CareReach

01/12/2026

The final of the 4Cs of "What We Believe" is equally as important as Collaboration, Community, and Compassion. Without commitment, we would not uphold our promise to support our neighbors on their health journeys.

CareReach is committed to access to care, specialized case management, and providing quality programming to meet critical individual health needs across the region.

From pivots during crises like the pandemic or Hurricane Helene, to policy-level changes such as Medicaid Expansion, CareReach is committed to the health of WNC in the ever-changing landscape and through ups and downs...and is grateful for the shared commitment of staff, partners, and stakeholders that strengthen our ability to act on what we believe every day to address barriers to care and meet people where they are...for healthier communities!

01/09/2026

If you've met the CareReach team, you know that COMPASSION is the heart of their work. Whether it is someone navigating health insurance options, seeking care to cure due to Hepatitis C, struggling with resources like food and transportation, or in need of recovery support, etc. CareReach walks its talk.

Compassion guides our way. Thank you for entrusting us as we help navigate your health goals with you. We are grateful and honored to meet you where you are!

www.carereachnc.org

McDowell Access to Care and Health
McDowell Impact Peer Support Services
Toe River Project Access
Hepatitis C Bridge Counseling
Hot Springs Health Program

01/08/2026

As a key partner in the region’s health and safety-net system, CareReach leads innovative and effective resource navigation and case management initiatives to address individual health needs with a tailored approach to care coordination. CareReach staff work directly with residents to support their health goals while collaborating with local partners to improve access to clinical and community-based services.

CareReach currently collaborates with a wide range of partners, including hospitals, public health agencies, treatment centers, detention facilities, community centers, emergency services, and other local nonprofit organizations. Several programs are supported by government partners such as the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

All this to say, there are too many wonderful partners to name here!!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURPOSEFUL COLLABORATION and connection!


McDowell Access to Care and Health Toe River Project Access McDowell Impact Peer Support Services

If you are a partner of CareReach, would love to have you roll call in the comments section!!

01/06/2026

Who is CareReach? CareReach has a vision of COMMUNITIES working together for the well-being of everyone.

Our mission - ensuring COMMUNITIES have access to the care and resources they need to be healthy - is carried out every day across six different counties in WNC and these primary programs: Hepatitis C Bridge Counseling, the Hot Springs Health Program with the Hot Springs Medical Center, McDowell Impact Peer Support Services, McDowell Access to Care and Health, and Toe River Project Access.

This week, we want to introduce you to the values that drive us. The first of what we believe is: COMMUNITY.

Please reach out to us if you'd like to learn more!

01/02/2026

We want to pause today to thank our dedicated Board Members. CareReach’s innovative, community-driven approach empowers individuals and creates measurable change for WNC’s underserved populations. Expanding access to healthcare fosters individual and community resilience while strengthening health outcomes and improving the quality of life for residents.

Thanks to these amazing people, we are driving our mission -ensuring communities have access to the care and resources they need to be healthy - further in community with collaboration, compassion, and commitment!

01/02/2026

Welcome to 2026! The year has changed, but the 2025 stories of impact are gifts that keep on giving!

Together with Hot Springs Medical Center in , as the CareReach Community Health Worker, Jacque continues to play a vital role in the program that offers a full range of primary and preventative medical services as well as treatment of acute and chronic conditions for all ages — young and old alike.

Jacque works to ensure food boxes are received in partnership with TRACTOR Food and Farms, provides transportation to medical appointments, connects patients with no-cost resources, and offers community education in places like the Madison County Health Department, libraries, and community centers.

If you want to start your year with generosity and these stories are meaningful to you, please consider a donation to CareReach!

12/31/2025

If you or someone you know is on Medicare, you can find even greater appreciation for this anecdote as part of our "Reason to Believe" series!

Medicare is far more complex than one may realize - and it is never 'one size fits all'. Medicare counseling is a critical service to ensure that those getting ready to enroll for the first time AND those who are updating their plan during open enrollment receive no-cost, customized, and UNBIASED support.

The certified SHIIP counselor will ensure that the tailored plan is presented during the counseling session, based on the uniqueness of every individual - what medications they are on, what healthcare providers they use, future health goals, etc.

This also allows us to support every consumer in better understanding Part D, Medigap, and Advantage plans. As you can see, we can also help avoid paying for unnecessary/unused benefits, maximize value and provide peace of mind!

