Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) Community Diagnosis Papers

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Community Diagnosis (community assessment) is the foundation for improving and promoting the health of community members. The role of community assessment is to identify factors that affect the health of a population and determine the availability of resources within the community to adequately address these factors.

Prior to Fall 2009, students pursuing a masters degree through the Health Behavior and Health Education department at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health enrolled in “Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis,” a course which required students to get involved in communities to determine — or diagnose — the public health issues of that particular...

Works (79)

31. People from Burma living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro : an action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action

Title Tesim:: People from Burma living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro : an action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action
Creator:: Singh, Neha, Ellenson, Megan, Schwartz, Michael, Schurmann, Anna, Decker, Caytie, and Cathcart, Rebecca
Date of publication:: 2007
Abstract Tesim:: An estimated 250 people from Burma live in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, North Carolina. Although their physical living conditions have improved since leaving Burma or refugee camps in Thailand, they face many challenges in their daily lives in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. From September 2006 to April 2007, a team of six UNC public health graduate students conducted an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) with this population. The purpose of the AOCD was to assess the strengths and challenges of the community in order to recommend steps for planned change. However, since the AOCD process has several limitations, which are addressed in section 5, the findings presented in this document should not be considered comprehensive or definitive. Rather, they are intended to inform a new beginning for community members and service providers to collaborate on building and improving community strengths to support and mobilize positive change in the community. The team was guided by two preceptors: Susan Clifford, Senior Public Health Educator at the Orange County Health Department and Meaghan Tracy, Triangle Area Manager for Refugee and Immigration Services at Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas. Throughout the project, team members studied various secondary sources to educate themselves about the community and its history, attended community events and recorded observations, conducted 2 youth focus groups, and interviewed 40 individuals – 17 service providers and 22 community members. These data sources were analyzed, yielding 12 themes, or recurring topics concerning the community. To discuss the findings and potential action steps publicly, the team recruited a small group of interested service providers and community members to join in organizing a community forum. This Community Forum Planning Committee (CFPC) reviewed the 12 themes identified through data analysis, and selected the following four themes, which were presented and discussed at the community forum to generate key action steps: Adult Education – Community members want to attend English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to improve their English, but ESL class scheduling conflicts with work and family life. Community Organization – A lack of organization hinders the community's ability to help new arrivals, maintain culture, and improve the lives of community members. Health Knowledge – Lack of knowledge about U.S. health practices around personal and home care makes it difficult for community members to stay healthy and access the care they need. Interpreter Services – The lack of interpreters for the Burmese and Karen languages in Chapel Hill/Carrboro prevents access to services and reduces their quality. The forum was conducted in three languages – English, Burmese, and Karen – with the help of local community interpreters and headsets allowing for simultaneous translation. Team members led 4 small groups to discuss the themes selected by the CFPC. Action steps resulting from the small group discussions as well as additional team recommendations are available in section 4 in this document. The eight remaining themes that were not discussed at the community forum are available in Appendix E. They include: changes in family dynamics, ethnic identity, education for youth, divisions within the community, domestic violence, institutional literacy, knowledge of community, and language barriers.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/rdex-aw66
Extent:: 154 pages : illustrations, 1 map ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2007
Keyword:: North Carolina, Orange County (N.C.), Health Status, Community Health Services, Karen (Southeast Asian people), and Socioeconomic Factors
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: Orange County Health Department, Lutheran Family Services in the Carolinas, and
Person:: Clifford, Susan, Tracy, Meaghan, Eng, Eugenia, Shirah, Kate, Smith, Dionne, Amell, Jim, Singh, Neha, Ellenson, Megan, Schwartz, Michael, Schurmann, Anna, Decker, Caytie, and Cathcart, Rebecca
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_50

