Building Healthier Communities with the Launch of Health Empowerment Zones in Rowan and Halifax Counties

Author: Taylor Zublena, Senior Manager, Health Equity

At WellCare of North Carolina, we believe lasting change begins at the community level. That’s why we launched the first two N.C.-based Health Empowerment Zones (HEZs) in Rowan and Halifax counties, a new, place-based approach designed to reduce health inequities and strengthen local well-being.

What Is a Health Empowerment Zone? Health Empowerment Zones are collaborative, community-led efforts that bring together local partners—from healthcare providers and schools to nonprofits and residents—to identify barriers to health and create solutions tailored to each community’s needs.

Originally modeled after a successful initiative in Rhode Island, HEZs are built on a simple, but powerful idea: Communities know best what they need to thrive. By coordinating across sectors, HEZs create a shared vision for better health that reaches beyond the doctor’s office.

The initiative is designed to build a model that can expand statewide, one that elevates community voices; directs resources where they’re needed most; and advances a healthier, more equitable North Carolina.

Spotlight on Rowan County
In Rowan County, the HEZ will focus on improving access to care, healthy food, transportation, housing, mental health, and chronic disease prevention.

The initiative will be led by Rowan County Public Health, which serves as the anchor organization and will coordinate efforts across healthcare, education, business, and community partners through its Healthy Rowan coalition network of more than 40 local organizations.

Key partners include Novant Health, Rowan County United Way, Vaya Health, and the Rowan-Salisbury School System. Together, these partners will build on shared values of professionalism, integrity, innovation, collaboration, and stewardship to drive meaningful change.

Spotlight on Halifax County In Halifax County, the HEZ will emphasize chronic disease prevention and management; maternal and child health; behavioral health; workforce development; and barriers like transportation, food insecurity, and broadband access.

The North Carolina Central University Rural Health Hub (RHH) in Enfield will serve as the anchor organization. RHH is intentionally embedded in the Enfield community and delivers such services as screenings, maternal health education, nutrition and cancer survivorship workshops, and workforce development programs, all designed to meet people where they are and empower them to live healthier lives.

What Happens Next The first year in each HEZ will focus on planning: listening to residents, assessing needs, and building a collaborative network to guide the work ahead.

Years two and three will move into implementation, turning those insights into community-based initiatives designed to improve health outcomes and quality of life outside traditional clinical settings.

Looking Ahead The launch of these first two Health Empowerment Zones is just the beginning. By combining local leadership with statewide support, WellCare’s HEZ initiative provides a framework for long-term, community-driven change.

As the program grows, lessons learned from Rowan and Halifax Counties will inform future zones across the state, helping ensure that every community in North Carolina can thrive.