Miki can help you avoid costly and time-consuming errors and simplify the complex Medicare system, while debunking common myths about Medicare.

Whether you have already received this service directly or recognize its deep value, we invite you to make a gift of any size to support our work! Every gift counts - and today is the last day to make a 2025 tax-deductible donation!

Toe River Project Access

12/30/2025

CareReach and McDowell Impact Peer Support Services are partnering with Our VOICE on Tuesday, January 20th from 2-3:30pm at the Universal Building at McDowell Technical College.

This event is designed to help community members learn the basics of human trafficking, how it affects our community, and what the warning signs look like.

While we would like to think that human trafficking cannot or does not affect us in our beautiful mountain home, please join us to better understand what it is, what it isn't, and why it matters.

12/30/2025

Did you know that CareReach manages the Hepatitis C Bridge Counseling program in Buncombe County? Our third story of impact in our "Reason to Believe" series is one of the many successes of this program - from care to CURE.

We provide services through Christine, who helps coordinate rapid testing, patient support and supports our affected neighbors with additional help that might include cell phone access for patient communication and help with transportation - a frequently cited barrier.

Thanks to our partners - Western North Carolina AIDS Project, Appalachian Mountain Health, and MAHEC.

Christine's work includes outreach through the community with partners that include: paramedics at Haywood Street, 12 Baskets Cafe: a program of Asheville Poverty Initiative, the AHOPE Homeless Center through Homeward Bound of WNC, Health Department nurses, Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, RHA Health Services, and FIRST at Blue Ridge, Inc.

Bridge Counseling is free, voluntary, and confidential; There are no requirements for your current state of health to participate; this includes any past or present drug use or involvement with the legal system.

Call 828-772-4719 to speak to the CareReach Bridge Counselor:

Mon- Fri, 8:30a-5:30p, Thurs-only 8:30a-4:00p

Fridays: Walk-Ins Available 10:00am-4:00pm 40 Coxe Ave Buncombe County Health & Human Services

We are proud to be part of this life-changing initiative and are dedicated to improving health outcomes for .





Your donation supports this work and helps us provide critical resources along the way. Learn more at www.carereachnc.org

12/27/2025

We hope you are enjoying end of year celebrations and honoring the spirit of the season!

Our second story in our "Reason to Believe" holiday message to wrap up our year is through the McDowell Impact Peer Support Services program. From health and housing, to resource coordination and ongoing support, McDowell Impact is McDowell County's first-ever peer support program. It is an innovative, multiagency collaboration utilizing peer support specialists to promote and support recovery.

McDowell Impact supports individuals across McDowell County who struggle with substance use and co-occurring challenges like infectious disease, family separation, chronic homelessness and overdose. Our certified peer support specialists help their community to navigate recovery and access resources to keep them safe, healthy and connected.

Program Goals
• Breaking Stigma in our community
• Decreasing Isolation directly related to stigma
• Growing resources in our community
• Building a strong recovery community and a united effort to combat substance use and its effects in our community.

Services
• Individual recovery support
• Peer-led recovery groups
• Assistance with accessing community resources
• Transportation
• Linkage to services
• Harm reduction services
• Narcan training and distribution

If you are thinking of making a year-end gift, you can donate directly through CareReach by scanning the QR code or visiting us online at: https://carereachnc.org/about/donate

12/22/2025

As we welcome the holidays and embrace this season of believing, we shared last week a holiday message. In case you missed it, we wanted to call out the stories inside to remind and inspire you through stories of impact; these are the gifts that keep on giving.

We will share these stories throughout the end of the year and encourage you to share!

If you are called to make a donation at anytime, CareReach stewards its resources across a variety of health and safety net programs: Hepatitis C Bridge Counseling, McDowell Access to Care and Health, McDowell Impact Peer Support Services, The Hot Springs Health Program, and Toe River Project Access.

Every gift given throughout the year provides support, access, and recovery resources across programs. We have the honor of serving Avery, Buncombe, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey counties - meeting people where they are and connecting them to the care they need, supporting healthier communities throughout the region.


McDowell County 911 / Emergency Management Divine Disaster Relief

More about who we are and what we do: https://carereachnc.org/

10/09/2025

Our Fall newsletter just published! Check out our new Mission, Vision and Values..... 😍

Email from CareReach Communities working together for the wellbeing of everyone.     Executive Director Message Each year we look forward to autumn in Western North Carolina, anticipating the brillian