32. Northside neighborhood, Chapel Hill, Orange County : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action

Title Tesim:: Northside neighborhood, Chapel Hill, Orange County : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action
Creator:: Esoimeme, Iguehi, Butzen, Anne, Jarman, Molly, Gunn, Alison, and Gard, Jennifer
Date of publication:: 2005
Abstract Tesim:: This document is the final report on an action-oriented community diagnosis (AOCD) of the Northside Neighborhood in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The assessment was aimed at identifying the strengths and challenges of the Northside community as described by service providers and community members. The AOCD was conducted by a team of five graduate students from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Public Health between September of 2004 and May of 2005. The student team was guided by Delores Bailey, a service provider and community member who served as the students’ community preceptor. Mrs. Bailey is the co-director of EmPOWERment Incorporate, and non-profit organization focusing on sustainable economic development in Northside and other communities. The team first attended community events to observe neighborhood dynamics and gain entrée. The team then examined secondary data about the neighborhood’s geography, history, demographics, economics, and education. After being approved by the School of Public Health’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), we conducted qualitative, key informant interviews with 11 service providers, 14 community members, and 2 youth focus groups to listen to issues of concern to them. After analyzing the data from these interviews and data from secondary sources, our team organized the results into broad domains. These were: economics, housing, crime, and community dynamics. Service providers and community members’ views on these domains were then expressed as themes for each domain. With input from a planning committee of community members and service providers, five themes were selected for discussion at a community forum. These selected domains were crime and safety, housing, economics, services for youth, and services for seniors. The Community Forum on May 10, 2005 was attended by 150 community members and service providers. The following action steps were recommended: Economics: Service providers and community members agreed that local businesses and local government should provide more opportunities for people to learn job skills. - Increasing awareness of programs currently offered by EmPOWERment, Inc. Investigating the state of vocational programs in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools. Encouraging existing minority owned businesses to hire minority employees. Youth services: Community members and service providers feel that services, including those offered by Hargraves, are not meeting the needs of youth in the community. Ensuring Hargraves employees distribute information to parents. Deliver flyers to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools central office. Provide van transportation to meetings for parents. Organize more events for parents and children. Provide summer activities for children over the age of twelve. Petition the recreation commission for more teenage programs. Senior services: Community members and service providers feel that services, including those offered by Hargraves, are not meeting the needs of senior citizens. Mobilizing a committee to address the needs of senior citizens. Housing: Community members and service providers share a mutual concern for the current and future state of housing for long term resident of Northside. Creating a committee dedicated to addressing the many issues concerning housing. Compiling a list of current city codes (trash, noise, parking, landscaping). Creating standards specific to Northside from community meetings. Delegating accountability for deviations from standards. Publicizing the list to residents, landlords, and town officials. Crime and safety: Community members and service providers agreed that Northside is generally a safe neighborhood, but could be made safer by eliminating drug activity. Inviting neighbors to community watch meetings. Distributing information about meetings to churches and public housing communities. Placing the community patrol on the next community watch meeting agenda. It is our hope that this document will be of use to those concerned about the health and quality of life of people living and working in Northside.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/90tn-hm51
Extent:: 65 leaves : illustrations, map ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2005
Keyword:: Community Health Services, Chapel Hill (N.C.), Health Status, Orange County (N.C.), North Carolina, and Socioeconomic Factors
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and EmPOWERment, Inc.
Person:: Shirah, Kate, Bailey, Delores, Eng, Geni, Esoimeme, Iguehi, Butzen, Anne, Jarman, Molly, Gunn, Alison, and Gard, Jennifer
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_49

