HNC 2030 Scorecard: Rutherford County 2021-2023

Executive Summary

Rutherford’s collaborative process is supported on a regional level by WNC Healthy Impact. Locally, our process begins with the collection of data that is completed through a partnership with WNC Healthy Impact to conduct this assessment from January 2021 through December 2021. In working with WNC Healthy Impact, the CHA Advisory Committee had the opportunity to assist with collecting primary data, which included telephone surveys of 239 residents and key informant surveys completed by community key leaders. Team members also accessed the WNC Healthy Impact Secondary Data Workbook including a comprehensive set of secondary data from the NC State Center for Health Statistics, US Census Bureau, CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and other sources, and maps from Community Commons. All collected data, which is not only specific to the health status of Rutherford County, but also
demonstrates how it relates to the Western North Carolina region, was then analyzed and prioritized with the input of a preliminary data team. This initial data team, Foothills Health District, chose the top 4 health priorities utilizing a prioritization process based on the Rating/Ranking Key Health Issues (Health Resources in Action) worksheet. These were narrowed down to the top three health priorities again utilizing a process based on the Rating/Ranking Key Health Issues (Health Resources in Action) worksheet. The top three health priorities and data will then be presented to the Community Health Council of Rutherford County and other county stakeholders after CHA submission. Phase 1 of the collaborative process began in January 2021 with the collection of community health data. For more details on this process see Chapter 1 – Community Health Assessment Process.

Key Findings
In 2020 the total population of Rutherford County was 64,444 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021). There is a slightly higher proportion of females than males (51.7% female, 48.3% male). The majority of residents are White (87%) with minorities represented as follows: Black or African American (9.9%), Hispanic or Latino (4.8%), Asian (0.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.4%), and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (0.1%) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2021).
In 2018 the Health Priorities included: Active living and Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery. The data showed that the percent of individuals who did not have any leisure-time physical activity in the past month went down 3% whereas the percent of individuals who meet the physical activity recommendations went up to 17.4% from 16.5% in 2018. When it came to substance abuse there was a decent drop in the percentage individuals who used prescription opiates/opioids in the past year with or without a prescription went down from 26.7% to 16.1% (WNC Health Network, 2021).
Other findings to notice are the obesity and diabetes levels within the county. For obesity the percentage went from 49.8%in 2018 to 48.2% in 2021. The data for the percentage of the prevalence of diabetes showed that there was a decrease from 2018 that was 20.3% to 2021 that is 17.9%.

Health Priorities
• Food Insecurity
• Prevalence of Diabetes
• Obesity

Next Steps
The Foothills Health District will share the CHA findings with the Community Health Council and members of Rutherford Regional Health System. An electronic copy will be made available on the Foothills Health District website at http://www.foothillshd.org/ and printed copies will be made available at the Health Department, the local library, and printed upon request.

In partnership with community leaders and existing work groups, the Foothills Health District will support planning and taking action around the health priorities. We will better understand the story and root causes behind the priority issues and will engage with existing and new partners to help improve these issues and move the needle in the right direction towards the common goal of making Rutherford County a healthier place to live, work, and play.

Priorities

• Food Insecurity
• Prevalence of Diabetes
• Obesity

Why It Matters?

In 2021, 15,724 indivduals from Rutherford County faced Food Insecurity. Families and individuals who live far from fresh nutritional food soucres are impoectred as well ad indivduals within lower-income families as it is cheapter to buy fast food than nutrituous food. By addressing food insecuty within the county we are taking a step at lowering the issues of food insecuity by helping the community gain more access to healthier foods, all while joining in to lower the rate of obesity and diabetes. 

What Is It?

Food Insecurity was identified by the Foothills Health District as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in food insecurity in our community. This is a new program in our community.

The priority population/customers for the BASICS Food Box Distribution are the general public including anyone who may be facing food insecuity and are in need of a services from the Rutehrford County Health Department. The program aims to make a difference at the individual/interpersonal behavior and environmental change level. Implementation will take place in the Rutherford County Health Department. 

This program will help address food insecuity by giving a giving funding to help purchase nuritious foods for the food pantry. This will also allow for access to the data of how many indivduals are reciving food boxes, what their needs are, and how often food it being given out to the community. 

• Due to change in farmers market operations the BASICS Food Box Dsitribution program has taken place of the farmers market vocuhers program. The vouchers program is a idea we would like to revisit in the future to support local farmers and to provide free fresh food to those in the community. 

Partners

The partners for this program include:

Progress in 2022

The BASICS food box distrbution does not have progress for 2022 as the origional program with the Farmers Market ended due to change in parternship. The food box data will be updated within 2023 as data will begin in Janurary 2023. 

Progress in 2023

The BASICS food box distribution does not have progress for 2023 due to turnover in the Health Educator position and lack of data from the partnering program.

Why It Matters?

