{"id":4360,"date":"2026-06-09T10:20:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:20:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/epi-nc\/?page_id=4360"},"modified":"2026-06-09T10:20:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T14:20:37","slug":"nc-healthy-active-living-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/epi-nc\/nc-healthy-active-living-program\/","title":{"rendered":"NC Healthy Active Living Program"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NC Healthy Active Living (NC HeAL) for Coordinated Specialty Care Teams<\/h2>\n

NC HeAL is a free healthy lifestyle program supporting the health and well-being of patients and families in early psychosis care. The program offers individual health coaching and medical nutrition therapy to patients and family members enrolled in CSC programs across North Carolina.<\/p>\n

This page is designed specifically for CSC team members and includes direct referral access and team-specific guidance.<\/p>\n

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Refer a Patient or Family Member to NC HeAL<\/h3>\n

NC HeAL offers free health coaching and medical nutrition therapy to patients and family members enrolled in a CSC program. Referrals can be submitted by any CSC team member. A member of the NC HeAL team will follow up directly to schedule an initial appointment.<\/p>\n

Submit a Referral \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n

Access to this referral form is restricted to CSC team members. For questions about eligibility or the referral process, contact NCHeAL@med.unc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What is NC HeAL?<\/h3>\n

NC HeAL provides individual health coaching and medical nutrition therapy to people with early psychosis to support adoption of healthy habits in areas such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, stress management, substance use, and screen time. Sessions are flexible, patient-centered, and designed to complement \u2014 not duplicate \u2014 the work of other CSC team members.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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How NC HeAL Fits Within Your Team<\/h2>\n

Health coaching and medical nutrition therapy work best when they are integrated into the broader CSC team rather than treated as a separate referral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Prescriber<\/p>\n

Monitor cardiometabolic indicators and flag patients at elevated risk. Reinforce health goals during medication reviews. A brief \u201chow has your energy been this week?\u201d opens the door.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Therapist \/ Case Manager<\/p>\n

Explore how lifestyle factors (sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress) relate to mood and symptoms. Refer when a patient expresses interest in health goals or when motivation for change is emerging.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Peer Support Specialist<\/p>\n

Share lived experience of lifestyle changes in recovery. Normalize the idea of health coaching. A peer saying \u201cI started going for walks and it helped my sleep\u201d can be more powerful than a clinical recommendation.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Supported Employment \/ Education Specialist<\/p>\n

Physical activity, nutrition, substance use, stress and sleep directly affect a patient\u2019s capacity to work or study. Connect health goals to employment goals \u2014 they often reinforce each other. Consider a warm handoff to health coaching at key transitions.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Referral Guidance<\/h2>\n

Who to refer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Consider referring when\u2026<\/th>\nMay want to wait when\u2026<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2713<\/span> Patient expresses interest in health, energy, or lifestyle<\/td>\n\u25cf<\/span> Acute symptoms are not yet stabilised<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2713<\/span> Cardiometabolic risk factors are present or emerging<\/td>\n\u25cf<\/span> Patient has expressed strong reluctance or distrust<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2713<\/span> Patient or family member asks about diet, exercise, or weight<\/td>\n\u25cf<\/span> Patient is in crisis or recent hospitalisation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2713<\/span> Patient is transitioning to work, school, or new living situation<\/td>\n\u25cf<\/span> Engagement with core CSC services is not yet established<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

What to say when making a referral<\/h3>\n
With the patient:<\/strong>
\n\u201cThere\u2019s someone on our team who focuses specifically on health behaviors \u2014 things like sleep, food, and staying active. A lot of people find it helpful. Would you be open to a quick conversation with them?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

What to include in the referral:<\/strong>
\nAny known cardiometabolic concerns, patient\u2019s stated interests or goals, and any barriers to engagement you\u2019ve already identified.<\/div>\n

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What happens after a referral?<\/h3>\n

The NC HeAL health coach will contact the patient directly to schedule an initial appointment to describe the process, answer questions and assess fit. If medical nutrition therapy is a better fit, they will be referred. Ongoing communication with the team will be on-going as the patient or their family progress through coaching or medical nutrition therapy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Clinical Resources for the Team<\/h2>\n

These resources are designed for use during clinical visits and as take-home materials. Any team member can use or distribute them \u2014 they are not restricted to the health coach.<\/p>\n

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