33. Old North Durham, Durham County : an action-oriented community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Title Tesim:: Old North Durham, Durham County : an action-oriented community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creator:: Fastnaught, Lisa, Borne, Chantelle, Wilcher, Rose, Bowen, Lisa, Gloppen, Kari, and Moore, Spencer
Date of publication:: 2001
Abstract Tesim:: What would you say if you were to receive a phone call from a graduate student saying that she or he along with five other students were conducting a community diagnosis of your neighborhood? Perhaps, you would ask what a community diagnosis was; maybe, you would wonder why it is they think that your neighborhood needs diagnosing; or, perhaps, you would think that these students should first concern themselves with their own "community." You would not have been alone in asking yourself these questions. We asked ourselves these questions and many others as we began our "community diagnosis" in the fall semester 2000. Community diagnosis is a required course in the Health Behavior and Health Education Department of the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina. It is a two-semester course designed to teach students how to conduct action-oriented community-based public health work. During the first semester, students assess the needs, strengths and concerns of the community to which they have been assigned. During the second semester, students engage more closely with community members as they conduct interviews and hold focus groups in their community. Towards the completion of our work, we give back to the community what it is that they told us. This is usually done through a community forum. The following document reports on our work in North Durham during the academic year 2000-2001. The report describes the methods that we used in our work, the meaning of community for us, secondary data that we found on Durham and North Durham, and the data gleaned from our interviews with service providers and community members. The report concludes by describing our community forum and recommendations and conclusions from our work. We were not exactly sure where community diagnosis would lead us when the six of us were handed a sheet of paper with two important words written there on: North Durham. What does it mean? "North Durham County," we pondered. "northern Durham, the city," we asked. We soon discovered that it meant the city but we still wondered what parts of the city were considered North Durham. Perhaps, such questions appear easy to answer: we might only open a map of Durham and the northern parts would just pop out at us. We never found such a map, so we began to create our own through interviews, focus groups, and visits to Durham. Despite all the time we have spent in Durham and despite all we have learned in our community diagnosing work, our map of North Durham is still a bit of a fiction. It is not a fiction in the sense of it being false or inaccurate, it is a fiction in the sense that our map, our notion of North Durham is made up. It is made up from our experiences in Durham, it is made up from the individual experiences and social backgrounds that the six of us brought to our work, and it is made up from our interviews and conversations with Durham residents and service providers. Being made up in such a fashion does not make community diagnosis irrelevant or less important, it does, however, mean that we as students and researchers must be willing to recognize the partiality of the picture of North Durham that we are able to present to the reader in the following pages. Partiality may describe the picture of Durham found in this report, but it does not describe the effort or enthusiasm that we brought to our work in North Durham. It was an effort governed by our concern to conduct only ethical community-based work and it was an enthusiasm fueled by our desire to help make a difference. Our work in North Durham has come to an end but we hope not the friendships that have resulted. It has been a real learning experience for us and we would like to thank everyone in North Durham and Old North Durham for their time, energy, and patience. We would also like to thank our preceptor Wendy Brown and Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA) for all the time and energy that they gave to making our community diagnosis work in North Durham the success that it was. We would also like to thank our instructors Geni Eng and Sara Ackerman for their support, enthusiasm, and patience with all the questions and curves that were a part of work in North Durham.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/aakw-yz91
Extent:: 91 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2001
Keyword:: Durham (N.C.), Socioeconomic Factors, Community Health Services, Health Status, Public health, and North Carolina
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA)
Person:: Ackerman, Sara, Brown, Wendy, Eng, Geni, Fastnaught, Lisa, Borne, Chantelle, Wilcher, Rose, Bowen, Lisa, Gloppen, Kari, and Moore, Spencer
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_48

34. Morrisville, Wake County, NC : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action

Title Tesim:: Morrisville, Wake County, NC : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action
Creator:: Johnson, Marcus, Schiepan, Joella, Nelson, Elizabeth, Park, Allison, and Fazekas, Karah
Date of publication:: 2006
Abstract Tesim:: Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) is a research method used to understand the social, economic, cultural, and health experiences of people living within a community. The purpose is to gain a perspective of community members’ life experiences from the viewpoint of both service providers and community members, while documenting both strengths and challenges faced by the community. The culmination of the AOCD process is a community forum during which the findings of the assessment are presented back to the community. Forum participants are given the opportunity to discuss issues of interest, form and build relationships with other community members and service providers, and generate action steps to create positive change within their community. From September 2005 through April 2006, a team of five students from the UNC School of Public Health completed an AOCD in the town of Morrisville, NC. Morrisville is a small, diverse town located adjacent to the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), Research Triangle Park (RTP), and the Town of Cary. The students gained entrée into the community with the help of their two preceptors: Regina Petteway, MSPH, Director of Community Initiatives Wake County Human Services and Benny Ridout, RPH, former mayor of Morrisville. During the eight months of the project, the student team attended Morrisville community events as participant observers, collected secondary data to learn more about the town’s history and demographics, and conducted thirty-seven interviews: sixteen with service providers; twenty-one with community members. Interview data were analyzed for themes, or reoccurring topics concerning the community. With the help of a community forum planning community, five themes were chosen for presentation to the community at a forum held on April 20, 2006 at the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church in Morrisville. At the community forum, participants were given the opportunity to learn and discuss the student team’s findings. After the student team explained to the large group the process of AOCD and presented the five themes for discussion, participants were given the opportunity to discuss one of these five themes presented in a smaller group. Each student team member led a small breakout session group to form action steps that positively addressed the theme. Below are the five themes discussed at the forum. The action lists formed during each small group discussion are available in the document sections devoted to each individual theme. Additionally seven additional themes identified during the community diagnosis were not discussed at the forum. Information regarding these themes is available in Appendix H. Community Identity —A defining characteristic of Morrisville’s identity is its ‘small town feel.’ As Morrisville grows, many express concern that this ‘small town feel’ is being lost. Growth —Many community members and services providers commented on the increasing growth within Morrisville and articulated their concern for a healthy balance between development and maintaining quality of life. Health Care Availability—Morrisville residents feel that they can access health care facilities in nearby towns. However, community members and service providers articulated a need for family practice services, emergency medical services, and county health programs in Morrisville. Intercultural Interactions —Community members and service providers expressed a desire for increased knowledge of, and interaction with different racial, ethnic, and cultural groups in Morrisville. Transportation —Community members and service providers see a need for improved road infrastructure to alleviate traffic congestion.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/32r3-xp77
Extent:: 84 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2006
Keyword:: Health Status, North Carolina, Socioeconomic Factors, Morrisville (N.C.), and Community Health Services
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:
Person:: Ridout, Benny, Berry, Nicole, Eng, Eugenia, Petteway, Regina, Shirah, Kate, Johnson, Marcus, Schiepan, Joella, Nelson, Elizabeth, Park, Allison, and Fazekas, Karah
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_47

