Superior Home, Employment & Community Based Services
Corporate Overview
At HS&M Mental Health & Education, we are proud to be a CARF-accredited agency recognized for delivering exceptional home, employment, and community-based services. With a strong presence across North Carolina, we have built a reputation for serving a diverse range of clients, including individuals, educational systems, small businesses, and government agencies.
The need for home and community-based services (HCBS) in North Carolina has never been greater. With over 15,000 individuals on the waitlist for critical services and an aging population growing at unprecedented rates, too many individuals are left without the support they need to live independently and thrive. Traditional care models often fall short, leaving families struggling to navigate complex systems while individuals face barriers to employment, stability, and community integration.
At HS&M, we are the solution. Our dedicated team of professionals brings decades of unmatched expertise in person-centered care, specializing in services for individuals with disabilities, those transitioning back into the workforce, and individuals seeking tailored in-home support. Additionally, we provide expert business solutions, including project management, administrative support, research, and professional coaching to strengthen service delivery across sectors.
We understand the unique challenges faced by individuals and organizations in achieving their goals. That’s why we provide customized tools and resources designed to remove barriers, empower success, and transform lives. Our evidence-based, person-centered approach ensures that each service we deliver is tailored to the evolving needs of our communities, setting new standards for excellence and integrity in care.
At HS&M, we don’t just serve our community – we empower it.
Founder
Dr. Hawa Hunt
Dr. Hawa Hunt is a researcher, practitioner, author, and founder of HS&M, Inc. With more than twenty-seven years of experience in child welfare, behavioral health, and human services — including twenty-two years co-owning and operating a therapeutic residential agency for foster children ages eleven to seventeen in North Carolina — Dr. Hunt brings a depth of lived practice knowledge that is rare in this field.
Hunt holds a doctorate from Northeastern University where her research examined the lived experiences of individuals formerly in foster care in North Carolina and how they fostered resiliency transitioning into adulthood. That research — grounded in the firsthand accounts of five foster care alumni — became the foundation of the HS&M Foster Care and Human Services Curriculum Series. The six-book series translates doctoral research and decades of practice into frameworks any practitioner, operator, or educator can use to build better programs for the people who need them most.
In addition to her research and writing Dr. Hunt founded HS&M Mental Health and Education — a CARF-accredited home and community based services agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs across North Carolina. She also leads HS&M Consulting — the education and curriculum division of HS&M Inc. — providing training, workshop facilitation, university curriculum partnerships, keynote speaking, and program consultation for child welfare and human services organizations.
Dr. Hunt’s philosophy is simple. Put the person at the center. And do not leave.
About Hawa
Dr. Hunt is an experienced and successful leader with over 25 years of entrepreneurial ventures in mental health, education, and training. She excels in strategic development, system redesign, and talent utilization to achieve optimal results. With a strong focus on empowering individuals and driving social advancement, Dr. Hunt has founded and managed both profit and non-profit ventures, demonstrating her commitment to holistic approaches and impactful change.
Dr. Hunt’s Personal Statement:
My commitment to serving my community led me to become a small business owner. Through my latest research project, titled “A QUALITATIVE EXAMINATION OF: THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA,” I gained valuable insights into the common challenges faced by individuals transitioning into adulthood.
For 22 years, I co-owned a mental health agency that provided therapeutic residential treatment to foster children aged 11-17. During that time, I had the privilege of supporting hundreds of children during their formative years. I served on their child and family teams, working diligently to create transition plans for their journey into adulthood.
Sadly, I witnessed numerous cases where the education, social services, and community systems failed these resilient young adults. Many aged out of the foster care system and found themselves incarcerated, pregnant, homeless, battling addiction, or, in most cases, unemployed. It was through these experiences that I became acutely aware of the urgent need for support in their lives.
After dedicating 22 years to residential treatment, I owe my deepest gratitude to the countless foster children I had the honor of serving. Their stories, struggles, and the realization of the community’s need for vocational programs inspired me to establish HS&M, Inc. My goal is to be of service to those who are often forgotten, marginalized, or seemingly invisible in society.
As I embark on my mission, my purpose is clear: to support individuals in the community who share similar experiences, stories, and needs in terms of education, employment, and mental health. I firmly believe that we can best help individuals when they have stability, employment, and good mental health, enabling them to help themselves. The resilience I have witnessed in the children and young adults I have encountered has shaped my unwavering commitment to making a difference in their lives. With HS&M, Inc. I aim to provide opportunities, support, and resources that empower individuals to thrive, break barriers, and overcome the challenges they face.
Her Recent Body Of Work
Corporate Snapshot
NAICS Codes
| 541611 | Administrative Management & General Management Consulting Services | |
| 541618 | Management Consulting Services | |
| 541720 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences & Humanities | |
| 611430 | Professional & Management Development Training | |
| 611710 | Education Support Services | |
| 621330 | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners | |
| 623220 | Residential Mental Health & Substance Abuse Facilities | |
| 624229 | Transitional Living Services |
Company Data
| DUNS Number: | 118089912 |
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| CAGE Code: | 91ZB2 | |
| Year Incorporated: | 2021 |
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| State Incorporated: | North Carolina |
Differentiators
● 20+ years of experience delivering industry leading services to corporate & non-profit ventures in mental health, foster care, and education services
● 100% women-owned and operated company delivering quality and resources of a large-scale business with the agility and tailored customize offerings you would expect of a small business
WHO WE ARE
HS&M, Inc. is a multifaceted firm dedicated to empowering individuals from marginalized communities — including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals transitioning out of foster care, and those seeking support at home, meaningful employment, or reintegration into the community.
Operating through two divisions, HS&M Mental Health and Education provides home and community based services across North Carolina including independent living support, periodic community-based services, behavioral health services, and transitional planning for young adults aging out of foster care. HS&M Consulting provides curriculum partnerships with universities, training and workshop facilitation, program consultation, keynote speaking, and the HS&M Foster Care and Human Services Curriculum Series — a six-book research-based curriculum built on doctoral research and twenty-seven years of direct practice in child welfare and human services.
Our mission is to provide tailored support and resources that enable individuals to achieve personal and professional success. At HS&M we do not just serve our community. We empower it.
Contact Us
At HS&M, we are dedicated to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through home and community based services, job creation, training and education. Our mission is to improve quality of life and foster personal and community growth.
Connect with us today to learn how our services can make a positive difference in your life or community!
