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North Carolina's newborn screening program receives federal grant

A new federal grant will be used to enhance North Carolina's Newborn Screening Program, which identifies disorders and assists parents seeking follow-up care. Adobe stock photo

A new federal grant will be used to enhance North Carolina's Newborn Screening Program, which identifies disorders and assists parents seeking follow-up care. Adobe stock photo

North Carolina will receive $1.7 million to support its newborn screening program. The money will be distributed to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services over five years.

The funding has been awarded from a division of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. The goal is to improve and build upon advancements in the state’s newborn screening system.

Officials hope to enhance the early detection of genetic or biochemical disorders. The grant will also benefit follow-up programs for families seeking help navigating the treatment landscape.

Dr. Scott Shone, the director of the state Laboratory of Public Health, says the funding will be used to update data systems, expand educational outreach, and make improvements both in the lab and with follow-up procedures.

According to a news release, newborn blood tests detect rare genetic or biochemical disorders in over 200 babies in North Carolina every year. Studies support the importance of early identification and treatment.

Neal Charnoff joined 88.5 WFDD as Morning Edition host in 2014. Raised in the Catskill region of upstate New York, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1983. Armed with a liberal arts degree, Neal was fully equipped to be a waiter. So he prolonged his arrested development bouncing around New York and L.A. until discovering that people enjoyed listening to his voice on the radio. After a few years doing overnight shifts at a local rock station, Neal spent most of his career at Vermont Public Radio. He began as host of a nightly jazz program, where he was proud to interview many of his idols, including Dave Brubeck and Sonny Rollins. Neal graduated to the news department, where he was the local host for NPR's All Things Considered for 14 years. In addition to news interviews and features, he originated and produced the Weekly Conversation On The Arts, as well as VPR Backstage, which profiled theater productions around the state. He contributed several stories to NPR, including coverage of a devastating ice storm. Neal now sees the value of that liberal arts degree, and approaches life with the knowledge that all subjects and all art forms are connected to each other. Neal and his wife Judy are enjoying exploring North Carolina and points south. They would both be happy to never experience a Vermont winter again.

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