In a significant boost to mental health resources for families affected by Hurricane Helene, North Carolina has allocated an additional $2 million to enhance out-of-school programs. This funding aims to expand access to summer camps in the western part of the state, offering vital support to children and families still grappling with the aftermath of the disaster.
Trillium Health Resources, based in Greenville, will deploy these funds to facilitate the participation of children and families in the Henry’s House program. This camp, catering to kids aged 6 to 16, is specifically designed to help address post-disaster trauma along with a range of physical and medical needs.
Matt Calabria, who heads the western recovery efforts in Gov. Josh Stein’s office, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “This program will be a lifeline for parents and children who are still healing from Helene.”
This recent funding supplements the ongoing efforts of WNC Thrive, an established state initiative providing after-school, weekend, and summer programs for children in Helene-affected western counties.
Earlier this year, the NC Department of Health and Human Services allocated $1.75 million to Vaya Health to kickstart these programs. Serving 32 counties in the western region, Vaya Health’s camps have hosted over 1,000 children across various sites during the past summer, as reported by the governor’s office.
The new camps funded by Trillium will be hosted at Victory Junction, a camp in Randleman founded by former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty. In a statement from July, NC Division of Mental Health director Kelly Crosbie described it as “a much-needed respite option for families and caregivers.” More details about the program, including eligibility criteria, will be made available by DHHS and Trillium by spring 2026, according to the governor’s office.
This story was originally published by NC Newsline.
