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April, 2024
Community Newsletter
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Raising awareness and hope around Sickle Cell Anemia
Trillium was proud to highlight sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia, this winter. It was a major topic of discussion at the African American Health Summit in February. According to the CDC, sickle cell anemia affects one in every 365 Black or African American babies. One in 13 Black or African American babies are born with the sickle cell trait. Thanks to antibiotics, early diagnosis, and education, the death rate has dropped from 30 percent in 1990 to three percent today.
One Community spread hope with sickle cell awareness T-shirts to our community. Billboards also have been on display during March and April. These billboards aim to raise awareness about sickle cell disease and its impact on individuals and families affected by it. Follow One Community NC on Facebook for future campaigns.
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African American Health Summit shares life-saving information in Craven County
Trillium hosted our African American Health Summit with expert speakers on February 20. Thank you to our panel of experts who covered maternal mortality rates, heart disease, sickle cell, and mental health service disparities.
- Taskeen Midgette, AGNP-C, with Coastal Carolina Health Care Heart and Vascular Specialists
- Dr. LaDonna Battle, Trillium’s Care Management Population Health Officer
- Chelsea Rivenbark, FNP-C with ECU Health Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Debra Farrington, Chief Health Equity Officer with NC DHHS
With the right information, our communities have the tools to make decisions for healthier, happier lives. Check out the recap of the event in this report from WITN.
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New Oxford House opens in Rocky Mount
A new sober living residence from Oxford House is now open in Rocky Mount! Oxford Houses offer peer-driven and self-supported residences for people in recovery from a substance use disorder. Houses in Roanoke Rapids, Washington, and Whiteville are accepting referrals for anyone looking to live in a supportive environment during their recovery.
Visit The Oxford House website and www.OxfordVacancies.com for more information.
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Re-Entry Simulation event coming to Halifax County in April
Participant spots are still available for the upcoming Re-Entry Simulation event in April. It takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 2, at Halifax County Community College (100 College Drive in Weldon). This free event is open to the public. Simulations provide a hands-on experience of barriers individuals face when released from incarceration. Register for the event using the Halifax Re-Entry form.
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Trillium Health Summits coming to Robeson and Guilford counties
The Native American Health Summit will take place April 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club on the Lumbee Tribal Center at 120 Youth Drive in Pembroke. Be sure to also mark your calendars for our next Summit event celebrating Pride Month and LGBTQ+ health on June 18 in Greensboro!
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Victory Junction Family Weekend gets creative this spring
Trillium families had a blast at the first spring Trillium Family Weekend! For the first time ever, campers participated in a t-shirt design activity. Campers designed their own Trillium t-shirt. One design will be selected as the winner. The chosen design will be created and then sent to campers and their families! The next Family Weekend takes place April 12-14. Spots are still available. Fill out the Spring 2024 Interest Form to start your adventure!
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Trillium provides gun locks to community partners
Ed Hall recently delivered 1,000 gun locks to juvenile justice offices in the region. Ed is Trillium’s Director of Juvenile Justice Systems Engagement. Gun locks help ensure firearms are safeguarded from unintentional discharge. Ed shared gun locks with District 18 Chief Court Counselor Laqreshia Bates-Harley.
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Share your Trillium—Member Story | | |
We love to see members reaching their fullest potential. If you know someone who has a positive story to share (and their permission to do so!), please let us know! You can send any pictures and stories to MarketingandMessaging@TrilliumNC.org. | | | |
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Gain life-saving tools with the Community Crisis Intervention Training
Trillium’s Training department is proud to offer Community Crisis Intervention. This free training is open to the public. It is a one-day, 8-hour training is available for anyone age 18 and over. Topics include Mental Health 101, trauma, intellectual and developmental disabilities, stigma, and more. Contact TrainingUnit@trilliumnc.org to register for a class or learn how to host your own session.
