AGP Executive Report

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Agency Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS Deputy Secretary Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, health providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state handles behavioral health crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing work to identify gaps, improve current practices, and reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-System Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS Deputy Secretary Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state responds to mental health and substance use crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing work to identify gaps, improve practices, and reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism.

Behavioral Health & Public Safety: North Carolina is kicking off a new Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee, with its first public meeting set for Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Agency Coordination: The committee is co-chaired by leaders from the state health and public safety departments and brings together providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience. Crisis Reform Focus: The effort is tied to Governor Josh Stein’s executive order and a state law directing work to spot gaps, improve how mental health and substance use crises are handled, and reduce repeat crises and avoidable recidivism.

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-System Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS’s Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS’s Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state agencies, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state responds to mental health and substance use crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing NCDHHS to identify gaps, improve practices, and recommend steps to interrupt repeated crises and reduce avoidable recidivism.

Behavioral Health Crisis Reform: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-System Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS’s Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS’s Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state responds to mental health and substance use crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing work to identify gaps, improve current practices, and reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism.

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-System Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS’s Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS’s Sherry Hunter, the group brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how behavioral health and the criminal justice system work together during crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state law SL 2026-38, which direct reforms aimed at closing gaps, reducing repeated crises, and lowering avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health & Public Safety: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Agency Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS Deputy Secretary Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state’s behavioral health crisis system responds. Policy Push: The effort is tied to Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing NCDHHS to identify gaps and recommend strategies to interrupt repeated crises and reduce avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Agency Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS’s Assistant Secretary for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services and NCDPS’s Deputy Secretary, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience. Policy Push: The effort is tied to Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing the state to identify gaps and recommend ways to interrupt repeated crises and reduce avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health & Safety: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Mental Health Crisis Reform: Co-chaired by NCDHHS Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS Deputy Secretary Sherry Hunter, the committee will bring together state agencies, health care providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state responds to behavioral health crises. Cross-System Coordination: The effort is tied to Governor Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing work to identify gaps, improve current practices, and reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health & Crisis Care: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Agency Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS Assistant Secretary Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS Deputy Secretary Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how the state handles behavioral health crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Gov. Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing work to spot gaps, improve practices, and reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Behavioral Health Crisis Reform: North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, working with the Department of Public Safety, will hold the first public meeting of the NC Crisis System of Care Advisory Committee on Sept. 2 in Raleigh. Cross-Sector Coordination: Co-chaired by NCDHHS’s Kelly Crosbie and NCDPS’s Sherry Hunter, the committee brings together state leaders, healthcare providers, law enforcement, LME/MCOs, and people with lived experience to strengthen how behavioral health and criminal justice systems respond during crises. Policy Push: The effort follows Gov. Josh Stein’s Executive Order 33 and state legislation directing NCDHHS to identify gaps, review current practices, and recommend strategies to reduce repeated crises and avoidable recidivism for people with mental health and substance use needs.

Climate & Health: Urban heat islands are emerging as a major health threat, and tropical cities are especially at risk as hot, humid conditions collide with global warming, fast urban growth, poverty, and limited cooling infrastructure. El Niño Watch: A strong 2026–2027 El Niño could push temperatures higher for longer, leaving millions of vulnerable residents exposed to dangerous heat. Why It Happens: Roads and rooftops trap heat by day and release it at night, while stalled heat domes can keep temperatures elevated for weeks. Local Solutions: Researchers point to “city metabolism” factors—like concrete and asphalt dominance and lack of vegetation—and say neighborhood-scale early warning systems using detailed thermal and health data could help officials issue timely alerts and deploy cooling support.

Urban Heat & Public Health: Tropical cities are struggling to afford solutions to worsening urban heat islands, as hot, humid weather combines with global warming, poverty, rapid urban growth, and limited cooling infrastructure. Heat islands form when roads and rooftops trap daytime heat and release it slowly at night, and stalled heat domes can push temperatures into extreme ranges for weeks. With a potential 2026–2027 El Niño raising risk for vulnerable urban residents, researchers say city “metabolism” matters—more concrete and asphalt and less vegetation can intensify heat. Early Warning Focus: The report points to neighborhood-scale early warning systems using detailed thermal and health data so officials can alert communities sooner and target cooling support where it’s most needed.

Urban Heat & Public Health: Tropical cities are struggling to afford cooling solutions as urban heat islands intensify health risks, especially with global warming, poverty, and fast urban growth stacking the odds against vulnerable residents. El Niño Watch: A potential 2026–2027 El Niño could push temperatures higher for longer, raising the stakes for people living in highly built-up areas where heat is trapped by roads and rooftops and released slowly at night. What’s Needed Locally: Researchers point to “city metabolism” factors—like concrete and asphalt dominance and low vegetation—as key drivers, and argue that neighborhood-scale early warning systems using detailed thermal and health data could help authorities issue timely alerts and target cooling support when it matters most.

Urban Heat & Public Health: Tropical cities are facing a fast-growing health risk from urban heat islands, where concrete and asphalt trap daytime heat and release it slowly at night—leaving neighborhoods hotter for longer. With global warming, poverty, rapid urban growth, and limited cooling infrastructure already straining communities, a strong 2026–2027 El Niño could push temperatures even higher and raise the odds of heat-related illness for millions of vulnerable residents. Researchers point to “city metabolism” factors—like vegetation cover, building materials, and how solar energy is handled—as key drivers of how severe heat becomes. Cooling Access & Early Alerts: The report highlights neighborhood-scale early warning systems using detailed thermal and health data, so officials can issue timely heat alerts and target cooling support where it’s most needed.

Urban Heat & Public Health: Tropical cities are struggling with rising urban heat island risks as hot, humid weather, poverty, fast urban growth, and limited cooling infrastructure collide with climate change. Heat islands form when roads and rooftops trap daytime heat and release it at night, and stalled heat domes can keep temperatures extreme for weeks—especially with a potential 2026–2027 El Niño raising the stakes for vulnerable residents. Local Cooling Capacity: Researchers say the “metabolism” of each city—how solar energy is split between heating surfaces, warming air, evaporating water, and storing heat in buildings and ground—drives how severe heat becomes, with concrete and asphalt and fewer trees making it worse. Practical Response: The piece highlights neighborhood-scale early warning systems using detailed thermal and health data so officials can issue timely alerts and target cooling support where it’s needed most.