Vision Statement

The Community Health Assessment is an assessment by and for Carteret County residents to provide us with a true picture of the health and needs of Carteret County residents in order to equally and equitably guide decision-making, programs, and policies to improve health outcomes. 

Leadership

The Community Health Assessment was a multi-sectional effort, supported by the leadership of the following organizations:

• Cindy Holman, Consolidated Human Services Director
• Nina Oliver, Public Health Director, Carteret County Health Department
• Patti Hudson, Chief Nursing Officer, Carteret Health Care

Partnerships/Collaborations

This document was created as a collaboration among the Carteret County Health Department, Carteret Health Care, and Health ENC.  Carteret’s community survey was carried out using various methods:  Carteret County Government website, Carteret County Health Department website and Facebook page; community stakeholders and partners listserv.  Carteret County Government and Carteret Health Care employees received the link to the Community Health Needs Assessment survey via their employee listserv.  Paper copies of the surveys were available throughout the community at all public libraries and the Leon Mann Enrichment Center in Morehead City.  Public Health interns and staff administered CHA surveys at the COVID-19 mass vaccination clinics.  This Community Health Assessment has three authors, some of whom assisted with the survey.  See below for representatives involved with the Community Health Assessment process.

Regional/Contracted Services

Health ENC contracted for analysis of primary and secondary data during the survey process.   

Theoretical Framework/Model

The Socio-ecological Model informed the Carteret County Health Assessment.  This framework focuses on the interaction between the individual, the group/community, and the physical, social, and political environments of the health field. 

Collaborative Process Summary

Each Health ENC participating organization was responsible for sharing the community input survey link for distribution through their channels of communication and partnership.  Secondary data was obtained through state and national databases.  The State Center for Health Statistics helped to pull some of the secondary data and the data analysis team helped pull some additional data.  The 2021 Community Health Assessment included 720 resident surveys.  Planning for the survey began on March 6, 2021 and the primary data collected from community members was collected between April 1 - June 30, 2021.  The personalization of the 2021 CHA template took place in March 2022. 

Key Findings

Key findings from the Community Health Assessment survey samples found:

• Top ways to better support communities such as transportation and affordable housing could also address some issues that impact quality of life and top health concerns.
• Majority of residents feel Carteret County is a safe place to live, a good place to grow old, and good place to raise children. 
• Majority of residents did not feel that Carteret County has affordable housing, plenty of economic opportunities, and plenty of help for people during times of need.
• The top three issues that need the most improvements:  more affordable/better housing; higher paying employment and positive teen activities. 
• The top three issues which have the highest impact on quality of life are drugs/alcohol, lack of affordable housing, and low income/poverty
• Partners should work together to get more information about mental/behavioral health, substance misuse prevention, and managing weight into the community.
• Majority of residents get their health-related information from their doctor/nurse or the internet.
• Stress and anxiety, mental/behavioral health, and employment/loss of job were how residents were impacted by COVID-19.

The community health priorities will remain the same as those selected during the 2018 Community Health Assessment cycle.  In November 2021, the Carteret County Health Department met virtually with community partners, the Advisory Committee, to discuss CHA survey findings and to select health priorities. 

The top three Carteret County health priorities are listed below:

1.  Chronic Disease

2.  Equitable Access to Health Care

3.  Substance Misuse