Vaya Health Celebrates 2023 Impact and Enters New Year with Renewed Commitment to Health & Wellness
ASHEVILLE, NC – With 2024 off to a promising start, Vaya Health reflects and celebrates the continued work, training, initiatives, and advocacy efforts over the past year.
In 2023, Vaya played a pivotal role in fostering positive conversations in communities across its region, committed to advancing behavioral health care and wellness across North Carolina. The organization provided critical resources and training opportunities, including:
- NARCAN Distribution & Accessibility: As the opioid epidemic continues to surpass critical levels across North Carolina communities, Vaya worked to distribute over 1,800 cases of NARCAN to more than 120 local agencies.
- Focus on Youth & Families: Vaya kicked off the new year by launching its Adventure
Awaits campaign – a recruitment initiative to address North Carolina’s critical shortage of foster care parents. Adventure Awaits springs from Vaya’s long-standing Pathways to Permanency program, which focuses on ensuring that children and youth in foster care have the services and support they need to thrive.
- Suicide Prevention Training Efforts & Community Resources: In partnership with local community organizations, Vaya provided educational and skills-based training opportunities through its Mental Health First Aid course. Additionally, Vaya conducted 26 Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) courses, including one in Spanish. Throughout 2023, Vaya trained 385 people in QPR.
“The past year brought monumental change to the state’s public health system through Medicaid Expansion,” said Tracy Hayes, Area Director and CEO. “With more North Carolinians having access to care, we look forward to growing and expanding the innovative programs, initiatives, and partnerships we cultivated in 2023.
“At Vaya, we are inspired by the people and communities we serve. Our accomplishments reflect our ongoing commitment to develop the best and most-needed services and supports for a healthier North Carolina.”
In April 2023, Vaya announced Hayes’ transition into the role of CEO, alongside the announcement of the retirement of Brian Ingraham, who served as Vaya’s CEO from 2009 to 2023. On July 1, Hayes took over Vaya’s executive team leadership, day-to-day operations, and other strategic roles.
In 2024, Vaya looks forward to growing its community and member outreach, welcoming Rockingham County as the 32nd county Vaya serves, preparing for Tailored Plan implementation and the launch of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, and further supporting those with substance use needs, behavioral health needs, traumatic brain injuries and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
To learn more about Vaya’s ongoing programs, initiatives, or resources available to you and your community, visit: https://www.vayahealth.com/
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