The Halifax County Health Department is pleased to present the 2023 State of the County Health Report.  The report is part of an annual update to the Community Health Needs Assessment.  The purpose of the report is to provide key indicators of community health and wellbeing while reviewing health concerns selected as priority areas from the previous health assessment.  The report reviews progress made in the last year on priority areas selected while reviewing any changes in the data that guided the selection of these priorities.  The report will be shared with Healthy Halifax Partners (Healthy Carolinians Partnership), community agencies, stakeholders and members of the Board of Health.  Hard copies will be available in our department and electronically at Document Center • Halifax County, NC • CivicEngage (halifaxnc.com)

All Halifax County initiatives are monitored in the Community Health Improvement Plan.  See the Progress Note for each initiative by clicking on the link. 

For the priority area Substance Abuse see Progress in 2022-2023 note tabs for each initiative below: 

CATCH My Breath

Opioid Awareness Campaign 

Naloxone Lock Box Initiative

Medicine Drop Take Back Initiative

For the priority area Maternal, Fetal, and Infant Health see Progress in 2022-2023 note tabs for each initiative below: 

Car Seat Safety Education Program

Ready Set Baby Breastfeeding Education Program 

Baby's Easy Safe Sleep Training Program

For the priority area Obesity see Progress in 2022-2023 note tabs for each initiative below: 

Roanoke Valley Community Health Initiative 

CATCH Program

Working on Wellness (WOW Program)

Substance Use

Halifax County Substance Use Coalition formed in May 2022 with participation from a variety of organizations including local health care and substance use facilities, health department, emergency management, Department of Social Services, Trillium, and other community organizations, meeting bi-monthly. The coalition shares resources, grant opportunities, initiatives, concerns, challenges, ideas, reviews substance use data and works to identify strengths and gaps in addressing substance use.

The Halifax County Health Department has partnered with local middle and high schools and community organizations to implement the CATCH My Breath Vape Prevention Program to over 150 students.  CATCH My Breath is an evidenced-based vape prevention program designed to be implemented in a school setting for grades 5-12. CATCH My Breath is a peer-led teaching approach that empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes. The program educates students on the social pressures to vape and strong refusal skills.  Students enjoyed the program including creating their own social media campaign on the dangers of vaping, how to say no and the harmful ingredients. 
CATCH My Breath - Vape Education - Tobacco Youth Prevention

The Halifax County Health Department, in partnership with Safe Kids, supports the local Sheriff’s Department by promoting and participating in the bi-annual Medicine Drop “Take Back Initiative “at various locations throughout the county. The event offers a safe place for the public to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medication. All medicine is collected by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. 

The health department partnered with agencies and providers to educate and encourage enrollment in the NC Quit Line E-Portal registration. Providers are able to refer patients who can benefit from the NC Quit Line services. Halifax County Health Department attends quarterly Tobacco Free Living Coalition meetings that offer regional and programmatic updates.

 SIM (Sequential Intercept Mapping) was a grant funded project that Trillium hosted and Policy Research Associates facilitated that brought Halifax County agencies together to map strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the substance use/mental health/justice involved process.  HCHD was represented and contributed to the process from a health and social support perspective.

Obesity

The CATCH program, Coordinated Approach to Child Health, is promoted within schools Prek-8th providing classroom and school resources to increase physical activity during the school day and at home.  Walk, Bike and Roll to School events were held in May and October with representation from elementary and middle schools in Halifax County Schools and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District encouraging physical activity.

The Halifax County Health Department partnered with various agencies to promote access to healthy foods to the community of all ages.  Partnered with Halifax County Council on Aging to increase access to healthy foods through a farmer’s market program for seniors. The partnership with Halifax County Cooperative Extension increased access to healthy foods by hosting a food bank distribution and encouraging corners stores to provide healthy food options in stores. The local senior centers and health department hosted annual Aging Expo event offering education, screenings and more to seniors in the community. Another partnership with Halifax County Cooperative Extension aimed to increase awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity. The Steps to Health Take Control program was delivered at senior centers throughout Halifax County. It is an 8-session chronic disease prevention program that provides strategies to help adults manage their health through healthy eating options and physical activity. Continued collaboration with Halifax Cooperative Extension with delivering L.I.F.T. (Lifelong Improvements through Fitness Together), a 6-session strength training program where participants learn core exercises to build total body strength and improve their physical health through physical activity.  Collaboration with Roanoke Valley Community Health Initiative provided fresh produce, healthy snacks and water for all schools in Halifax County and various summer camps.

