All Yancey County priorities are addressed in the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Specific progress on each strategy reported in the CHIP is addressed within the Scorecard above. Select "Progress in 2022" under each strategy to learn more, or follow the links below. 

Behavioral Health

  Appalachian Youth to Youth

  Community Paramedic Program

  Mitchell-Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force

Healthy Living Across the Lifespan

  A Matter of Balance

  Healthy Living Education

  Sizzlin' Summer Series

Food Security and Access to Food

  Harvest Share

  Reconciliation House Food Pantry

  Summer Food Program

The following represent significant morbidity and mortality changes in our community.

• NC Opioid Dashboard 
  • In 2022, there were 2 drug overdose deaths in Yancey County. This is a decrease from 3 drug overdose deaths in 2021 and 8 in 2020.
  • In 2022, there were 8 drug overdose ED visits in Yancey County. This is a decrease from 14 in 2021 and 2022.
• Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings
  • According to the Robert Wood Johnson County Health Rankings, Yancey County ranked 24 out of 100 counties in North Carolina.
  • According to health outcomes, Yancey is ranked among the healthiest counties in North Carolina (Highest 75%-100%).
  • According to health factors, Yancey is ranked in the higher middle range of counties in North Carolina (Higher 50%-75%).

Fifteen Leading Causes of Death

Age-Adjusted Death Rates per 100,000 Population

Standard Year = Year 2000 U.S. Population

Single 5-Year Aggregate, 2016-2020

These are the new or emerging issues in our community in 2022 that were not identified as priorities in our CHA:

• Increase in fentanyl
• Increased need for developing health habits with kids as early as possible (schools do not have time to teach this type of information)
• Youth vape/e-cigarette use
• Youth mental health
• Suicide

The following are new initiatives or changes in our community in 2022:

• Yancey County Government received an opioid settlement planning grant from the Dogwood Health Trust
• Yancey County Health Department branched from the Toe River Health District in July
• The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) has stopped
• The Empowering Youth and Families Program no longer has a full-time coordinator. Due to a lack of participation across the state, the program is shifting to an online option.
• WIC continued to offer its services via telephone
• The Suicide Prevention and Mental Health group was formed in December
• In 2022, a small group of volunteers at Higgins Memorial United Methodist Church began work to develop resources for dementia caregivers in Yancey County. "Friends of Dementia Caregivers" organized and hosted a free workshop for dementia caregivers, developed and disseminated a list of Dementia Resources for Yancey County Caregivers, and established a caregivers and friends email list to which resource information, tips and links to training and education was disseminated regularly. By year's end, Friends of Dementia Caregivers developed a plan to launch a Dementia Caregivers Support Group in 2023. 
• TRACTOR Food & Farms relocated to Mitchell County in December.
• The Toe River Racqueteers Summer Camp added a three-day pickleball camp.
• Community Ambassador Real Equality (CARE Team) began working with Yancey Sheriff's Department
• SEARCH WNC conducted listening sessions around substance use, issues, and experiences in the community with various stakeholder groups (ex: EMS)