NAGS HEAD, N.C. — July 22, 2024 — In partnership with Dare County and local law enforcement agencies, Outer Banks Health is bringing the Blue Envelope Program to our community. The program is designed to provide a communication awareness tool for law enforcement when interacting with community members diagnosed with conditions or disabilities like autism spectrum disorder, dementia, and anxiety.

The blue envelopes distributed to community members through the program contain tips for law enforcement, a card that identifies the individual and specifies their condition or disability, and room for pertinent documents such as a vehicle registration and proof of insurance. The program allows an individual with a condition or disability to present the blue envelope to law enforcement or other community service personnel during an interaction so that they are not perceived as being uncooperative or combative.

The idea to bring the Blue Envelope Program to Dare County came from Outer Banks Health Speech Language Pathologist Kristin Kuhar.“I became aware of this program in New Jersey and found there were other towns, counties and states participating in this program as well,” said Kristin. “I thought it could serve our community too. We have many community members with a variety of backgrounds who experience communication challenges. Communication for these individuals can become extremely difficult in stressful situations. The Blue Envelope Program provides a way to ease stress and increase effective communication for both law enforcement and the individual.”

The program is supported by the Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Southern Shores, Duck and Nags Head police departments, along with the Dare County sheriff’s office. Blue envelopes are available for free throughout Dare County, including at medical practices, libraries, law enforcement offices, senior centers and high schools. The program is entirely voluntary and self-implemented.

Outer Banks Health comprises a community hospital, six primary care and six specialty care practices, two urgent care facilities, an outpatient rehabilitation therapy center, and a state-of-the-art cancer center. Offering the residents and visitors of Dare County and the surrounding region exceptional health care, Outer Banks Health is part of ECU Health and Chesapeake Regional Healthcare.

Representatives from Dare County and local law enforcement agencies surround Outer Banks Health Speech Language Pathologist Kristin Kuhar in support of the Blue Envelope Program. Pictured left to right are Jon Slegel, deputy chief, Southern Shores Police Department (SSPD); Chris Montgomery, deputy chief, Nags Head Police Department; David Kole, chief, SSPD; Kristin Kuhar, Doug Doughtie, sheriff Dare County; Dana Harris, assistant chief, Kill Devil Hills Police Department (KDHPD); Chris Carter, captain, KDHPD; Gary Britt, chief, KDHPD; Brad Eilert, chief, Manteo Police Department; Michael Palkovics, chief, Kitty Hawk Police Department (KHPD); Jeff Ackerman, chief, Duck Police Department; and Jimmy Helms, lieutenant, KHPD. Blue envelope is pictured below.