Navigator Plus
Connecting family with information and skills to support their needs
The Navigator Plus:
Transition & Support Services Project supports families and youth with disabilities, behavioral health issues, substance use disorders, and co-occurring conditions across five counties in Western North Carolina, Buncombe, Henderson, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancey.
The Healthy Transitions Initiative focuses on two critical transitions:
- Preschool to School Age
- School Age to Adulthood
Check out the Pathfinder Toolkits. Check back as this project is new and we will be adding resources monthly and information about events in your community.
%
- 17% children in the U.S. has a developmental disability
%
- 20% youth aged 13–18 experience a mental health disorder.
In North Carolina, roughly 12.5% of children are identified as having special health care needs, and many families rely on Medicaid or other public assistance programs to access care. Suicide is the leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds in Buncombe County, with an 11% increase in emergency room visits for suicidal thoughts for all people in 2022 from 2019.
The Navigator Plus Team
FIRSTwnc Navigator Plus offers comprehensive, hands-on coaching and support to help families understand and navigate the educational, medical, mental health, and social service systems. We focus on building the capacity of parents, caregivers, and siblings (the natural support systems) to advocate for their children’s needs. Our program provides one-on-one guidance, models effective advocacy techniques, and fosters collaboration among service systems, helping families overcome obstacles related to language, education, and systemic complexity. By strengthening the ability of family members to advocate and support their loved ones, we improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Navigator Plus Team
- Amy Moose, amy@firstwnc.org
- Erin O’Neal Lesh, lesh@firstwnc.org
- Amanda Berry, Director of Child, Youth and Family Developement, amanda@firstwnc.org
This grant-based program receives funding from North Carolina HHS Mental Health Block Grant
