ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Transforming health care across Region 3
NC ROOTS Hubs are central players in North Carolina’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a statewide initiative to improve health outcomes in rural communities through better coordination, shared infrastructure, and integrated care.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Transforming health care across Region 3
NC ROOTS Hubs are central players in North Carolina’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a statewide initiative to improve health outcomes in rural communities through better coordination, shared infrastructure, and integrated care.
Our Region
Region 3 encompasses 12 counties across the Foothills and Piedmont of North Carolina, from the Catawba Valley to Greater Charlotte. This diverse region includes urban centers, small towns, and rural communities, all working together to improve health outcomes for residents.
12
Counties
2.5M+
Residents
Regional diversity: Our region includes major metropolitan areas like Mecklenburg County alongside rural counties, creating unique opportunities for cross-county learning and resource sharing.
Program Goals
Coordinated Care
Break down silos between physical health, behavioral health, and social services. Ensure people get comprehensive care, not fragmented visits.
Shared Infrastructure
Pool resources for data systems, care coordination staff, and administrative functions that small rural providers cannot afford alone.
Outcome Measurement
Track what matters – real improvements in population health and quality of life for rural residents.
Local Leadership
Keep decision-making at the county and regional level. Communities know their needs better than anyone else.
The Hub’s Role
Vaya Partners serves as the ROOTS Hub Lead for Region 3. We provide the backbone infrastructure that makes coordination possible.
Convene stakeholders
Bring together community members, county leaders, providers, and community organizations to identify priorities and coordinate efforts.
Provide technical assistance
Provide technical assistance to stakeholders (for example providers) on topics such as data-sharing agreements, care coordination workflows, and state and federal compliance.
Support regional planning
Facilitate the Regional Decision Council, the governance body that sets strategy and allocates resources for our region.
Connect to state resources
Serve as the liaison between local participants and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), ensuring our region’s voice is heard in program development.
The Partnership
Rooted in community. Stronger together. Our partners bring complementary expertise and trusted local relationships together to create solutions shaped by the people and communities of Region 3.
One shared goal – where you live doesn’t determine the quality of care you can access.
Vaya Partners
Hub Lead
Vaya Health and Partners Health Management will come together as Vaya Partners on October 1, 2026, bringing decades of experience serving North Carolinians and a shared commitment to strengthening the state’s public system of integrated healthcare. Together, Vaya Partners will serve 47 counties across North Carolina, creating the state’s largest local management entity/managed care organization (LME/MCO) dedicated to integrated, whole-person care for people with complex needs related to mental health, substance use disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
For NCRHTP, Region 3, this partnership brings together deep knowledge of rural communities, longstanding relationships with providers, counties, community organizations, and local leaders, and experience navigating the challenges of delivering care and connecting people to services across rural North Carolina.
Appalachian State University
Research and Learning Partner
App State has deep roots in this region, and the university brings something the ROOTS Hub needs – the ability to turn community knowledge into evidence, and evidence into better decisions. They bring both research expertise and a deep understanding of the communities it serves.
App State serves as the ROOTS Hub’s strategic Research and Learning Partner for Region 3 leading workforce pathway development, academic partner coordination, training-site development, student and trainee pipelines, implementation support, and other key activities to support Region 3 priorities.
App State will also support in the implementation of community health assessments, data analysis, and program evaluation to help communities make data-informed decisions, measure impact, and strengthen rural health initiatives.
Cabarrus Health Alliance
Regional Implementation Lead and Public Health Anchor
Cabarrus Health Alliance brings a strong community health perspective and extensive public health expertise to the Region 3 ROOTS Hub. As a Regional Implementation Lead and Public Health Anchor, Cabarrus Health Alliance will help connect regional strategy with local priorities and support implementation efforts that respond to the unique needs of communities across its area of responsibility.
Through its role, Cabarrus Health Alliance may help bring together healthcare, public health, community, and social service partners; support local implementation planning; strengthen care pathways; validate regional needs and service gaps; and help advance approved Hub Action Plan activities. Its public health expertise will help inform work across prevention, chronic disease, maternal and child health, community health, public health infrastructure, and other priorities identified through regional data and community engagement.
Catawba County Public Health
Regional Implementation Lead and Public Health Anchor
Catawba County Public Health brings deep local knowledge, public health expertise, and strong community connections to the Region 3 ROOTS Hub. As a Regional Implementation Lead and Public Health Anchor, Catawba County Public Health will help translate regional priorities into locally informed strategies that reflect the needs, strengths, and opportunities of communities within its area of responsibility.
Through its role, Catawba County Public Health may help convene community and healthcare partners, strengthen connections across public health and social systems, support local implementation planning, and help identify and address gaps in services and care. The organization will also contribute expertise in prevention, chronic disease, maternal and child health, community health, public health infrastructure, and other relevant Region 3 priorities.
Timeline
Note: Timeline details are subject to change as the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) finalizes program structures and funding mechanisms. We’ll update this page as more information becomes available.
PHASE
01
Current – Summer 2026
In Progress
Hub onboarding, needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and regional planning. Finalizing participation requirements with NCDHHS.
PHASE
02
Fall 2026
Upcoming
Counties and organizations begin formal enrollment. Regional Decision Council formation and initial care coordination pilots.
PHASE
03
2027
Planned
Full program implementation, outcome measurement, and continuous improvement based on what we learn.
