Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear (CCLCF), in partnership with Trillium Health Resources, has been honored with the 2026 i2i Quality Innovations Award in recognition of its impactful collaboration within the North Carolina Healthy Opportunities Pilot (HOP).

According to a news release, the i2i Quality Innovations Awards recognize organizations "that advance whole-person care, integrated approaches to care through innovative services, advocacy and strong partnerships. The Quality Innovations Award specifically highlights measurable improvements in care that lead to meaningful outcomes in the lives of individuals and communities served."

CCLCF is one of three Network Leads for the NC Healthy Opportunities Pilot, an initiative that was designed to address social determinants of health, the release stated. According to the release, through close collaboration with Trillium Health Resources, community-based organizations and tailored service providers, CCLCF supported the delivery of essential interventions related to food, housing, transportation and interpersonal safety.

The release stated, "This work is grounded in quality improvement initiatives, shared data, and a commitment to continuous improvement to strengthen outcomes across the region."

Sarah Ridout, CCLCF Healthy Opportunities Program director, stated in the release, “We are proud to be recognized for this work alongside Trillium. This award reflects the dedication of our team and partners, and the power of collaboration to drive innovation and improve the quality of care for the communities we serve. We are proud of how far we’ve come and are even more energized for what’s ahead!”

Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear and Trillium Health Resources will be formally recognized at the i2i Winter Conference, set to take place Jan. 14-15.