Understanding that change is most effective when we work together, our founders, a group of like-minded organizations and individuals with public health backgrounds, formed NCAH in 2002 to improve North Carolina’s health and advocate for policies that reduce tobacco use. Originally a project of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, NCAH became an independent 501(c)(3) in October 2016.
For two decades we have made substantial progress toward achieving our goals so that all North Carolinians will live healthier lives, protected by strong health policies. We have advanced many state-level policies and secured millions in funding to support programs that reduce health disparities, prevent chronic disease, and promote health.
We invite you to join us is ensuring all North Carolinians have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health.
Commercial Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Impact
- Increased the cigarette tax by $.35 (2005)
- Eliminated smoking in General Assembly buildings (2006)
- Eliminated smoking in state government buildings and restored authority to local governments to make local government buildings smoke free in (2007)
- Made state government motor fleet smoke-free and restored authority to local government to make local government motor fleets smoke-free in (2008)
- Eliminated smoking in bars and restaurants (2009 – effective January 2, 2010)
- Defended efforts to weaken the smoke-free bars and restaurants law
- Secured $500,000 in nonrecurring funds for FY 17-18 and FY 18-19 for tobacco use prevention programs (2017)
- Secured an increase of $500,000 in recurring funds to be divided between QuitlineNC and You Quit, Two Quit (2017)
- Secured $250,000 in nonrecurring funds for tobacco use prevention programs (2018)*
- Secured an increase of $250,000 in recurring funds to be divided between QuitlineNC and You Quit, Two Quit (2018)*
- Secured $11 million in nonrecurring funds for FY 21-22 and $8 million in nonrecurring funds for FY 22-23 for youth tobacco use prevention and cessation programs (2021)
*There was no state budget from 2018-2020
Healthy Food Access Impact
- Improved statewide standards addressing nutrition in early care and education settings (2017)
- Secured $750,000 to create the first statewide Healthy Food Small Retailer Program (healthy corner store initiative) in the country (2017-2019)
- Convened the Healthy Food Retail Task Force, which made 8 policy recommendations for addressing food insecurity in North Carolina (2018-2019)
- Secured $3.9 million in nonrecurring funds to eliminate the reduced-price lunch copay** (2020-2022)
- Secured $6 million in nonrecurring funds for the North Carolina Feeding the Carolinas food banks (2020)
- Secured $75 million for School Nutrition Programs (2020)
- Secured $12 million for delivery of school meals via yellow bus (2020)
- Secured $40 million in nonrecurring funds for the North Carolina Feeding the Carolinas food banks (2021)
- Secured $2 million in nonrecurring funds for FarmsSHARE, an emergency food assistance program run by Carolina Farm Stewardship Association that provides a free box of locally-grown produce and protein source from small, sustainable farms to households in need (2021)
- Secured $62,500 in nonrecurring funds for the Safe Plates program at NC State University to develop a set of standard operating procedures and trainings to help organizations safely recapture unserved prepared food (2021)
- Made statutory changes that decreased the amount of indirect costs that School Nutrition Programs pay to districts (2021)
**Due to COVID-19 waivers, this funding was not utilized until the 2022-2023 school year
Learn MoreActive Living Impact
- Passage of HB 901, PE and Health Honors Courses, creating the option for schools to offer healthful living honors courses to provide an advanced level of learning and training in allied health for high school students (2010)
- Passage of HB 1757, Fitness Testing in Schools, requiring fitness testing (FitnessGram) in schools as a part of a comprehensive physical education program (2010)
- Improved statewide standards addressing child outdoor learning and play, physical activity, and screen time in early care and education settings (2017)
- Working with partners to advance Safe Routes to Schools and Complete Streets policies (active)
Cross-Cutting Impact
- Supported partner campaigns to extend Medicaid benefits to 12 months postpartum through 2027 (2021)
- Supporting Care4Carolina’s campaign to close the health insurance coverage gap (active)
- Supporting partner efforts to establish equitable pay and leave policies at the federal level (active)