North Carolina
NC DHHS, First Lady Stein unveil new mental health support services program for inmates
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and First Lady Anna Stein unveiled a pilot program focused on helping inmates with severe mental health needs successfully reenter their communities after they’re released from jail or prison.
First Lady Stein announced the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Team, also known as NC Fact, in front of NCDHHS staff and others at the headquarters Monday.
The $9.5 million investment will create FACT teams in Pitt, New Hanover, Wake/Durham, Buncombe, and Mecklenburg counties.
NCDHHS says the teams are part of a long-term effort by the department to support people when they are released from incarceration and will build on existing Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams by addressing criminal behavior risks to divert people in need of treatment away from the criminal justice system.
The FACT teams will provide care based on a person’s needs. Each team will assist up to 30 clients at a time.
NCDHHS says services include mental health care, housing, vocational/educational support, substance use disorder care, day-to-day living support, and referrals to other professional support services as required.
“I am pleased our state is making a targeted investment to make sure people with severe mental health conditions get the help they need,” Stein said.
NC DHHS says only a handful of states currently support FACT teams. They include a licensed professional who serves as team leader, a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, and a peer support specialist.
Other team members include substance use disorder specialists, vocational/education specialists, housing specialists, and a forensic navigator. The collaborative teams will bring in faith leaders, probation and parole staff, and family members and will include other service providers to help clients as needed.
“This new approach will improve outcomes for people with serious mental health needs by ensuring they have the resources and care they need to succeed in their communities,” said North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “Providing them with housing, transportation, and health care will reduce the chances they will return to jail or prison. This improves not only their health and well-being but also public safety.”
Nathan Brunson is a clinical supervisor at Carolina Outreach who will serve as a provider for the FACT team for Wake/ Durham Counties. He says the services are needed.
“It’s probably no surprise that when you provide those things to the people who need them that they do stay out of jail, they stay out of hospitals, you can reduce recidivism, and you can provide hope and recovery for a person’s mental health,” Brunson said.
Each team will receive $636,000 per year for three years. NCDHHS says the funding will flow through the local management entity/managed care organization (LME/MCO) for each area.
The FACT teams are expected to be up and running by the end of 2025 or in early 2026.
This initiative is part of a historic investment by the NC General Assembly to build a mental health care system in North Carolina that supports all North Carolinians when and where they need it and in the setting that is best for them based upon their individual circumstances.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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