How 20+ Organizations Are Collaborating to Transform Community Health in Central North Carolina
As community needs continue to evolve, the Central Carolina Community Collaborative is proving that partnership — not competition — is the key to progress.
In a recent webinar with Metopio, leaders from Atrium Health, Novant Health, and Cabarrus Health Alliance came together to share how more than 20 organizations, including 6 health systems, 10 health departments, and 4 United Way agencies, have joined forces to assess community needs, align strategies, and improve health outcomes across county lines in North Carolina.
Why the Collaborative Formed
“This work grew out of a community meeting after COVID,” explained Kristen Soni, Director of Community Health Needs Assessment at Atrium Health. “We realized that if we could work together through a pandemic, we could work together on this.”
What followed was the formation of the Central Carolina Community Collaborative, a regional initiative supported by the Duke Endowment and powered by a shared vision of health equity, aligned priorities, and collective impact. Their goals were to reduce duplicative work, speak a common data language, and ultimately serve their communities more effectively.
How a Shared Data Platform Strengthened Local Action
One of the most powerful tools uniting this group is Metopio’s platform, which provides a single source of truth for all collaborators. “Before this, every report was different — different timing, different data, different formats,” said Soni. “Now, we're all looking at the same data in the same way. It’s creating incredible efficiency and alignment.”
Erin Shoe, Public Health Director at Cabarrus Health Alliance, emphasized the value of technology in leveling the playing field: “Some counties have more resources than others. Metopio helps bridge that gap by giving all of us (especially resource-limited counties) access to the same high-quality data.”
That shared access also translates into better community engagement. “Now, when we go out and talk to community members, we’re speaking the same language,” added Kimberly Dull, Senior Director of Community Health and SDOH at Novant Health. “It’s not just about efficiency — it’s about respect and relationship-building.”
Built-In Flexibility for Local Needs
Despite working from a shared data set and report structure, the collaborative intentionally designed the process to maintain local nuance. “Each partner can add their own survey questions, include local data, and customize their reports,” said Soni. “The collaborative creates the baseline, but everyone can customize it in the way that makes sense for them.”
That flexibility has also opened the door for future collaborators. “We have some partners who are just observing this cycle so they can join fully next time,” said Dull. “It’s truly a ‘choose your own adventure’ model.”
Advice for Others: Just Start
All three panelists encouraged others across the country to initiate local partnerships — no matter how small.
“We didn’t set out to become one of the largest collaboratives in the country,” said Soni. “We just started with a conversation. That’s all it takes.”
“Public health doesn’t stop at county lines,” added Shoe. “This is about building something that lasts beyond the next report. Collaboration always makes the work stronger.”
And from a hospital system perspective, Dull underscored the importance of shared ownership: “There are very few of us getting more staff or more funding. We have to be strategic. A platform like Metopio allows us to automate what we can so our people can focus on what matters: relationships, strategy, and implementation.”
Want to Learn More?
Whether you're a public health leader, a hospital administrator, or a nonprofit partner exploring regional alignment, this conversation offers a powerful look into what collaboration can achieve. Watch the full recording and get inspired to start your own partnership journey.
Watch the webinar replay here, then start exploring Metopio's Community Health Assessment tools.