Kelly Crosbie, MSW, LCSW

Director, DMH/DD/SUS

Hot Topics | November 4, 2025

NCDHHS Invites You to Join the Veterans Huddle

NCDHHS is proud to honor Veterans Day by offering a special opportunity for North Carolinian veterans to connect, share, and find support. On Monday, November 10, the Connections app will host a Veterans Huddle, led by a retired veteran who understands the unique challenges of military life and recovery. This free virtual gathering is a chance to connect with peers who share your experiences, learn new tools to strengthen recovery and resilience and find encouragement and support in a safe space.

Inclusion Connects Success Story Survey Tools

Inclusion Connects has launched a new survey tool designed to celebrate the experiences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who are living successfully in community settings, even if they did not move from an institutional setting. These stories offer valuable insight and encouragement to others considering community living.

This third survey joins two existing tools on the Inclusion Connects website:



• One for people with I/DD who have moved from institutional to community settings
• One for providers who support individuals in transitioning to or thriving in community living

If you are someone currently living in a community setting or a provider supporting this work, please visit the Inclusion Connects Community Living webpage to learn more and share your success story today!

Include NC Seeks Input Through Focus Groups About

Disaster Preparedness and Response

NCDHHS Division of Aging Seeks Steering Committee Members

Are you passionate about improving the lives of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) in North Carolina? The NCDHHS Division of Aging is forming a new Steering Committee to help guide the vision and strategies of the Coalition for a Dementia-Capable NC and we want your voice at the table.

This committee will bring together individuals with diverse expertise and lived experience from across the state to shape the future of dementia care, support, and education. If you're committed to building a more dementia-friendly North Carolina, we encourage you to submit an interest form by November 5, 2025 to serve on the committee.

In 2014 the NC General Assembly mandated a statewide Task Force on Alzheimer’s disease, led by the NC Institute of Medicine (NCIOM). The Task Force formed the Coalition for a Dementia-Capable NC who developed the Dementia-Capable NC Strategic Plan for Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.

The strategic plan recommendations aim to improve statewide awareness and education about ADRDs, support people with dementia and their families, improve and enhance services that support greater quality of life, reach underserved populations, and improve data collection and research around treatment and prevention of ADRDs. The Coalition for a Dementia-Capable NC was established in 2016 and meets quarterly to oversee progress and implementation of recommendations contained in the state strategic plan.

Community Resources

Dashboards/Reporting:

• Strategic Plan Dashboard
• 988 Performance Dashboard
• Innovations Waitlist Dashboard

Community Engagement

Learn More About What's Happening in Your Community

North Carolina's Peer Support Program

Community Resilience Through Crisis

Join DMH/DD/SUS for an engaging webinar that will highlight exciting updates to the Peer Support Program, including a preview of the new curriculum and upcoming additional supports designed to strengthen our community impact. Following the program update, we will host a panel of Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) who played a vital role in their communities during and after Hurricane Helene.

These dedicated professionals will share their powerful stories of resilience—how they helped rebuild their communities while continuing to provide unwavering support to those in need. This session will showcase the strength, compassion, and commitment of North Carolina’s CPSS, who continue to serve others even in the face of personal and collective adversity.

Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, 12:00-1:30

Registration: Register for the webinar

Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.

Brain Injury Advisory Council Meeting

The purpose of the Brain Injury Advisory Council (BIAC) is to review the nature and cause of traumatic and other acquired brain injuries in North Carolina. The Council also makes recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding the planning, development, funding, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide service delivery system to address the needs of brain injury survivors. There are virtual and in-person attendance options. The public is invited to attend.

Date/Time: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Registration: Register for the meeting

Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.

Winter Wellness: Supporting Mental Health for

Older Adults and Caregivers

Join DMH/DD/SUS for a webinar that will shine a light on the unique mental health challenges older adults and their caregivers face during the winter months and holiday season. We’ll discuss the emotional hurdles this community experiences and discover ways we can come together—both as individuals and as a community—to offer compassionate support. Our goal is to inspire hope and empower participants to help older adults and caregivers live connected, meaningful, and fulfilling lives even during the toughest times of the year.

Date/Time: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Registration: Register for the webinar

Download Event Flyers: English and Spanish



Closed-Captioning & American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters will be provided.

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