Working on Wellness is an employee-based wellness program providing various programming to employees including quarterly blood drives and wellness seminars focused on behavior change to improve health.  The WOW program partners with the Northeast NC Partnership for Public Health to promote an annual walking challenge. 

Maternal, Fetal and Infant Health

The health department provides the Baby’s Easy Safe Sleep program, reaching 284 participants over the past year.  The safe sleep program is designed for expecting mothers, as well as mothers and care givers of children under the age of 1.  The program educates on the importance of back to sleep and SIDS prevention.

Ready Set Baby is a breastfeeding education program designed for pregnant mothers and family support.  Reaching over 100 participants this year, participants receive items to help aid in the beginning of their breastfeeding journey in the home. 

The Car Seat Safety Program is a newly implemented program offered to mothers and fathers with children under the age of 8.  The health department has certified car seat technicians who provide education on proper use and installation.  The program has served 205 families providing 326 total car seats in the past year. 

The top 3 leading causes of death, cancer, diseases of the heart and cerebrovascular diseases has remained the same since 2021-2022 Community Health Needs Assessment. 

2019 Leading Causes of Death in Halifax County                                                                            

NC SCHS: Interactive Health Data: Health Data Query System (ncdhhs.gov)

  
In Eastern North Carolina, 13.7% of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes compared to 12.1% of North Carolina.  Over the past years, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes is higher in Eastern North Carolina than North Carolina. 
NC SCHS: Statistics and Reports: BRFSS: 2022 Survey Results for Eastern North Carolina (ncdhhs.gov)

In Eastern North Carolina, 9.7% of the population has a history of cardiovascular disease compared to 9.8% of North Carolina.  Over the past three years, the history of cardiovascular disease continues to decrease in Eastern North Carolina.
NC SCHS: Statistics and Reports: BRFSS: 2022 Survey Results for Eastern North Carolina (ncdhhs.gov)

In Eastern North Carolina, 37.5% of adults 18 years and older are classified as obese compared to 34.1% of North Carolina.  Over the past years, the obesity rate continues to climb in Eastern North Carolina. 
NC SCHS: Statistics and Reports: BRFSS: 2022 Survey Results for Eastern North Carolina (ncdhhs.gov)

In Halifax County, 20.2% of children ages 2 to 4 enrolled in the WIC program classified as obese compared to 15.9% of North Carolina.  Over the past years, the obesity rate continues to climb in Halifax County among the children ages 2 to 4 who are enrolled in the county WIC program.
The Facts - Eat Smart, Move More NC (eatsmartmovemorenc.com)

The infant mortality rate for Halifax County has decreased from 14.8 per 1,000 live births to 5.9 per 1,000 live births, North Carolina rate remained the same at 6.8 per 1,000 live births.
NCDHHS: DPH: NC SCHS: Statistics and Reports: Infant Mortality Statistics 2022

An emerging concern that has seen a recent spike throughout the county is e-cigarette use among youth in particular. School districts across the county are seeing an increase in e-cigarette use among middle and high school students.  The health department is implementing the evidence based CATCH My Breath curriculum within middle and high schools in our county.  Opioid abuse is an emerging health concern nationwide.  Halifax County continues to see the detrimental effects as well.  In order to raise awareness of treatment and medication drop boxes, we continue to offer marketing through social media outlets to educate about the dangers and risks of e-cigarette use. 

New Initiatives:
Take Control Program

Lift Program

Paused initiatives:
Minority Diabetes Prevention Program