On May 14, 2025, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Across 100 initiative announced a new program that will engage North Carolina communities to identify and implement strategies addressing youth mental health needs.

According to a press release, Community-driven Approaches for Resilient and Empowered Youth (CARE4Youth), will “support a cohort of 10 communities from 18 counties as they develop supportive systems of care designed for — and with the participation of  — young people in North Carolina.” 

The program was announced in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and the UNC Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program (CHAAMP). 

During the three-year program, participating communities will use their existing cross-sector relationships to embed evidence-based mental health strategies in the community and engage young people to co-create local support systems that respond to their mental health needs.

Participants will also be connected with subject matter experts in mental health and youth engagement, attend nine peer learning forums in Chapel Hill, and receive technical assistance as they develop their projects. 

Participating communities were selected from two of Carolina Across 100’s past programs: the Our State, Our Work initiative, which connected young adults with living wage employment opportunities, and the Our State, Our Wellbeing initiative to address mental health challenges and prevent suicides. Carolina Across 100 prioritized teams from western North Carolina due to anticipated long-term mental health needs after Hurricane Helene.

“The communities invited to participate in this opportunity have demonstrated the capacity to build partnerships that engage youth and strengthen systems of support for mental health,” said Anita Brown-Graham, lead coordinator of Carolina Across 100 and ncIMPACT director, in the press release. “CARE4Youth will allow these teams to build on their tremendous momentum as they implement evidence-based strategies in communities while centering the voices of youth and young adults.” 

Designed in response to a youth mental health crisis in North Carolina, CARE4Youth will contribute to the partnering organizations’ collective commitment to improving the wellbeing of the state’s young people.

“As we travel the state, and listen to the communities we serve, one thing is obvious, the youth and adolescents of our state are struggling,” said Kelly Calabria, Chief Communications, Marketing, and Corporate Social Responsibility Officer at Blue Cross NC. “It is critical that we do all we can to protect mental health resources for our youth. Carolina Across 100 is driving meaningful change for our state’s young people and we are proud to support the opportunities that CARE4Youth provides children and communities to be mentally healthy and thrive.” 

The program will kick off virtually in June 2025, and teams will go to their first in-person forum in the fall.

“Across North Carolina, young people are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis—and they cannot meet it alone,” said Danielle Roubinov, Director of CHAAMP. “Communities know their young people best, and they are leading the way in creating systems of support that reflect local needs and strengths. Through CARE4Youth, we are honored to partner with these dedicated teams to implement effective treatment and support programs and build sustainable solutions so every young person reaches their full potential.”