about someone in jail / prison in WNC 919 931-0367 or or email scsjcrisisresponse@gmail.com
Financial Support Available for Providers – Impacted by Hurricane Helene
NCDHHS is committed to supporting the communities impacted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene by ensuring that our providers receive payment for services provided to our Tailored Plans (LME-MCOs) and Standard Plans members in those affected areas.
The following financial supports may be available to providers, even if they are unable to submit claims or perform services.
• Hardship Advances: All Tailored Plans (LME-MCOs), Standard Plans and NC Medicaid Direct have processes to make hardship advances for providers unable to meet financial obligations.
• Stabilization Payments: The Tailored Plans (LME-MCOs) and Standard Plans have the flexibility to make stabilization payments to support provider sustainability and beneficiary access.
• Retainer Payments: NC Medicaid is seeking authority to make retainer payments for 1915(c) waiver services to support certain Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) providers with maintaining staff and capacity, even if service delivery is temporarily interrupted.
Providers in need of financial supports should work directly with the Tailored Plans (LME-MCOs) and Standard Plans plans to learn what supports each plan is offering and their associated processes. Information on the flexibilities in place for Hurricane Helene can be found on the NC Medicaid Bulletins webpage .
Visit the DMH/DD/SUS Weathering the Storm webpage for information and resources for North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene. Updates are added as the recovery continues.
RESOURCES AND FLEXIBILITIES (10/8)
- Open Practices North Carolina Medical Board list of open is live. Open medical practices in Western NC (ncmedboard.org). Practices can enter their information here. As of 10:00 pm 10-8/24, there are 204 practices registered as open. 24 of the 25 counties with federal disaster declaration have at least 1 practice. Polk County is the only one so far without an identified open practice.
- Practice Needs – The NC Medical Society (NCMS) is compiling information about how practices have been impacted by Helene (financial, infrastructure, patients, supplies, etc.). They are collecting this information from practices across Western NC in order to share the needs with NC DHHS to support the State in allocating resources. Please take a few minutes to complete the NCMS survey.
- Mobile Medical Clinics – Deployed to Yancey and Mitchell counties. Looking to deploy more this week. Let us know if you have on the ground knowledge of where they would be most helpful to deploy.
- Open Pharmacy – Locate a pharmacy near you: EmergencyOperatingPharmaciesHelene (ncbop.org)
- Executive Order 318 with flexibilities, including expanding flexibilities of licensing boards and authority for standing orders.
- Statewide standing orders for epi-pens – https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/about-us/nc-state-health-director-standing-ordersfor
- For epi-pens for pharmacists https://www.dph.ncdhhs.gov/north-carolina-state-health-directors-epinephrine-auto-injector-standing-order/download?attachment
New Nursing Orders:
· SWSO for Nursing Administration of Epinephrine 16.5 to 33 lbs
· SWSO for Nursing Administration of Epinephrine 33 to 66 lbs
· SWSO for Nursing Administration of Epinephrine 66 lbs or more
- Potable Water One-Pager: attached to this message. These are in the process of being added to our website and are also being made available by print.
- Infection Control/Hygiene – Hand sanitizer is acceptable and the preferred method of hand hygiene for most healthcare situations. A handwashing station would be preferred for when staff/patients need to wash their hands when visibly soiled. Link for building a portable handwash station. https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/resources/handwashing-station/. For further for health care infection prevention, you can contact infectionprevention@dhhs.nc.gov
- Medical Volunteering: For clinical personnel who wish to volunteer their support in Western, NC, please complete this survey to indicate your information and availability https://nc.readyop.com/fs/4ehj/db927b6b.
- More resources – Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources | NCDHHS and ncdps.gov/helene.
- Food and Nutrition:: North Carolina Disaster Nutrition Assistance | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov) Here is the latest on FNS benefits: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2024/10/03/temporary-flexibilities-place-medicaid-beneficiaries-due-hurricane-helene-devastation
- Mental Health Support
- 988 Lifeline: 988 Lifeline – If you need emotional support, reach out to the national mental health hotline: 988.
- Peer Warmline: Get Support – You’re never alone. | Promise Resource Network
- Disaster Distress Helpline: Hurricane Helene – Partners Health Management (partnersbhm.org)
- Help for Helpers Hope4NC website: Hope4NC Helpline | NCDHHS or by phone 1-855-587-3463 to provide mental health support for first responders and volunteers working on our Hurricane Helene disaster response
- FEMA Individual Assistance To apply Home | disasterassistance.gov – To date, 125,487 individuals have registered for and over $40 million has been approved for distribution.
Updates/Stats
- 3 mass feeding sites (Buncombe, McDowell, and Watauga counties) continue delivering meals to approximately 45 mobile sites across 13 counties. Over 20,000 hot meals are served each day through efforts of the Mass Feeding Task Force. It is estimated that over 360,000 meals have been provided to impacted communities through the combined feeding efforts of partners and self-deployed feeding sites.
- Delivered over 3882 tons of commodities to affected areas, 769,565 bottles of water moved, 451 pallets of food moved
Ways to online to support Hurricane Helene disaster relief
- To make a $10 donation to the Red Cross, text HELENE to 90999.
