Cabarrus Health Alliance

Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), legally known as The Public Health Authority of Cabarrus County, Inc., is the official local health department serving Cabarrus County, North Carolina. It was established in 1997 as an autonomous governmental entity under North Carolina General Statute 131E-15, Part B, operating with its own board of commissioners. CHA's core mission is "Achieving the Highest Level of Individual and Community Health through Collaborative Action." Its vision is to enhance the quality of life for the Cabarrus County community. CHA provides a comprehensive array of services and programs, categorized into several key areas: Clinical Services: This includes primary care for all ages, women's health (maternity, family planning, breast and cervical cancer screenings), pediatrics (well-child checkups, immunizations), adult health, and specialized clinics such as the SUN Clinic for pregnant individuals with substance use disorders, and the RISE Clinic for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). They also offer STD testing and treatment, and various immunizations. Communicable Diseases: CHA is responsible for the investigation, surveillance, and prevention of communicable diseases within the county, including HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, tuberculosis, influenza, rabies, and COVID-19. They provide testing, education, and outbreak response. Environmental Health: This department oversees public health aspects related to the environment, including inspections of food and lodging establishments, public swimming pools, and tattoo establishments. They also handle onsite wastewater (septic) systems, drinking water well inspections and testing, indoor air quality, lead poisoning, mold, and vector prevention and control (e.g., mosquito, tick, bed bug). Dental Services: CHA offers comprehensive dental care for families, accepting Medicaid, NC Health Choice, private insurance, and providing a sliding fee scale for eligible Cabarrus County residents. They have dental clinics in both Kannapolis and Concord. Behavioral Health: Services include LiVe Well Counseling for mental wellness, the RISE Clinic for OUD treatment, the SUN Clinic for substance use disorders during pregnancy, and various substance use prevention initiatives and support programs like the Syringe Service Program. Family Support: Programs like Care Management for At-Risk Children (CMARC), Care Management for High-Risk Pregnancies (CMHRP), Newborn Postpartum Home Visiting, and the Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) provide crucial support to families. Community Health Programs: These initiatives focus on broad public health improvement and education. Examples include adolescent health programs, cooking classes for healthy eating, diabetes prevention and management resources, "Healthy Cabarrus" (a multi-sector initiative to improve community health), "Healthy Together 5210" (promoting healthy habits), Kids Cooking Camp, Lifestyle Medicine, Living Healthy with Chronic Disease workshops, and worksite wellness programs. They also offer free community yoga classes. School Health: CHA provides school nurse services in Cabarrus County schools and offers related resources for students and parents. Women, Infants, & Children (WIC): CHA administers the WIC program, providing nutritional support and education to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children. Vital Records: They provide services related to vital records. Emergency Preparedness: CHA plays a role in public health emergency preparedness for the community. Community Mobile Unit: A mobile unit extends various health services directly into the community. Cabarrus Health Alliance operates with a strategic plan that emphasizes using data to improve health, achieving equity in practices and policies, building collaborative systems to address social determinants of health, and transforming agency capacity and culture. They actively collaborate with other local health organizations and community partners to achieve their mission.