Real Stories, Real Impact

Recent Highlights

A special guest joins Trillium and NCDHHS leaders for the launch of a year-round respite program at Victory Junction 

Trillium Health Resources and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are partnering with Victory Junction to expand the Henry's House respite program. Trillium leaders presented Victory Junction board member Richard Petty and fellow leaders a check for $3.9 million. The funding supports year-round care for children ages 6 to 16. 

Anson County: On July 22, Trillium hosted a powerful Reentry Simulation at the Lockhart Taylor Center in Wadesboro, made possible by partnerships in the Anson County community. Keynote speaker Christopher Williams shared his journey of rebuilding his life after six years of incarceration. He credited his turnaround to the Safer Communities Ministry, a faith-based group offering reentry support and crime prevention. Williams also joined the simulation and said it accurately reflected the real-life challenges he faced after release. 

Trillium Fall Family Weekends at Victory Junction are back! 

We’re excited to invite Trillium members and their families to three inclusive, no-cost weekends at Victory Junction in Randleman. Upcoming weekends include September 19–21, October 3–5, and October 31–November 2.  Application deadlines start September 5, so don’t wait to fill out the Fall 2025 Interest Form. Spots are limited! 

Retreats offer fun, empowering experiences for families of all abilities. Victory Junction’s staff adapts activities for every need and accommodates special diets. Open to Trillium members of all ages and diagnoses, along with their families or natural supports. Visit the Victory Junction page for more information. 

Noteworthy

Stronger Together reimagines Black Youth Mental Health and Wellness this September 

Join Trillium and community partners for Stronger Together. This powerful one-day conference is designed to support the mental health and wellness of Black youth and young adults (ages 18–24) through cultural connection, creative expression, and community care.  The free event takes place September 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will be held at the Rocky Mount Events Center (285 NE Main Street in Rocky Mount).  

From youth-led creative spaces and discussions to support resources, Stronger Together is an invitation to adapt our rhythms and respond with care to the needs of Black youth.  

Trillium is committed to saving lives, one kit at a time 

Hope has arrived in small, life-saving boxes across 34 counties. Trillium staff have worked diligently to get naloxone kits into the hands of those who need them most. They have distributed more than 13,000 naloxone kits and almost 29,000 drug-testing kits to local agencies. This effort is thanks to county funding collected through the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission. 

Naloxone (also known as Narcan) rapidly reverses opioid overdoses. It is a critical tool in fighting the opioid crisis. Each of the Narcan kits contains two ready-to-use doses for first responders, health professionals, or community members to use in life-or-death moments. The drug test strips, designed to detect fentanyl and xylazine, are tools that help individuals avoid unintentional overdoses from drugs laced with deadly substances. This distribution included 18,750 Fentanyl and 10,000 Xylazine test strips. 



The overall aim is to save lives. Trillium is committed to this life-saving work. It is a commitment that has spanned 10 years. Together with our county partners and the ABC Commission, we are making a lasting impact—one kit, one person, and one life at a time. 

Trillium brings disaster recovery to life with new simulation event  

On July 30, Trillium rolled out its first-ever Post-Disaster Simulation. The simulation placed Pender County participants in the heart of the chaos following a disaster. Pender Long Term Recovery Group and United Way of the Cape Fear Area served as event partners. Speakers included Tommy Batson, Pender County Emergency Management Director, and Rev. Gio Simpson, who has supported communities throughout the country with hurricane relief.   

Assigned realistic profiles, participants scrambled to find food, medications, medical care, and vital services. They did this while navigating the challenges faced by individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorders. The role-playing exercise encouraged participants to make a plan, build a kit, and be informed. It shed light on just how difficult recovery can be, and why preparation is critical.  

Trillium Head of Housing appointed to state council addressing homelessness 

North Carolina Governor Stein recently appointed Trillium’s Head of Housing, Amy Modlin, to the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs. Amy has more than 20 years of experience developing housing resources. Amy has worked to identify and increase a community’s capacity to welcome citizens with disabilities, specifically individuals with mental health issues, substance use issues, and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities. Before joining Trillium Health Resources, Amy was a housing coordinator for several LME/MCOs in the eastern part of the state, served as the assistant finance officer for Martin County, and an employment specialist with the NC Employment Security Commission. 

Trillium signs agreement with UNC Pembroke for expanded employment pathways  

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) and Trillium held a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU launches a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing student access to internships and employment opportunities. 

Cindy Ehlers, Trillium’s Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer and a UNCP alumna, reflected on the personal significance of the partnership. She shared her gratitude for the opportunity to help shape the next generation of professionals. Cindy spoke to the strong alignment between Trillium and UNCP, particularly in their shared commitment to serving diverse communities. The event concluded with the official signing of the MOU. This partnership marks the beginning of a promising collaboration to support student success and deepen community impact. 

Small Business funding grants available for eligible Trillium members

Trillium’s Small Business Funding Project supports individuals with behavioral health or intellectual/developmental disabilities in launching or expanding their own businesses. This initiative offers financial assistance to help turn ideas into sustainable income and purpose. Find more information on the Small Business Funding Project webpage.

Across the Region

One Community Inclusion events in Edgecombe and Nash Counties  

Come play with One Community! Nature walks, “anything but a brush” painting, and scavenger hunts await this August in Edgecombe and Nash Counties.

