Blue Cross NC Foundation renews commitment to tribal-led health solutions across North Carolina

North Carolina's tribal communities are leading innovative efforts to improve health and well-being through solutions grounded in culture, community knowledge, and local priorities .  Recognizing the impact of this work, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (Blue Cross NC Foundation) is renewing its partnership with tribal communities through a $1.65 million investment that will support community-led efforts to improve access to care and advance health outcomes.

Building on partnership and learning, the investment will help communities advance locally identified priorities and expand solutions designed by and for the people they serve.

Tribal communities have shown that improving access to care goes beyond the availability of services. Access is also shaped by connection, relationships and the ability to receive support in familiar community settings. Previous investments helped strengthen community infrastructure, expand health and wellness programming and enhance public health capacity, creating a foundation for broader community impact.

“Trusted relationships are the first step to improving access to care. By partnering with community-based organizations that know how to serve their communities, we can help reduce barriers and connect people to the care and resources they need,” said Colleen Briggs, Blue Cross NC Foundation President. “That work begins with listening and understanding each community’s unique strengths and priorities.”

Renewed Commitment to Tribal Partnerships

North Carolina’s tribal communities are critical partners in efforts to increase access to care and advance health solutions rooted in culture, trust and community strengths.

Tribal-led approaches are especially important given the higher rates of diabetes and related chronic illnesses, heart disease, and substance use disorders experienced by American Indian communities, as well as a life expectancy that is nearly six years shorter than that of other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Investments in preventive care and interventions that help treat and manage chronic disease can improve health outcomes while lowering costs.

Through partnership and listening, Blue Cross NC learned that tribal communities are addressing unmet needs through innovative, culturally grounded approaches to improving health and well-being. Four years ago, Blue Cross NC Foundation made an initial investment supporting American Indian communities through capacity-building, infrastructure and collaboration. Previous investments built the organizational capacity needed to shift from learning and stabilization to community-scale implementation. The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation invested in a new community center, the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe expanded health and wellness programming, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians strengthened its public health infrastructure and achieved Platinum-level national accreditation. Together, these efforts reflect the power of culturally grounded, community-driven approaches to improving health and well-being.

Culturally grounded care

Blue Cross NC and Blue Cross NC Foundation are focused on effective solutions and positive outcomes for the American Indian population in North Carolina. In American Indian communities, access to care is strengthened through relationships and culturally relevant pathways to holistic care.

Blue Cross NC's Tribal Team has demonstrated its commitment to culturally grounded care by supporting community gatherings and events, and by convening statewide leaders through the Tribal Health Summit. Blue Cross NC’s Tribal Health Summit provided an opportunity to deepen relationships and ensure tribal voices inform programs that address whole-person health rooted in community, culture, food, and land. Blue Cross NC sponsors cultural and community events, approaching health care from a holistic perspective, recognizing the influence that culture and communication have on community health.

Tribal community centers, gatherings, and other community spaces serve as pathways to preventive and primary care, navigation support and follow-up services. By embedding care connections within community settings, individuals and families are more likely to access and stay engaged in care, supporting better long-term health outcomes and potentially reducing costs over time.

“When people feel connected to care and trust the settings where it is delivered, they are more likely to seek preventive services, stay engaged in treatment and avoid serious health issues that can be difficult and costly to address later,” said Briggs.

Impact beyond tribal communities

For many North Carolinians, barriers such as transportation challenges, long travel distances, workforce shortages and difficulty navigating the health care system can make care harder to access and more expensive to receive. Community-led approaches can help address those barriers by connecting people to care earlier, more effectively, and in ways that reflect local needs and priorities.

American Indian communities approach health through the lens of whole-person care. With practices that are inherently holistic, lessons learned may inform broader health improvement strategies across communities with unmet needs. These insights can help shape future investments, programs, and policies that advance health and well-being beyond tribal communities.

Through continued partnership with North Carolina's tribal communities, Blue Cross NC Foundation and Blue Cross NC are helping create pathways to care that are accessible, sustainable, and responsive to community needs. The lessons learned through this work can help inform broader efforts to make health care easier to navigate, more affordable, and more accessible for all North Carolinians.