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New inclusive playgrounds coming to Hyde and Robeson counties
Two new inclusive playgrounds are coming soon to our communities! Trillium is providing $377,000 for construction of an inclusive playground at Engelhard Recreational Park in Hyde County. Equipment includes a rubber surface to allow for smooth transport with wheelchairs. It also will have doublewide ramps to access slides and other elements, as well as equipment that appeals to children with sensory issues.
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Trillium also is contributing $100,000 to an inclusive playground in Lumberton. The effort is part of the Centennial Project of the Kiwanis of Robeson-Lumberton. Find more information on the playgrounds nearest you on the Inclusive Playgrounds page. | |
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Trillium Receives NCQA Accreditation
Trillium recently received the Interim Health Plan Accreditation from NCQA. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas. NCQA’s HEDIS® is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices.
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Trillium hosted third Re-Entry Simulation in Pasquotank County
Trillium was excited to bring a Re-Entry Simulation event to Elizabeth City. The event took place January 30 at Elizabeth City State University’s K.E. White Graduate Center. It followed two previous simulations in Wilmington and Greenville this past fall. Re-entry events are part of a larger effort to ensure individuals released from incarceration have the services and resources to lead fulfilled lives. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order in February to focus on those who have been incarcerated or justice-involved. He highlighted the programs needed to support their successful re-entry back into the community. Trillium is proud to do our part in this statewide effort.
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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.
- The Association of Mexicans in North Carolina, Inc. (AMEXCAN) hosted a webinar on mental health on March 12. Hayley Sink, Trillium’s Director of Health Equity, spoke on the importance of mental health and resources for mental health support. The webinar not only provided the tools to understand mental health and connect to needed care, but also reduce the stigma surrounding discussions of mental health.
- Senior Regional Director Dave Peterson gave a presentation to the Kiwanis-Greenville University City club. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.
- At the Trillium Central Regional Advisory Board, Commissioner Melvin McLawhorn from Pitt County and Tia Foula, MPA, Assistant County Manager, of Nash County have recently joined the Regional Advisory Board. Trillium is very excited to have them serving on our Regional Advisory Board. We welcome them both!
- Innovative Development Project Coordinator Sean Lanham led Bike Safety Day events at the Easterseals UCP EMPOWER sites in Elizabeth City and Ahoskie. The events taught members about bike safety and gave each participant a bike helmet.
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Congratulations to new CIT officers, CCI participants and Mental Health First Aiders across Trillium’s region
We’re proud to announce the following law enforcement officers, first responders, and community partners completed CIT and other mental health trainings:
- Ten members of the NC Department of Adult Corrections completed the 40-hour requirements of CIT training. The training was at Pitt Community College’s Law Enforcement Training Center in Winterville. Thank you to Dr. Glenn Johnson, a traumatic brain injury survivor, for his continued support of our program. He served as the graduation speaker.
- Fourteen officers representing New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, Burgaw Police Department, Sunny Point Military Police, and Carolina Beach Police Department. Officers completed 40 hours of CIT training at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in March.
- Thirteen law enforcement personnel representing police departments in Greenville, River Bend, Havelock, East Carolina University and Middlesex, as well as sheriffs’ offices in Pitt and Lenoir Counties. Dr. Glenn Johnson was the graduation speaker.
- Fourteen members of the NC Department of Adult Correction prison staff completed the 40-hour training at Pitt Community College Law Enforcement Training Center. Participants included staff, nursing, and corrections members representing 11 of the 13 Eastern District prisons.
- Twenty-seven law enforcement officers and two emergency medical services (EMS) personnel completed the 40-hour requirements of Crisis Intervention Team training at Trillium Health Resources in Greensboro. They represented Guilford Metro 911, Guilford County EMS, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Piedmont Triad International Airport Police Department, and police departments from High Point, Greensboro, Fuquay Varina, and Pinebluff.
- Twenty-eight future middle and high school teachers at UNCW’s Watson School of Education for completing the Youth Mental Health First Aid course in January.
- Eleven members of the NC Department of Adult Correction completing their CIT training. Individuals represented Roanoke River, Carteret, Neuse, Craven, Maury Eastern, Bertie, and Pasquotank correctional facilities.
