Release of community health assessment
Publication date: March 4, 2024
Health priorities identified for Catawba County
HICKORY – After more than a year of collecting and analyzing community feedback and our county's available statistical data, the Catawba County Public Health Department and its community partners have identified three health priorities to focus on in the coming years. The matter has been decided.
Access to healthy foods. brain health. And in the newly released 2023 Catawba County Community Health Assessment (CHA), ensuring safe, attractive and active spaces has emerged as a priority area. All three priorities were chosen because they are comprehensive and cross-cutting. This means improvements in these areas can have a positive impact on multiple health issues within the community. These priorities will shape the health efforts of public health and other community partners in the coming years as part of the 2024-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan.
“Identifying key health priorities will help drive public health department and community efforts to address the most prevalent health issues in the county,” said Catawba County Public Health Director Jennifer McCracken. “It helps us focus on remediating concerns.”
The health priority selection process included reviewing community survey results and gathering feedback from groups. and review health statistics and other data that shaped the final selection of local health priorities.
“The new health priorities are not significantly different from those identified in previous assessments, and access to healthy food has been a long-term health priority. Encouraging progress has been made in this area. We're seeing progress, but more work is needed to continue this progress,” McCracken said.
The new CHA also changes what used to be called mental health to brain health, making this effort more comprehensive, which has been a priority for nearly a decade.
The impact of COVID-19 on residents extends to their overall health, and one of the trends that emerged from this CHA was a sense of social isolation and lack of connection to the community. Less than half of those who participated in our community survey reported feeling connected to their community, and only half said they felt a sense of belonging. Community spaces are important places where connections often occur. By creating safe and accessible spaces, enabling engaging community connections, promoting activity opportunities, and considering individual needs and neighborhood dynamics, we provide all Catawba County residents with these important benefits. It gives you the opportunity to make connections and improve your overall health and quality of life.
An action plan is currently being developed outlining strategies to address the county's health priorities. These include efforts already underway across the community, as well as new strategies launched through the LiveWell Catawba Coalition, a collaborative group of organizations facilitated by the Department of Public Health.
The complete CHA report is published every four years, features a comprehensive overview of the county's health status and health priorities, and is available on the Catawba County Public Health website.
The Catawba County Public Health Department promotes and protects the health of all Catawba County residents through preventive services, innovative partnerships, and community health improvement efforts. For more information, call (828) 695-5800 or visit: www.catawbacountync.gov/phealth.
