State and Local CFAC members, Brain Injury Advisory Council Members, DMHDDSAS Commission Members, Provider Partners, and other Community Members,
Our State and our Nation are hurting. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, while also witnessing and feeling the tension and unrest brought about by recent events. We hear you and want to provide a safe space for dialogue and the sharing of feelings, thoughts and ideas.
Please join us Monday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m. during the already scheduled time for consumers and family members for an open discussion about recent events with time for listening and sharing.
A panel NC DHHS leaders will be facilitated by Victor Armstrong, Director for the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. All are welcome.
Join by calling: Toll-Free: 844-291-5495; Access Code: 1279313.
Our shared purpose is to:
- Facilitate an open an honest dialogue
- Listen to learn others' experiences to understand new and varied perspectives.
- Challenge ourselves by examining our own assumptions and beliefs.
- Demonstrate openness and respect. This is not a "debate" or a problem-solving discussion, but an opportunity to express and understand the multiple realities we experience as citizens and stakeholders.
- Be authentic. Only you can speak to your reality. You are never wrong for how you feel.
- Together, create an environment for healing.
We are guided by our principles of a trauma-informed response - where together, we seek to:
- Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in those we serve, families, staff, and others;
- Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and
- Seek to actively resist re-traumatization.
We want to hear your voice and create space for you to share.
RFQ for Testing and Tracing Work -- All vendor applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to support focused testing and tracing efforts for historically marginalized populations
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued a new Request for Qualifications that I am hoping you will share with your networks and colleagues.
NCDHHS is seeking to create a pool of qualified vendors to support the response to COVID-19 by providing diagnostic and antibody testing including specimen collection and laboratory processing, and contact tracing.
The Department is prioritizing working with minority-owned business vendors or vendors who retain a diverse workforce.
All vendor applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to support focused testing and tracing efforts for historically marginalized populations. African Americans and LatinX/Hispanic communities make up a disproportionate number of North Carolina's COVID-19 laboratory confirmed cases and deaths due to long standing health inequities that must be addressed proactively as we respond to this pandemic.
A RFQ prequalifies vendors to work with the Department. By screening in advance, NCDHHS will have a pool of vendors that it can rapidly engage to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants that meet the RFQ requirements and demonstrate that they can provide the services described in the Scope of Work will be considered for work on specific projects in the future.
Testing and tracing are part of North Carolina's strategy to responsibly ease restrictions, while slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting North Carolinians. Applicants must submit their response to the RFQ by 2 PM on June 9, 2020. Qualified applicants will be notified on June 17, 2020.
