Johnston County's progress on CHIP priorities in 2023, can be found at the links below.

Programs and initiatives related to Access to Care:

Mobile Telehealth This outreach program improved access to comprehensive and quality health care. Uninsured patients with chronic conditions are referred to Project Access for charity care.

Programs and initiatives related to Substance Use:

Narcan Distribution The number of doses of Narcan administered in Johnston County from January 2023-December 2023 by community and EMS was 3,125. This was more than triple the amount from 2022.

Quitline QuitlineNC referrals and calls by Johnston County residents continues to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peer Support Specialist Training Training opportunities for Certified Peer Support Specialist increased recovery support resources in Johnston County. In 2023, 8 people completed PSS training with opioid settlement funding.

Programs and initiatives related to Transportation:

JCATS In March of 2023, JCATS launched a new ride-share program called Quick Ride. The Quick Ride program allows for rides Monday-Saturday 6am-8pm in and around Smithfield and into Selma. This is a fee for service, low cost transportation option much like Uber. The cost is $6.00 each way.

Johnston County, according to the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings, is ranked #18 out of the 100 counties in North Carolina. Johnston County is ranked among the healthiest counties in North Carolina (Highest 75%-100%) in health outcomes and the higher middle range (higher 50%-75%) in health factors.

Johnston North Carolina | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps

Mortalities due to COVID-19 have continued to decrease in 2023.

These are the new or emerging issues in our community in 2023:

• North Carolina Medicaid Expansion started December 1, 2023 as did the need for increased access to care.
• Monkeypox
• Xylazine education
• Need for re-entry programs to connect people coming out of incarceration to housing and other resources
• Need for Detox resources
• Lack of adult daycare services
• Fall and balance prevention to support healthy aging, due to the increase in the 65 and older population in Johnston County
• Post COVID-19 recovery/continued school absenteeism rates
• Increase in seasonal respiratory illness (Covid-19, RSV, Flu)
• Post-Overdose Response Team
• Need for increased Mental Health First Aid training
• Suicide prevention and firearm safety

Discontinued/Paused initiatives in 2023:

• Satellite WIC clinics as part of transportation were paused in 2023 due to increased caseloads and changes to the WIC requirements.
• Freedom from Smoking was paused due to low participation.

New initiatives in 2023:

• CATCH my Breath, an evidence-based youth vaping prevention program began in Johnston County Public Schools, specifically in 6th grade classrooms.
• Community Narcan Trainings began in 2023. These trainings focus on recognizing and responding to opioid overdoses. We have partnered with a Selma Police Officer that also has a background in EMS. We aim to offer these trainings once a quarter in various locations around Johnston County.