Purpose and Vision

The purpose of a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is to examine the health issues of communities within the county and to identify health priorities that will be the focus for community health improvement for the next three years (2022-2024). Craven County Health Department, Jones County Health Department, Pamlico County Health Department, and CarolinaEast Health System partnered to identify health priorities. Each organization will write its own CHNA report, but it was important to work together in identifying health priorities since Craven County is the hub for health services and resources in the tri-county area. The competed CHNA will satisfy requirements from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, local Health Department Accreditation, and Federal Internal Revenue Services. While the executive committee's mission includes collaboration of community partners, identifying health priorities, and developing community health improvement plans, the vision is to improve the health status and quality of life for all people in our region.

Leadership/Partnership/Collaborations

The Craven County Health Department, led by the Craven County Health Director, and CHNA Executive Committee oversees the CHNA process. The 2021 CHNA process began with the formation of the Executive Committee and identification of community stakeholders in the spring of 2021. Community stakeholders represent diverse, multi-sectoral and cross-sectoral groups. The primary role of stakeholders is to support primary and secondary data collection, assist with analyzing data and information collected, and interpret county data and community feedback to identify top health priorities in Craven County.

CHNA Executive Committee

Amber Tabarrini, Quality Assurance Specialist - Craven County Health Department

Janzen Jones, Public Health Educator - Craven County Health Department

Adrian Smith, Public Health Educator - Jones County Health Department

Stormy Meadows, Health Education and Promotion Coordinator - Pamlico County Health Department

Brandi Popp, Public Relations Director - CarolinaEast Health System

Community Stakeholders

Scott Harrelson, Health Director - Craven County Health Department

Geoff Marrett, Director - Craven County Department of Social Services

Jim Davis, Chief Nursing Officer - CarolinaEast Medical Center

Barb Krcmar, Executive Director - Merci Clinic

Billy Wilkes, Director - Craven County Recreation and Parks

Jeff Futrell, Director - Craven County Veteran Services

Mike Swain, Director of Student Services - Craven County Schools

Kelly Walker, Director - Craven Area Rural Transit System

Susan Hall, System of Care Coordinator - Trillium Health Resources

Stephanie Scott, Practice Director - Pamlico Child and Family Therapy

Tamra Church, Chairperson - Coastal Coalition for Substance Awareness and Prevention

Regional Services

Health ENC structured primary data collection for the CHNA process and acquired secondary data from data sources.

Theoretical Framework Model

Craven County uses the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health eight-phase community health assessment process. This process uses a systematic approach through collection, assembly, analysis, and dissemination of information about the health of the county.

1. Establish a community health assessment team

2. Collect primary data

3. Collect secondary data

4. Analyze and interpret data

5. Determine health priorities

6. Create the CHNA document

7. Disseminate the CHNA document

8. Develop community health improvement plans

Key Findings

Through feedback from community surveys, Craven County residents report that Craven County is a good place to raise children, it's a safe place to live, and there are good parks and recreation facilities. Residents expressed concerns about substance abuse, poverty, and the lack of 9 affordable housing as they relate to quality of life. Additional information about key findings can be found throughout the report by specific topic area.

Health Priorities Identified for 2022-2024

Behavioral Health

Community Wellness

Workforce Development