NCDHHS expands access to veteran care with extended hours, website launch

RALEIGH, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced on Tuesday the expansion of access to care for North Carolina veterans through two initiatives.

NCDHHS officials said that extended hours for NCServes and the launch of the AskMeNC website will strengthen the state’s coordinated network of support to ensure the more than 600,000 veterans who live in North Carolina have timely access to mental health care, housing, employment, and peer support services.

Since its launch in 2014 as the nation’s first statewide coordinated care network, NCServes has delivered more than 150,000 services to nearly 70,000 veteran households across North Carolina.

With its expanded hours, the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s (ABCCM) Veterans Services of the Carolinas program, which manages NC Serves, anticipates serving an additional 2,000 veterans in the first year.

“This marks another milestone in the evolution of NCServes and how North Carolina continues to raise the standard in serving our veterans and their families,” said Chief Operating Officer of ABCCM, Brandon Wilson. “This expansion reflects what’s possible when more than 5,000 community-based organizations work together with support from our state with purpose. This is intentional community in action and a powerful example of how coordination and compassion can directly transform lives across our state.”

AskMeNC uses the existing NCServes network to connect users with providers across the state and serves as a digital hub for a wide range of additional supports related to housing, benefits and more.

Beginning Tuesday, the NCServes call line and coordination center, managed by ABCCM and in partnership with Vaya Health, will offer extended hours. Veterans, service members and their families are encouraged to call 855-962-8387 or visit www.ncserves.org to connect with the care coordination teams.

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