On December 1 st , 2023, Medicaid Expansion took place in North Carolina, giving hundreds of thousands of previously ineligible people access to Medicaid Services. Medicaid Expansion has allowed many new families to access Medicaid health services, including adult mental health and substance use services. Benchmarks is piloting the Standardized Assessment Protocol (SAP) project in North Carolina. This project has expanded to In-Home Family Services (IHFS), which is a part of the child...

Everyone knows about TiCTaCs right? The tiny little breath mint candies that come in the adorable little boxes? They are typically found in the grocery store checkout aisles and gas stations. They’re offered in a variety of colors and flavors! So why are we sitting here talking about candy? This tiny treat is often mentioned during our work with DSS agencies and other community agencies. These fun little candies appear to have very little significance, but they have a much bigger meaning in...

Resilience, which is defined as the capacity to recover from difficulties, is a vital tool in building a strong child welfare system, but what does that really mean? It is easy to say that resiliency is important, but effectively utilizing systems and tools for children and families as well as the employees who serve them is a different challenge. Through the latest research, we know resilience is made up of many different factors, from one’s genetics to their environment and support...

SAP Implementation Coordinator, Jamie Tilley, and Implementation Manager, Amanda Dolinger, worked with Rebecca McLemore Stokes County Foster Care Supervisor to develop a presentation regarding trauma and the SAP pilot for the district court judges, the county’s DSS Attorney, and GAL. Due to COVID-19, the training was conducted online to ensure everyone’s safety. Information was shared with the court staff about the importance of trauma informed practices and the impact of trauma on children...