Join fellow community members of all abilities for these fun and free events:

• Nash/Edgecombe County Sensory Saturday (August 2, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1501 Western Boulevard in Tarboro OR 2-4 p.m. at 3471 Joyner Road in Elm City) 
• Nash County Inclusive Nature Walk (August 5, 12, 19, 26, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., 1307 Falls Road in Rocky Mount) 
• Nash County Sensory Scavenger Hunt (August 8, 3-5 p.m., 3471 Joyner Road in Elm City) 
• Nash County Inclusion Day (August 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 3471 Joyner Road in Elm City) 
• Nash/Edgecombe County Sensory Saturday (August 16, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1501 Western Boulevard in Tarboro OR 2-4 p.m. at 3471 Joyner Road in Elm City) 

Follow the “One Community NC” Facebook page to register for these events and find more from One Community! You can also reach out to Isabella.Cece@onecommunity.org with any questions. 

Trillium staff helping to build health and inspire lives across the region    

Our staff are out in our communities building the health and well-being of our neighbors! We’re excited to see our colleagues providing the information, access, and skills to lead healthy, fulfilled lives.  

• June 30—The Trillium Mid-State Regional Operations team participated in the 2025 Opioid Settlement Stakeholders’ Meeting in Guilford County. Administrative leadership staff shared opioid updates, the latest data trends for the area, and future project plans.  
• July 1—Wilson County’s new mobile care unit rolled out with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This was made possible through a community partnership with Trillium, Wilson County Government, and the Wilson County Substance Prevention Coalition. The mobile care unit began providing a range of essential healthcare services the next day. Services include health screenings, immunizations, benefits enrollment assistance, and more. The mobile care unit’s current schedule and locations can be found on the Wilson County Department of Health website.  
• July 8—Trillium’s Melissa Reese presented during a meeting of the Goldsboro Kiwanis Golden K Club. She discussed NC Health Plans, how individuals can access care, and other resources. 
• July 23-24—Trillium’s Training Department hosted Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) mapping sessions in Beaufort County. Community representatives networked, identified sources, shared ideas, and identified gaps in services. 

Congratulations to new CIT officers and training participants across Trillium’s region 

We’re proud to announce the following law enforcement officers, first responders, and community partners completed their CIT and other mental health trainings! 

• July 8—Nine Hoke County community members completed “How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses” training. Participants represented Youth Villages, Healing Holistic, Robeson County Department of Social Services, Volunteer Villages, CFWB, and Hoke Local Reentry. 
• July 9—15 Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center (RCCHC) physicians, first-year residents, and mental health clinicians for completing Trillium’s Verbal De-escalation training. 
• July 11—12 RCCHC employees in De-escalation Skills and Strategies. 
• July 11—10 members of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections – Prison Division completed the 40-hour requirements of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. 
• July 11—19 staff from A Caring Heart in Jackson (Onslow County) completed Adult Mental Health First Aid Training. 
• July 15—Staff from the Wayne County Day Reporting Center completed Adult MHFA training. 
• July 15—18 Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center employees in De-escalation Skills and Strategies. 
• July 16—Hope Mission recovery hosted a Community Crisis Intervention (CCI) training in Morehead City. Six participants completed the training that focused on de-escalation strategies, mental health, trauma, substance misuse, and naloxone administration. 
• July 18—17 Ocean Isle, Wilmington, and Surf City police officers who completed Crisis Intervention Team training at the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office. 
• July 21—13 Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center employees in De-escalation Skills and Strategies. This completes a series of 18 training sessions, with Trillium educating nearly 250 employees. 
• July 22—15 North Carolina Department of Adult Correction staff completed Adult Mental Health First Aid training at Sampson College. 
• July 25—Fourteen officers completed CIT training at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office. In addition to participants from the sheriff’s office, the group also included first responders from the New Hanover County 911 Care Team, Novant Health Police Department, and the UNC Wilmington Police Department. 
• July 25—17 first responders completed CIT training at Pitt Community College. Agencies represented were the Ayden PD, Greenville PD, Greenville E-911, Craven County SO, New Bern PD, Edenton PD, Rocky Mount, PD, Swansboro PD, and the Pitt County SO. 
• July 25—Six first responders from the Biscoe Police Department and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office completed CIT training. 

If you or someone you know dial 911 during a mental health emergency, make sure you request a CIT Officer. Find upcoming training opportunities on the Trillium Events Calendar. 

Member and Recipients

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From the Newsroom

• Trillium Providing Funds for Adult and Child Behavioral Health Urgent Care Facility (7/2/25) 
• Trillium Providing Funds for Opportunity Center with ADLA, Inc. (7/10/25) 
• Trillium and Integrated Family Services expanding Mobile Crisis Management (7/23/25) 
• Trillium and Daymark Expanding Mobile Crisis Management (7/23/25) 
• 2025 Perceptions of Care Survey (7/24/25) 
• NCDHHS and Trillium Health Resources Investing to Launch Year-Round Respite Program (7/25/25) 

Check out the blog!  

Wondering what happens to your Medicaid if you start working? Curious how you can support someone in a mental health crisis? We’ve got you covered. The Trillium blog dives into real-life questions that matter to our members and communities.

This August, check out: 

• “What Happens If I’m on Medicaid and Get a Job?” on August 7 
•  “Mental Health First Aid: What You Need to Know” on August 21 

Plus, catch up on July’s helpful reads about our Call Centers and what to expect if you’re on the Innovations Waiver waitlist. Visit the Trillium Newsroom and filter for “Blog” to explore them all!