- To make a donation of any other size, visit: Support Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief
- To find out more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer
- Donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations for the fund will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of people needing food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies.
- Triangle Community Foundation is matching donations up to $25,000 to the Community Fund of Western North Carolina and the North Carolina Community Foundation.
- The United Way has created a fund to specifically help those affected by Helene. You may designate your donation to a local United Way or where it is needed most at the discretion of United Way of North Carolina.
- The Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina has opened a Hurricane Helene Relief Fund to distribute directly to hospice and home care employees devastated by this storm. To donate, click here.
The Disability and Disaster Hotline: If the storm has impacted you or someone you care for with intellectual and developmental disabilities, resources are available to support you. The Disability and Disaster Hotline, operated by The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, offers critical help for those in need. If you need assistance, please call or text 800-626-4959 or email hotline@disasterstrategies.org. This hotline provides valuable information, referrals, and guidance for individuals with disabilities, their families, and the organizations supporting them. Whether you need technical assistance or immediate resources for disaster-related needs, support is just a call or text away. (Thank you Community Bridges for sharing this information)
Housing
WNC Recovery Resource Database is now available from NC Housing Coalition. They have created a centralized and collaborative database with information about assistance and resources for WNC.
Food Stamp Replacement Information
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/assistance/hurricane-helene-recovery-resources
Mental Health Resources – NC DHHS
If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress
Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or the Disability and Disaster Hotline at 800-626-4959.
988 Help with mental health is also available to anyone, anytime – in English or
Spanish – through a call, text or chat to 988. It is free and confidential.
Counseling Mental health and substance use professionals are available and meeting with
patients in shelters.
Opioid treatment – Opioid treatment is available at emergency departments. Call 911 if you are
experiencing an emergency. You may also visit Opioid Treatment Programs in
your area. Find a real-time map with location, contact information and hours
of operation at thecentralregistry.com/map/.
Medication With some exceptions, pharmacists are allowed to dispense a one-time
emergency supply of up to 90 days when they are unable to contact
the medical provider, and a one-time emergency refill of up to a 30-day
supply of the prescribed medication.
Please visit ncbop.org/emergency operatingpharmacieshelene.html to locate a pharmacy.
Upcoming Events
i2i Winter Conference, December 10-12, 2024 (Special Training Event 12/9), Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem, NC
Webinars
May 2, 12:00 noon p.m. ET, The Complexities of Managing D-SNP , hosted by Zeomega
LIST YOUR EVENT HERE! EMAIL JEAN@I2ICENTER.ORG
Resources
i2i Presentation on Competitive Integrated Employment @ NC TIDES, April 2024
NC DHHS Launches Community Partner Engagement Plan to Improve Health Outcomes WEBPAGE
i2i and NC DHHS School Mental Health Initiative Webinar, March 15, 2023
RECORDING and PRESENTATION
This webinar covers how NC’s System of Care is a resource and strategy to support children and families with emerging mental health needs. Strengthen your school and community’s collaborative efforts in prevention and early intervention to maximize children’s learning. TARGET AUDIENCE: SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS, LOCAL SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, SCHOOL RESOURCE PERSONNEL, TEACHERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, YOUTH AND FAMILIES.
i2i Center White Paper on Defining the Value of Care Management for Consumers, Families and Individuals with Lived Experience in North Carolina: A Collaborative Approach.
Consumer-Care Manager Engagement Sheet
National Videos on i2i’s Value of Care Collaborative
National Core Indicators®- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI®-IDD), a collaboration between the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) and the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), today released the 2020 Staff Stability Report and COVID-Supplement.
i2i Presentation at Peer Advocacy Training – Empowering Our Voices! – Advocacy on Legislation
i2i Presentation at Peer Advocacy Training – Empowering Our Voices! – Advocacy through Collaboration,
i2i Glossary of Term for MH/IDD/SUD Public System
Division of MH/DD/SAS Frequently Used Acronyms
i2i Presentation at Prevent Child Abuse – Advocacy 201: Advocacy, Collaboration and Coalition Building
i2i Advocacy 101 Training Power Points
White Paper on Building Resiliency
i2i Presentation on Medicaid Transformation and Integrated Care for Individuals with I/DD, February 18, 2021 Power Points
Medicaid Managed Care Provider Update Page – NC DHHS – Update to Provider Directory, Key Dates of Transformation, Contracting Information, Provider Playbook Updates, Upcoming Webinars and more.
Provider Staff Best Practice Hiring Tips
Webinar Recordings
NACBHDD and Optum held a webinar entitled Portraits of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Behavioral Health Nationwide on February 17th from 3 pm-4:30 pm ET. A recording can be accessed here with the passcode: x8pU*Q8^
NACBHDD and the College for Behavioral Health held a webinar entitled “A Year Ahead in Behavioral Health Policy” on February 24th from 1 pm ET-2:30 pm ET. You can view a recording here.
Webinar Recording: Unlocking your Organization’s Value: Data is the Key
Peer Advocacy Training – Empowering Our Voice – Training, January 20, 2022
I’m IN: Community Inclusion Webinar – Moving from the Margins, Creating Community
I’m IN: Adapting Community Inclusion to Circumstances of 2020