Department of Social Services Overview
The Department of Social Services (DSS) works together with Healthy Blue Care Together to provide benefits and services to North Carolinians in their health.
Our collaborative approach
DSS and Healthy Blue Care Together work to find the right teams, programs and services to help those children, youth or young adults currently or formerly served by child welfare. They can especially help those at risk or in need of help access comprehensive treatment, supervision, structure, placement and support.
Determining member eligibility
Eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs for members is determined by the local DSS. Each local department plays a key role in serving our members. DSS providers do this by:
- Providing services to children in need
- Licensing foster homes
- Working to reunite children with their families
Please use the DSS directory to check for member eligibility.
Care Management
Our care managers help make health care easier and less overwhelming for our members. They work with our members to help them understand the types of services we offer and how to participate in their own care.
To find your member’s assigned care manager and contact information, including supervisor info, log in to NC CarePoints Connect or call Member Services.
Care Management Support Line
The Children and Families Specialty Plan (CFSP) Care Management support line is available to connect Healthy Blue Care Together (HBCT) Medicaid members with care managers, supervisors and support staff.
Hours of operation:
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Midnight)
Friday through Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
NC CarePoints Connect
NC CarePoints Connect is a secure and no-cost web-based application. It offers our DSS partners tools and resources to improve health outcomes for our members.
Use NC CarePoints Connect to:
- Find your member’s assigned care manager and contact information, including supervisor info
- Access clinical summaries
- Examine care team information
- Review claims and authorization status
- Access ID cards
To access NC CarePoints Connect, select Register Now and complete the short registration process.
Member Services
Our members may already be working with one of our care managers. If they are not in contact with, or if they need help contacting their care manager, please have them call:
833-777-3611 (TTY 711)
System of Care (SOC)
The SOC approach works to improve behavioral health outcomes for children and families. Systems work together to intervene early and hold themselves accountable. This helps keep children safer and families more stable. It also helps prevent child abuse and neglect.
Healthy Blue Care Together uses the SOC model to create a support network for children, youth and families. This lets members and their natural support systems:
- Set treatment goals
- Choose from various community-based services
The SOC model involves working with:
- Schools
- The juvenile justice system
- Child welfare agencies
- Providers
- Communities
For more information about SOC, please refer to the Healthy Blue Care Together member handbook.
SOC contacts and resources
You can learn more about SOC through the Healthy Blue Care Together member handbook or visiting the links to our trusted partners.
Families can access the support of Healthy Blue Care Together's SOC team via their assigned care manager.
Member handbooks
Explore more information on policies, enrollment, contact information and other useful materials.
Trusted partners
System of Care | North Carolina Collaborative
Programs, resources and services
Each of our listed programs and services offer useful information to help supply the best care to eligible Healthy Blue Care Together members, including:
- Non-emergency transportation (NEMT)
- Judicial program
- Kindred Village
- Ombudsman support
- Pathway to Comfort
- Healthy Rewards
- Caregiver and family support
- Community resources
For more information about our programs and services, please visit our Benefits and services and Member resources pages.
Pathway to Comfort Program
The Pathway to Comfort Program is a partnership between Comfort Cases and Healthy Blue Care Together that provides North Carolina social service agencies with up to 50 no-cost Comfort Cases® or Comfort XL Duffel Bags each month for children in care.
Comfort Cases is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth in the child welfare system by providing backpacks, duffel bags, personal care items and other essential comfort items, helping ensure children can carry their belongings with dignity rather than in trash bags.
North Carolina DSS Staff are encouraged to order with Comfort Cases and help ensure more young people receive the comfort items they deserve during an often difficult transition.
Pharmacy and prescription drug benefits
Our member benefits include a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that can also be delivered to their home. We work with CarelonRx to provide these benefits.
Please review the Preferred Drug List (PDL) to determine what medicines require preapproval as the PDL is updated frequently. You may also reference our searchable formulary for all brand-name and generic drugs available in our plan. All drugs on the formulary are covered, but many require preapproval before the prescription can be filled.
DSS training support
Please use our training resources to help promote social, physical and mental health for our Healthy Blue Care Together members.
Local training events
Explore our regional map to learn about the educational events available in your area. We will post trainings as they become available.
Webinars, virtual trainings and on-demand learning
Education is a priority for Healthy Blue Care Together. Revisit this page from time to time to check for new in-person and online learning opportunities. Current virtual training offerings include:
Navigating Autism as a Foster Parent
Decoding Diagnoses: What They Mean and What to Do Next
Education Access and Quality for Children with Special Needs
Navigating the Complex World of Autism Spectrum Disorder for Children and Adolescents of Color
Make sure to explore additional learning opportunities from our trusted partners.
Trainings and webinars | Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina
Trauma-informed trainings and resources | Creating A Family
Member enrollment and plan options
North Carolina Medicaid enrollment is year-round. Prospective members can apply in three ways:
- Complete an online application
- In person at their respective county Department of Social Services (DSS)
- Fill out a paper application and submit to their local county DSS office
After an applicant has been notified that they are eligible, they can choose Healthy Blue Care Together as their health plan and may opt in to the Healthy Blue Care Together Medicaid plan for each member of their family who has Medicaid. If the member needs to change plans, they may contact their Enrollment Broker by:
- Calling the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker at 833-870-5500 (TTY 833-870-5588), 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, seven days a week
- Visiting the NC Medicaid Enrollment Broker website