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UKnowledge > College of Public Health > Journal of Appalachian Health > Vol. 7 (2025) > Iss. 1

 

Corresponding Author

Miranda Smith - miranda.smith@burkenc.org

Author Affiliations

  1. Miranda Smith, MPH, CHES: Public Information Officer, Burke County Public Health (Morganton, NC); E-mail: miranda.smith@burkenc.org
  2. Ashley Jarrett, BSN,RN: Assistant Public Health Director, Burke County Public Health
  3. Danny Scalise, MBA, MPH, CPH, FACHE, FRSPH: PublicHealth Director, Burke County Public Health; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7091-747X
  4. Samantha Simmons, BS: Public Health Educator, Burke County Public Health

Author Area of Expertise

Miranda Smith: Health Education

Ashley Jarrett: Health Administration

Danny Scalise: Health Administration

Samantha Simmons: Health Education

Abstract

Addressing health-related social needs is crucial for improving health outcomes, especially for vulnerable populations. NCCARE360 is North Carolina’s statewide coordinated care platform powered by Unite Us.1 Burke County Public Health (BCPH) identified gaps in the standardized NCCARE360 training, prompting a tailored approach. Using the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle, BCPH refined training materials with interactive guides, real-life scenarios, and one-on-one sessions. This adaptation led to increased staff engagement and improved referral outcomes. Recognized as a model for local implementation, BCPH’s approach signifies the importance of customizing statewide initiatives to meet local operational realities. This case highlights the value of iterative training improvements for optimizing public health interventions in resource-limited settings. Effective use of NCCARE360 will enhance referrals to essential services, helping to address barriers caused by the social determinants of health often seen in the larger Appalachian Region.2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0701.07

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Smith M, Jarrett A, Scalise D, Simmons S. Tailoring statewide training for local impact: a Burke County Public Health case study. J Appalach Health 2025;7(1):115-120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13023/jah.0701.07

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