When the Holidays Hurt: Standing in the Gap for Children in Foster Care Across the Southeast
As CEO of Thompson, I’m often reminded that titles like Senator, CEO, and General come with weight and responsibility. But during the holiday season, some of the most significant people in our community are the children quietly carrying more grief, uncertainty, and resilience than most adults will in a lifetime. For many of us, the […]
When Benefits Stop, the Ripple Doesn’t: How Thompson Stands in the Gap
When government shutdowns interrupt essential supports like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the conversation often stops at food insecurity: empty grocery carts, missed meals, bare pantries. But the reality runs much deeper than what’s on the dinner table. SNAP isn’t just about food. It’s about stability. When families lose access to food assistance, it’s not […]
When Rates Fall, Kids Pay the Price: North Carolina’s Medicaid Rebase and Its Real-World Impact
North Carolina just issued a new Medicaid rebase, cutting rates for Therapeutic Foster Care by 3% and Residential Services for youth by 10%. Let that sink in. These are not cuts to peripheral services. These are reductions to the very programs designed to support children who have experienced the greatest trauma; kids who need stability, […]
The High Cost of Silence: Why Youth Mental Health Care Access Matters More Than Ever
Each May, Mental Health Awareness Month offers an essential opportunity to shine a light on one of the most urgent yet often overlooked public health issues of our time: mental health. This year, as we focus on increasing understanding and reducing stigma, we must pay close attention to one group facing growing and often invisible […]
Thompson’s Impact on Charlotte’s Upward Mobility
In 2014, Charlotte was ranked dead last out of the top 50 urban cities in America for economic mobility in a study conducted by Harvard professor and economist Raj Chetty. A key indicator of fairness and hope for low-income residents, upward mobility measures an individual’s or group’s ability to improve their socio-economic status. In a […]
How Medicaid Cuts Could Impact Families in the Southeast
The potential cuts to Medicaid represent more than just budgetary adjustments; they pose a significant threat to the health and well-being of millions of Americans. Children, families, and communities stand to lose critical support, making it imperative for policymakers to consider the long-term consequences of these decisions. Protecting Medicaid is not just about preserving a […]