DHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley on the challenges facing the department and employees

We're joined this week by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley and Chief Deputy Secretary Mark Benton for a deep dive into the triumphs and pressures facing the agency and its 18,000 employees.

The in-depth discussion sheds light on various topics — managing the immense pressures on state psychiatric hospitals, the systemic reliance on DHHS facilities, job vacancies and the challenges of hiring, the interaction between HHS and the criminal justice process, making mental health services accessible, and the crucial role played by state employees. We also take a look back at the COVID-19 pandemic, which began to pick up steam four years ago this week. 

Join us for this enlightening podcast episode that critically assesses North Carolina's healthcare policies, their implications, and the journey ahead.