News

Mecklenburg County has completed a draft of a behavioral health strategic plan and invites residents to review and offer comments, especially people with lived experience, family members, and service providers. Behavioral health generally refers to mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. In recent years, Mecklenburg County has identified behavioral health as a priority for improving the well-being of residents. 

Two students have been named National Ambassadors of Mecklenburg County’s annual “Do the Write Thing” writing contest. Qui’arie Randall from Northeast Middle School and Justice Fields from Whitewater Middle School may represent their peers during the National Campaign to Stop Violence Recognition Week in Washington, D.C. this summer. An initiative of the National Campaign to Stop Violence, Do the Write Thing is a writing program for middle school students that engages students to think about how youth violence has affected their lives and to consider what they can do about it. 

One in three young people in the United States experiences abuse by a dating partner. In an average Mecklenburg County classroom, that’s more than 10 students.

Mecklenburg County’s Substance Use Services team recently earned re-accreditation for three years by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).  

In response to extreme weather, forecasted through Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, an activation of extreme weather protocols will begin today at 6 p.m., and includes expanded hours of operation and additional capacity at area homeless shelters. 

The Community Engagement Task Group (CETG) will hold its first Youth Resource Fair on Saturday.

The annual State of Housing Instability and Homelessness (SoHIH) Report combines local, regional, and national data across the housing continuum, serving as foundation from which Charlotte-Mecklenburg can make informed decisions on the allocation of resources and development of systems of care. The report consists of three main sections: Homelessness, Housing Instability, and Stably Housed.

November is National Homeless Awareness Month and preparations are underway for the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. On Jan. 25, 2024, volunteers will span out across Charlotte-Mecklenburg streets, shelters, and encampments to identify individuals who are living without homes. Mecklenburg County is now seeking volunteers to help ensure everybody counts. 

Stacy Lowry, director of Mecklenburg County Community Support Services, is one of 56 civic and community leaders to be accepted this year into the highly selective Leadership North Carolina program. The class comprises leaders from across the state and across sectors—government, business, nonprofit, education, etc. 

In recognition of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Mecklenburg County representatives, community partners, and survivors released the latest data related to intimate partner violence in Mecklenburg County.