Before fully stepping into the new year, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the progress and impact of NCCARE360 in 2025. Thanks to the dedication of partners and communities across North Carolina, the network continued to connect individuals and families to essential services when and where they were needed most. Below is a snapshot of what we accomplished together in 2025 and how NCCARE360 continues to evolve to meet community needs.

In 2025, NCCARE360 supported communities across the state by helping thousands of North Carolinians connect to vital resources and services. Each number represents a person, a family, or a community member who took a step closer to stability, health, and well-being with support from our connected network of care. These insights underscore the importance of addressing social drivers of health alongside medical care and help guide our partner outreach, planning, and coordination so that support is aligned with real-time community needs.

From Referral to Resolution: Turning Connections into Action

Behind every referral is coordinated work to ensure follow-through and meaningful outcomes. Last year, NCCARE360 supported thousands of cases that required active navigation, collaboration, and follow-up.

Through case management and closed-loop referrals:

• Navigators helped individuals overcome barriers to accessing services

• Community organizations coordinated care across sectors

• Referrals were tracked, acted on, and resolved whenever possible

These efforts reflect NCCARE360’s commitment to action and accountability, not just connection.

Expanding Access: New Tools and Program Enhancements

In late 2025, NCCARE360 launched and expanded new programmatic features designed to lower barriers and increase access.

Self-Serve Navigation Tool

NCCARE360’s self-serve navigation tool offers a new entry point into the network, allowing individuals, families, and providers to search for services by category, location, or eligibility without initiating a referral. This empowers communities to find support independently while complementing navigator-led services.

Resource-Only Partner Option

The resource-only partner onboarding option allows organizations to be listed in our statewide resource directory without managing electronic referrals. This addresses capacity concerns and ensures that more local services—especially smaller or rural organizations—are visible and accessible.

Together, these enhancements strengthen NCCARE360’s role as a flexible, inclusive network with multiple pathways to care.

Moving Forward Together

The achievements of 2025 demonstrate what’s possible when health care, social services, and community-based organizations work together toward a shared goal: improving access, coordination, and outcomes for North Carolinians.

As NCCARE360 continues to grow, Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation (FHLI) is taking a more active role in leading the strategy, vision, and long-term direction. This evolution strengthens the human-centered supports that ensure connections lead to real outcomes.

In the coming year, FHLI is expanding its community engagement and referral navigation efforts by focusing on:

• Enhanced care coordination through tailored referral navigation services

• Deeper community outreach and engagement to better reflect local needs and priorities

• Individual resource coordination through trained navigators who will help community members overcome barriers to care.

Together, these efforts build strong partnerships, prioritize community voice, and reinforce a shared commitment to ensuring every North Carolinian can access the support they need when and where they need it.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen and improve the NCCARE360 network in the year ahead!