The Center of Excellence for Integrated Care has always been focused on increased access to behavioral health and whole-person health in a variety of health care settings.
As providers ourselves, we understand the vital link between the care delivered to patients and the well-being of those who provide that care. We have worked to support those providers through comprehensive early career resources, continuing education opportunities, integrated care specific trainings, and peer collaboration and networking.
Additionally, we are leading efforts to foster innovation and collaboration among stakeholders looking to play a role in developing the emerging behavioral health workforce in North Carolina. By actively engaging with communities, we aim to create a unified approach that destigmatizes conversations around mental health and enhances the effectiveness of our collective efforts.
Bertie County Behavioral Health Network
The Bertie County Behavioral Health Network (BCBHN) is made up of local residents, organizations, and providers who have come together, with the support of FHLI—originally funded by HRSA with subsequent funding from the Merck Foundation—to build a powerful group dedicated to improving behavioral health access in Bertie County. A significant milestone for the community-driven network took place in June 2025 with the launch of the "Healthy Minds Bertie" mental health stigma campaign. Co-created with members of the BCBHN, this initiative features both printed and digital materials, promoting the message, "Make caring for your mental health as routine as...(ex: your morning coffee)" tailored to reflect typical routines of the Bertie County community. The campaign also directs individuals to the website HealthyMindsBertie.org where they can find valuable, local mental health information and resources. Read More>> about HealthMindsBertie.org
Collaborative Conceptualizing
COE, with support from the DHHS Division of Mental Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disabilities, will launch three statewide collaboratives aimed at supporting clinicians, particularly those early in their careers and clinicians of color serving the Medicaid and uninsured populations. These cohorts will focus on providing ongoing continuing education and clinician support on real, de-identified cases, while also fostering a strong sense of belonging among clinicians working in these populations. A key objective of the workshops is to increase compassion satisfaction and help reduce burnout.
Behavioral Health Career Pathways
The increasing demand for mental health services combined with ongoing challenges in accessing behavioral health care calls for innovative solutions. One promising strategy is to engage high school students in early career exploration within the behavioral health sector. This proactive approach can ignite interest and passion for careers in behavioral health, ultimately helping to bridge the service gap while inspiring the next generation of professionals. Research indicates that when young people learn about specific career paths, they are more likely to pursue them. By exploring various behavioral health careers during their high school years, students can make informed choices and start building a career pathway that reflects their interests and ambitions. This experience is particularly important for students from diverse backgrounds, who may feel overlooked and may not have previously considered this field. To facilitate this exploration, engaging activities like guest speakers, interviews, educational courses, site visits, and internships can provide valuable insights into numerous behavioral health careers. COE is excited about this initiative and is eager to discussing potential collaborations with funders, schools, and districts across North Carolina to help grow the future of the behavioral health workforce. Contact Us>> for more information.
Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health Fellowship
The COE created a year-long Fellowship aimed at fostering meaningful conversations among clinicians about the mental health and well-being of children, youth, and their families. With the support of The Duke Endowment, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, and our collaboration with Piedmont AHEC, we successfully trained and supported 86 behavioral health clinicians and graduate students through the Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health Fellowship. While gaining didactic information was critical to the experience, the Fellows also benefited from a case presentation by a peer, where this knowledge was put into practice, and received valuable feedback from fellow clinicians. Read More >> about the Child, Adolescent, and Family Behavioral Health Fellowship.
Behavioral Health Workforce Focus Groups
In the fall of 2024, COE convened three focus groups with early career behavioral health clinicians to explore ways to engage and support both the current and emerging workforce. The feedback from these sessions highlighted multi-layer challenges as well as potential opportunities for improvement. A key takeaway from the focus groups is simply that clinicians are committed to finding sustainable ways to continue their work. Their dedication is evident and are eager to stay actively involved—seeking solutions that stem from their genuine passion for the field and the positive impact it creates. Read More >> for the full summary from the Behavioral Health Workforce Focus Groups.
Behavioral Health Workforce Development Trainings
COE has collaborated with the joint graduate social work program at UNCG/A&T to help establish a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to provide integrated care. Through a series of 4-5 virtual training sessions, students learned the theoretical foundation of integrated care, as well as operational implementation skills, and clinical implementation skills of effective integrated behavioral health care. Contact Us >> to learn more about how we can collaborate.