N.C. county EMS uses grant to expand community paramedic program

Cabarrus County EMS is among 39 agencies receiving funding to strengthen mobile integrated health, behavioral health care and substance use disorder response

June 20, 2026 12:00 PM

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Independent Tribune

CONCORD, N.C. — Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is one of 39 state agencies awarded part of a $10 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The grant is from the NC Rural Health Transformation Program (NHTRP), which ensures that rural residents have greater access to services and support they need for long-term health and recovery.

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Upon approval by the Cabarrus Board of Commissioners, the funding would support the creation of a captain position in the department’s Community Paramedic program. The role will oversee the program, which provides physical and mental wellness through preventive and primary care outside of emergency situations.

“The addition of this leadership role will provide dedicated administrative oversight, enhance coordination with healthcare and community partners, improve program consistency and quality assurance, and support continued growth of services throughout Cabarrus,” said EMS Deputy Chief Kara Clarke.

Special Community Paramedic initiatives include:

Parent-Infant Wellness, which provides prenatal and postnatal care such as infant weight checks, vital sign monitoring and more.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), which provides vital care to those suffering from opioid use disorder by administering medicine and assisting in finding resources for recovery, food instability, job placement and more. This role is paid for by Opioid Settlement Funding.

Since 2020, Cabarrus Community Paramedics have responded to over 4,000 calls and assisted more than 2,000 residents.

The program has improved patient outcomes and reduced emergency department visits, officials said. Currently, the program has three positions.

According to the NCDHHS, residents in rural areas of North Carolina experience higher rates of fatal drug overdose and overdose-related emergency room visits. The NHTRP program was created to address those issues by providing direct care to those who need it most.

This investment recognizes Cabarrus and other EMS organizations as essential components of North Carolina’s healthcare workforce. They are vital partners “in expanding access to behavioral health care and substance use disorder treatment,” NCDHHS said in a release.

Learn more about Cabarrus County EMS at www.cabarruscounty.us/ems or follow Cabarrus County EMS on Facebook.

Others receiving grants

“Every North Carolinian deserves access to safe, affordable, quality healthcare, no matter where they live,” said N.C. Gov. Josh Stein. “Investing in our EMS workforce and expanding behavioral health services in the rural parts of the state will help North Carolinians get the care they need closer to home.”

“Improving access to care starts with investing in our healthcare providers, including our frontline EMS workforce,” said N.C. Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “By strengthening EMS-led Mobile Integrated Health programs, we can provide timely treatment, support life-saving recovery, and ultimately reduce preventable overdoses.”

Stein announced the grants last week.

“EMS professionals are uniquely positioned at the intersection of emergency response and healthcare delivery, serving as a critical link in the continuum of care for rural communities,” said Tom Mitchell, chief of the NCDHHS Office of Emergency Medical Services.

The NCRHTP investment recognizes EMS as an essential component of North Carolina’s healthcare workforce and a vital partner in expanding access to behavioral healthcare and substance use disorder treatment. This initiative represents an important step toward ensuring that rural residents have greater access to the services and support they need to achieve long-term health and recovery.

The other Mobile Integrated Health grant recipients are: