The mission of the NCHRCI is to both reduce adversity experienced in multiple realms by children and families living in North Carolina and increase protective factors and skills which contribute to building resilience for children, families, organizations and communities.
NCPC, which leads the statewide Smart Start network, serves as backbone agency of the NC Healthy and Resilient Communities Initiative (HRCI), bringing together more than 50 community collaboratives to build resiliency across the state. Launched in 2019, the Initiative is a statewide collaboration that aims to reduce adversity at the individual, organization and community level, increase protective factors and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) for children, families and communities, and promote systems change through community infrastructure and cross-sector collaborations to prevent and respond to toxic stress and trauma.
HRCI seeks to meet these goals by understanding what is currently working and not working at the local coalition level, to develop a unifying framework to align the work happening in NC, and co-create capacity building supports.
Since 2021, HRCI has been led by Resilient Communities Officer Mebane Boyd who previously led the New Hanover County Resiliency Task Force.
The premier location for resources on Healthy & Resilient Communities is now the Resilient NC website.
The Resilient North Carolina website strives to be a means to share best practices and connect the individuals and organizations working on creating a state where everyone can thrive. As much as possible, the resources shared will be created by and for residents of North Carolina and be healing centered – focused on healing through the strengths of its members. There will be a focus on lifting the voices of community members and those with lived experiences of trauma and adversity. Finally, this initiative is grounded in racial equity – recognizing that racial inequities are at the root of much of the trauma that lives in the bodies of North Carolinians.
Our focus on young children will ensure that the lessons of resilience impact the state’s youngest, most impressionable citizens. However, to truly address adverse childhood experiences and build resilience, the adults that support our children – teachers, parents, child care providers, and community leaders – must also be educated, safe, and cared for. Therefore, the initiative will support a continuum of policies and services for people of all ages across North Carolina. We must address all systems—from education and healthcare to law enforcement and infrastructure. Together, NCPC and more than 40 local ACEs collaboratives will work to build a more resilient state, ultimately creating better opportunities for children.
The NC Healthy and Resilient Communities Initiative leverages Smart Start’s deep roots in local communities across North Carolina and honors the powerful work of local ACEs collaboratives. In collaboration with state and local partners, the initiative will foster a common understanding and shared approach for local collaboratives to support the health and well-being of children, families, and community members in North Carolina—in a way that broadens the current understanding of adversity and resilience.
