NC Child

Thank you so much to BSN SPORTS NC for sponsoring our t-shirts and indoor activities for Field Day last month, everyone had a blast!

Apply to join our Parent Advisory Council! Our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of a dedicated group of parents and caregivers from across North Carolina, whose children depend on Medicaid for their healthcare needs. The PAC was formed with the primary goal of ensuring that those most knowledgeable about Medicaid, namely, the parents and caregivers who navigate these programs daily have a significant voice in how they are administered. The PAC is continuously seeking proactive, dedicated individuals who are passionate about making a difference in the healthcare landscape of North Carolina. If you are a parent or caregiver whose child benefits from Medicaid, and you are interested in advocating for children’s health rights, consider joining the PAC. Your involvement can help ensure that our children’s health and well-being remain at the forefront of policy discussions and decisions. Applications close on November 15th. https://lnkd.in/eyXU72Ny

Apply to join our Youth Advocacy Council! Our Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) is a group of high schoolers all across North Carolina who want to work together to advocate for themselves and their peers. They participate in programming throughout the year, learn new skills, and use their voice to advocate for NC Child priorities, including youth mental health. The YAC is continuously seeking passionate, dedicated teens who care about making a difference in the lives of kids and teens in North Carolina. Your involvement can help ensure that our youth’s health and well-being remain at the forefront of policy discussions and decisions. If someone you know would be interested, please consider sharing this with them and having them apply. Applications close on November 15th. https://lnkd.in/edFAXUbu

NC Child has been busy the last several weeks: a Field Day with children and families, a retreat for our Parent Advisory Council, a presentation in Richmond County. We are proud of work to listen to communities and to serve as the voice for North Carolina's children.

One of the members of our Youth Advocacy Council, Ayse Ermis, wrote this op-ed for The Charlotte Observer about the issue of youth mental health and the work of NC Child and the youth council to address the issue by giving young people in our state a voice. "I serve on NC Child’s Youth Advocacy Council (YAC) alongside 15 other high school students from across the state. This year, we’ve been working together with NC Child staff to propose policy solutions, projects, and action steps we can all take to address youth mental health. Having been involved in advocacy and political organizations in the past, I found that claims to value youth perspectives often fail to translate into action. Through the YAC, I have been able to find an organization that truly uplifts our voices as young people, as students, and most of all, as members of the community." "Youth mental health is not a talking point for adults. Addressing the issue necessitates dialogue with youth at the center and our parents, principals, and policymakers in support." https://lnkd.in/eN_2kvFw

Our first annual Field Day, hosted in partnership with Raleigh Parks, kicks off tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Laurel Hills Park! We hope you join us for an unforgettable day of celebrating kids and remembering what it's like to be one. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/eud7NZAk

Register now for this FREE event, where NC Child will present newly released data highlighting key trends & challenges facing Richmond County, followed by a conversation to explore how this information can positively impact our community. Click here: https://lnkd.in/eNm9HKrk

Thank you to Land of Sky Regional Council and Nathan Ramsey for hosting us as part of a WNC Childcare Forum (and to the Western North Carolina Early Childhood Coalition for partnering on it). Our Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith presented from the economic impact report we did with the NC Chamber Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It was a great event focused on a priority issue in our state.

This Saturday, join NC Child and Raleigh Parks at Laurel Hills Park for our first annual Field Day! We couldn't be more excited to host this free, family-friendly event full of games, arts and crafts, animal education exhibits, and community connections. Learn more about Field Day at https://lnkd.in/eud7NZAk

This morning several of our staff and two members of our Youth Advocacy Council had the opportunity to meet with an International Visitor Leader Program made up of female leaders from the Near East and North Africa. We discussed storytelling and involving youth in advocacy. It was a great opportunity especially for our Youth Council members.