IMPACTT-NC Receives $530K Grant from NCDHHS and The Duke Endowment
The UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Improving Adolescent and Child health Through Telepsychiatry in North Carolina (IMPACTT-NC) program has received a grant for $530,000 from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and The Duke Endowment (TDE) in support of its work to expand telepsychiatry services for school children in rural North Carolina. Building on successful pilot programs in six rural counties, this additional support will allow for expansion into Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties as well as increasing current programs in Duplin and Macon counties.
“We are proud to partner with NCDHHS and UNC Psychiatry’s IMPACTT-NC program to expand access to high quality mental health services for school aged children in parts of rural North Carolina,” said Justin M. Dunham, program officer with The Duke Endowment’s health care program area. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that children and families have access to a comprehensive array of school-based behavioral health services.”
“Youth across North Carolina are facing significant mental health challenges,” said Nate Sowa, MD, PhD, director of the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Division of Virtual Care. “I commend our state health leaders for investing in expanded school-based mental health services to address this urgent need. We are honored and deeply grateful to receive this funding from the state in partnership with The Duke Endowment, support which will strengthen IMPACTT-NC’s mission to increase access to high-quality mental health care through innovative telepsychiatry solutions.”
Over the past several years, it has become increasingly difficult for children and adolescents to access mental health care across North Carolina. With only 200 child psychiatrists clustered in 31 counties, North Carolina ranks 44th in the United States for access to children’s mental health care. To address these substantial barriers and to support equitable access, IMPACTT-NC uses an innovative model that collaborates with local school districts and community partners to reduce barriers to accessing psychiatric care using virtual care.
School-based telehealth services increase access, improve student health and wellness, and have the potential to decrease absenteeism and improve academic achievement. Distinct from other school-based behavioral health models, IMPACTT-NC also incorporates the expertise of leading child and adolescent psychiatrists to guide implementation, provide direct care to children and families in order to meet them where they are at, consult with educators, and provide consultation and integration with local primary care providers.
“Graham County Schools is excited to be a part of this amazing opportunity offered to our students through the state’s commitment to student mental health in partnership with The The Duke Endowment, IMPACTT-NC, and the UNC School of Medicine,” said Dr. Jaime Hooper, director of testing and accountability and chief academic officer for Graham County Schools. “Being located in rural North Carolina in a CDC-defined “medical desert,” mental health services for youth are scarce. Without this opportunity for telepsychiatry services being made available to our students and families, the mental health and behavioral needs of our children would continue to go unmet. The investment made by these partner agencies will positively impact student mental health and educational outcomes for children in Graham County making lasting impacts on young lives.”
“Accessing psychiatry services has long been a challenge for students in our rural communities,” said Melissa Godfrey, superintendent of Clay County Schools. “We are deeply grateful for the state’s support in partnership with The Duke Endowment, which will significantly expand our capacity to meet the mental health needs of our students. This grant is a powerful investment in their well-being and their future.”
“Our partnership with IMPACTT-NC has made a tremendous difference in the lives of our students and their families,” said Kristen W. Hall, chief officer for district effectiveness/student support services and digital learning for Duplin County Schools. “Having psychiatric services available at school means that students get the support they need when they need it, without added stress on families. We are grateful for their commitment to our students’ mental health and for helping us create stronger, healthier school communities.”
IMPACTT-NC envisions that North Carolina children and adolescents will have the capacity to access mental health care so they can achieve their highest potential. In addition, the organization has an overarching goal to create at least one access point for specialty level child and adolescent psychiatric services in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties by 2030.
“At IMPACTT-NC, we do not think geographic location should mean students must face significant barriers, including missing a full school day, to access high quality, specialized care,” said Charissa Gray, MPH, MSW, program director of IMPACTT-NC. “Through this expanded partnership, students will be able to access specialized telepsychiatry services from board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists from their school – missing in most cases one class period or less.”
IMPACTT-NC and Duplin County Schools will build on an existing partnership, alongside service providers Tar Heel Human Services, Eastern North Carolina’s Health Lives at School and Beyond program, and the Center for Rural Health Innovation, to increase services to students in Duplin County.
The expansion in Western North Carolina builds upon a current partnership with Macon County Schools and was initiated by the passion and search of local community advocate Rev. Eric Reece. “In our search for school based mental health, it was providence we discovered IMPACTT-NC,” said Reece. “They responded with hope and help not only for Graham County Schools but three other school districts in the region. I thank IMPACTT-NC, the state, and The Duke Endowment for serving our youth so they can lead healthy and happier lives.”
About The Duke Endowment
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed more than $5 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
About UNC Health and UNC School of Medicine
UNC Health is a state entity and an affiliated enterprise of the University of North Carolina system, comprised of 17 hospitals across 20 hospital campuses and more than 900 clinics along with the clinical patient care programs of UNC School of Medicine. It exists to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others we serve and to further the teaching mission of UNC School of Medicine.
