If we are successful in fully achieving this result, we envision Mitchell County where….

• Peaceful, with more time and energy to engage with community
• More relationship driven
• People listening to each other & respecting each other
• Healthcare with no stigma
• Less stress
• Families can earn a real living wage to live with benefits
• No drugs, alcohol, vandalism
• Respect, honoring each other
• Emotional and physical safety
• Less fear
• Children can safely play outside with their friends
• More connection with nature

 Why is this important?

• While the uninsured population decreased since 2009 in Mitchell cOunty, the percentage remained higher than NC.
• 21% of Mitchell County survey respondents did not have health insurance in 2021. 
• The percentage of the population eligible for Medicaid has increased steadily.
• Nearly 12% of survey respondents reported a time in the past year when they were unable to get medical care.  20% of respondents reported a time in the past year when they needed mental health care or counseling and could not get it.
• As of 2019, Mitchell County had higher provider to population ratios compared to WNC and NC, meaning that there were more providers available to serve the population.8

Our CHA Team, with representation from roughly 20 community organizations, working to broadly address health, social and economic needs, were actively engaged in 3 2-hour work sessions to identify which community health conditions to prioritize.  Using a tool to prioritize conditions based on relevance, impact and feasibility, Access to Care and Use of Services emerged as one of the three areas to focus on for CHIP moving forward.