State Takes New ‘PATH’ In Child Welfare

State officials hope a new online platform helps prevent losing children in the foster system.

The N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services has launched of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina), a new statewide information system that modernizes the administration of child welfare services. PATH NC provides staff with real-time data and information on everything rom medical needs to locations and schools for foster children.

Before PATH, North Carolina’s 100 county departments of social services child welfare offices have operated with a patchwork of independent data systems. Nearly half of counties are still largely reliant on manual processes and paper records for child welfare operations, DHHS said in a press release. PATH NC will bring all 100 counties together for the first time into a unified system.

“PATH NC is more than a technology upgrade – it’s an investment in North Carolina’s children and families,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “By providing social services staff with better tools, clearer data and integrated support, we are laying the foundation for a safer, more responsive child welfare system that delivers better, more consistent results – no matter where you live.”

While developing the new system, the department worked in close collaboration with county leaders to fully redesign the state’s Structured Decision-Making (SDM) tools. Nationally certified by Evident Change for accuracy and consistent results, the new SDM tools within PATH NC help frontline staff better identify and assess risk and safety concerns when responding to reports of child abuse or neglect.

Over the last five years, NCDHHS has worked hand-in-hand with North Carolina’s county DSS offices to plan, develop and test both PATH NC and the SDM tools. The department’s projected total investment for the new system’s design, development, training and implementation is approximately $65 million. An early review of cases supported by PATH NC and the new SDM tools shows promising results – county intake decisions are consistently aligned with state policies and best practice in child protective services.

“We’ve built PATH NC from the ground up in collaboration with county leaders to ensure it meets the current, real-world needs of North Carolina’s child welfare social workers,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being Michael Leighs. “It’s designed to improve the everyday experience of staff while making it easier to track, report and respond to what’s happening in real time. PATH NC is a critical part of our work to transform the child welfare system and improve the lives of children and families in North Carolina.”

The new system aligns with NCDHHS’ broader efforts to strengthen system oversight and modernize service delivery. Key features of PATH NC include:

• Mobile-Friendly Design – The system supports documentation from the field, including some offline functionality, so that staff can update case records while conducting assessments, facilitating family visits, attending court and more.
• Decision-Making Tools – PATH NC’s new certified SDM tools provide built-in risk and safety assessments, dashboards and real-time alerts for county staff and supervisors.
• Advanced Capabilities – The system features global search functionality, comprehensive data analytics and dashboards. The platform also has the capability to add automated policy support functions and dedicated portals for providers and families in the future.
• Comprehensive Case Management – Fully implemented, PATH NC will include modules for intake, assessment, in-home services, foster care, adoption, financials, licensing and eligibility all together in one system.
• Data Accessibility – Once all counties have transitioned to PATH NC, staff will be able to access statewide data, including a family’s full history with child welfare services, regardless of whether they move or transfer to a different county.
• Integrated Systems – PATH NC is designed to interface with other child-serving systems such as NC Medicaid, the NC Department of Public Instruction and other partner agencies in the future, which will streamline information sharing and reduce administrative burden across the system.

The statewide rollout of PATH NC began June 2, 2025, with an initial cohort of 15 counties using the system to support child welfare intakes and assessments. Over the next eight months, all remaining counties will transition to PATH NC for intake and assessment. Implementation for ongoing case management modules will begin in early 2026 and is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026. This phased rollout allows NCDHHS to provide targeted training and individualized support as each cohort of counties prepares to transition to PATH NC. The department will continue to update and improve the system based on user feedback throughout the implementation process.

“PATH NC is going to be a game changer for the state, and we’re excited to be among the first counties leading the way,” said Christa Smith, Director of Forsyth County DSS. “The system gives our staff the right tools to make timely, informed decisions, and it gives our supervisors the data they need to identify trends and improve practice. We look forward to seeing everything PATH NC will do for us and our DSS partners across the state.”

By streamlining documentation processes and providing real-time access to child welfare data for users across the system, DHHS said PATH NC offers more opportunity for state and county staff to pinpoint trends or challenges in child welfare practice and address them sooner – ultimately leading to a stronger system and better outcomes for children and families.

To learn more about ongoing initiatives to transform child welfare services in North Carolina, read NCDHHS’ Transforming Child Welfare in North Carolina: A Unified Vision for Children and Families.