- Fourteen New Hanover County Department of Social Services and Cape Fear Museum employees completed Trillium’s Community Crisis Intervention (CCI) program on March 19.
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Myra Felton
Meet Myra Fenton! Myra is one of Trillium’s Permanent Supportive Housing Specialists. She helps connect members with affordable and safe housing. Home is the foundation where we build our health and wellness. It is a rewarding but also challenging calling. Finding a house often is the easy part. Myra is focused on making sure that house is a sustainable home for our members.
Her time at Trillium has been a chance to connect with her community. She was able to volunteer at the Trillium Community Innovations Waiver camp in New Bern. Myra also enjoyed meeting members and their families at Marlins baseball games. She finds true fulfillment in working with members to help them achieve their goals. The joy on their faces when they finally move into their own homes is a testament to the impact she has on their lives.
For Myra, being part of this community is more than just a job—it's a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people she serves. She loves being a positive force in her community, impacting the lives of those around her both personally and professionally.
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Mike Biddle
Meet Mike Biddle! Mike is Trillium’s Innovation Project Manager. In his role, Mike works to bridge the gap between providers and Trillium for the well-being of our community.
Mike's role facilitating Tailored Care Management (TCM) extends far beyond handling a caseload. It's about being a liaison, communicator, and advocate for providers and members alike. Maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with providers is one of his biggest responsibilities. Mike works to ensure Trillium’s members, providers, and his team feel supported throughout this process. When working in tandem, Trillium and our provider network can make huge strides in the health and well-being of our communities.
Away from the office, Mike enjoys the coastal charms of Wilmington. Living in proximity to beaches and downtown, he relishes a relaxed pace of life. Moving here ten years ago and serving his community as a firefighter and EMT, Mike is happy to continue to help his neighbors across Trillium’s region.
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Share your Trillium—Provider Story | | |
Have a Trillium staff member who’s gone above and beyond serving our communities? We want to hear from you! Let us know the incredible things our staff are doing for the health and well-being of Eastern North Carolina. Email us at MarketingandMessaging@TrilliumNC.org. | | | |
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Celebrate Autism Acceptance Month this April
Autism Acceptance Month is here! Acceptance is vital to supporting the health and well-being for our families, friends, and neighbors with autism spectrum disorder. Acceptance is the work we do to build paths for education, employment, connecting with one another, and so much more. We can all help forge those paths so people with autism feel valued for who they are.
We’re excited to highlight Autism Acceptance Month in our new blog! Learn more about how one Trillium member, Robert, is meeting his goals and working towards independent living in Wilmington. We also are sharing information about autism, the positive impact of early interventions, and how we can all work towards more inclusion and acceptance. Check it out on our News page!
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A look back at previous awareness months
This past winter brought us amazing stories of our neighbors and communities here in North Carolina and beyond. Take a look back at the following awareness months recognized:
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February was Black History Month. It celebrates the rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of Black individuals throughout our history. Recognizing history has the power to build stronger, inclusive communities. It also serves as a safeguard to physical and mental health. Check out our Black History Month blog post focused on Health Equity!
- March was Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Awareness is the first step to building better practices in all facets of life. This includes health care and housing. There’s a world of opportunities out there, but only if we work to make it that way.
- March recognized Brain Injury Awareness Month. Every brain injury is different for every survivor. The public often misunderstands the heart of brain injuries: they are very personal and long-term. Prevention and support can go a long way to protect the future from brain injuries.
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Trillium was excited to celebrate Social Work Month in March! We are grateful to the social workers who are changing lives in our communities. We would not be able to do the work we do without their care and expertise. They are the real superheroes who support our neighborhoods! We recognized their efforts in social media posts during March.
- March 21 marked World Down Syndrome Day. This year’s theme called us to #EndTheStereotypes. Everyone is unique, with their own interests, talents, and goals. World Down Syndrome Day is the call to ensure everyone is able to be themselves in pursuing happy, fulfilled lives.
Take a look back on these awareness months and more on Trillium’s social media pages.
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Recent Trillium News Releases | | | | |