In our community leader survery 66.7% of the community leaders saw pre-diabetes and diabetes as a major health problem within the county. Diabetes increases an individuals risk to other types of ilness and diseaes. There are also no current disbetes management or eduation programs within the county. By addressing diabetes we can lower those who are borderline or pre-diabetes through correct mangament and education on nurituon as well. This can also lower the medical cost spent on diabetes. 

What Is It?

In 2022 a new Diabetes Education and Management Progam has been tested and implemeted within the Foothills Health District at Rutherford County Health Deparmartment. 

The program will be offered to indivduals within Rutherford County that meet the requirements of being a diagnosed type 2 diabetic. During the class sessioms the patient will be allowed to bring up to 2 family members or care givers. 

This new and growing program in the Health District will allow for multiple members of the community to have a resource to rely on for education and management of a new or on going diabetc diagnosis. The program can help bring awareness of the diabetic data witin Rutherford County with the goals of lowering the overall percentage annually. 

Progress in 2022

In 2022 the Diabetes Education and Management Program at Rutherford County Health Department was established. The 1st round of classes for the program will begin in later Feburary 2023. Data will be updated as each class is finished. 

Progress in 2023

In 2023 3 rounds of the Diabetes Education and Management Program have been completed. 75% of participants saw an improvement in their HGB A1C after completing the program. Classes continue to be held in 2024. 

Why It Matters?

Through COIVD it was saw that a marjority of indivduals who passed due to COVID also had obesity as an underlying condition. Promoting a healthy and active lifestyle int he community can help to elminate obesity as a underlying risk factgor in the populations health risks. It can also lower the cost and resources spent on obesity effects. Promoting a healthy and active lifttyle can also be done with proper food nurtion education and promoting physical activties outsise such as using the Thermal Belt Rail Trail. 

What Is It?

Obesity education program within the school systems was identified as an action, that when combined with other actions in our community, that has a reasonable chance of making a difference in obesity in our community. This is a new program in our community.

The priority population/customers for this obesity program are all students aged 5-18 in the public school system, and the obesity program aims to make a difference at the individual and interpersonal behavior evel. Implementation will take place in during educational sessions at the schools. 

A Sugar Shock kit will be used to demostrate how sugar intake adds up from the drinks we consume on the daily basis. This will enrourage students to eat their sugar through fruits and vegtables and add physical activity to balance the sugar intake. 

Partners

The partners for this program include:

Progress in 2022

The Sugar Shock Kit was made in 2022. Demostrations within the school systems have been planned for 2023. Data will be added throughout 2023. 

Progress in 2023

The previous Public Health Educator at Sunshine and Harris Elementary facilitated the Sugar Shock program before the end of the 2022-2023 school year. 

5 sessions with approximately 20 students each were completed before the program was put on hold due to a vacancy in the Public Health Educator position from July to November. 

Progress on CHIPs

Please see the "Progress in 2022" note tabs under each program for 2022 updates. Additionally, each performace measure has 2022 updates.

2022 Diabetes Education Program

2022 Sugar Shock Program

2022 BASICS Food Box Distribution

Significant or Notable Changes in Morbidity or Mortality

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

• Leading Causes of Death Table
  • The change from 2020 to 2022 show an slight increase in Diseases of Heart deaths as it is still the leading cause of death. 

(Citation: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (NC SCHS). (2020). Causes of Death. [Data tables]. Available from https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/data/.)

• NC Opioid Dashboard 

​​​​​​​

Emerging Issues Impacting Health

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

• Lack of Housing 

• Overdose deaths 

New, Paused, or, Discontinued Initiatives, or, Activities

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

• Rutherford County Health Department has begun a food pantry to handout to clients who are in need. We are working on applying for grants to be able to purchase healthy foods for these indivduals as we currently work off staff and community donations. 

• There are new community health council efforts to address food insecuity and lack of housing.

• There are new community collaborations to assist those with substance use, mental health, and medical challenges with a Harm Reduction Team. 

Progress on CHIPs

Please see the "Progress in 2023" note tabs under each program for 2023 updates. Additionally, each performace measure has 2023 updates.

Significant or Notable Changes in Morbidity or Mortality

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

• Leading Causes of Death Table
  • The change from 2020 to 2022 show an slight increase in Diseases of Heart deaths as it is still the leading cause of death.

(Citation: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (NC SCHS). (2020). Causes of Death. [Data tables]. Available from https://schs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/data/.)

• NC Opioid Dashboard 

Emerging Issues Impacting Health

These are the new or emerging issues in our community in 2023 that were not identified as priorities in our CHA.

• Lack of free or affordable mental health care 

New, Paused, or, Discontinued Initiatives, or, Activities

The following are new initiatives or changes in our community in 2023:

• The Sugar Shock Program was put on hold during a vacancy in the Health Educator position. This program will resume in the Fall of 2024.
• The Diabetes Education Program has held 3 classes, with 16 total participants. On average 60% of participants had a lower A1C after taking the class.