35. The African-American men community, Moore County : and action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action

Title Tesim:: The African-American men community, Moore County : and action-oriented community diagnosis ; findings and next steps of action
Creator:: McDonough, Manuela, O'Daniel, Kelly, Jatau, Afabwaje, Kays, Megan, and Keisling, Kelly
Date of publication:: 2007
Abstract Tesim:: Moore County is located in the southern part of North Carolina, and is well-known for its status as a golf, resort, and retirement community. African-Americans constitute 14.9 percent of the population of Moore County. There is a growing concern within the county regarding the health and lifestyle needs of African-American men. An Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis of the African-American men’s community of Moore County was conducted by five graduate students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education within the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The purpose of an Action-Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) is to involve community members and service providers in identifying the community’s strengths and resources as well as its needs and challenges and to create action to address the identified needs. The Moore County AOCD involved three steps: 1) collection of secondary data about the health and needs of African-American men; 2) collection of primary data through interviews with service providers and community members; and 3) presenting the findings to the community in a community forum. The student team conducted interviews and focus groups with 56 service providers and community members; the data analysis showed nine recurrent themes: community activism and politics, education, employment, healthcare, living situation, race relations and segregation, recreation, religion and churches, and youth and family. A Forum Planning Committee was formed from service providers and community members to help plan the forum. The Committee selected five themes for discussion at the forum: education, employment, healthcare, race relations and segregation, and youth and family. The Committee advised the team on issues including the forum schedule, publicity, speakers, and materials. They also committed to continuing with action steps proposed in the forum, and elected two co-chairs to lead the continuing committee and to serve as adhoc members to the Moore Health Board. The community forum “Coming Together for Moore” was held on April 12, 2007. Nearly 150 service providers and residents of Moore County attended the event. The students presented the overall findings and the five selected themes to the forum participants, and invited participants to take part in discussion sessions on the theme of their choice. Student team members facilitated each discussion session with the aim of moving participants from identifying challenges to developing concrete action steps. Education: The education session focused primarily on the lack of emphasis placed on education for African-Americans by parents, teachers, and the youth themselves, with discussion on the issue starting in the home and through cultural values. The two action steps proposed were: Discuss the importance of education with all community members. Form a committee of concerned individuals to attend all school board meetings. Employment: The employment session focused primarily on the lack of availability of jobs other than service jobs. Scarcity of job opportunities was discussed, as was the lack of job training and skills. There was also mention of employers not giving a chance to applicants with less education and skills or a criminal record. The two action steps proposed were: Increase job training availability and publicity. Support the creation of African-American-owned businesses. Healthcare: The healthcare session focused primarily on the fact that many men are not insured and do not have access to healthcare. Discussion included mistrust of doctors and men’s attitude towards seeking medical care, especially given fear of diagnosis and cost for those uninsured. The four action steps proposed were: Collaborate with pastors to increase awareness about the need for healthcare. Increase health education. Increase dissemination of healthcare services available. Form partnerships with health organizations. Race Relations and Segregation: The race relations session focused primarily on the segregation that is perceived to exist between the White and African-American communities, and included discussion of incidents of racism and the existing racial divide. The four action steps proposed were: Create dialogue with government officials about criminal justice for African-American men. Bridge the gap between Caucasian and African-American church leaders. Teach children appreciation of African-American culture and history. Create a committee to work on racial problems and segregation. Youth and Family: The youth and family session focused primarily on the lack of mentoring for youth. Various cases were discussed including single parent families, changing moral values, and lack of support for parents. The six action steps proposed were: Begin a movement of collective responsibility for youth. Teach children and parents about self-esteem. Talk to children about appropriate values. Develop workshops for parents and youth. Support mentoring programs. Network within youth organizations. The action steps generated were presented to all of the forum participants at the conclusion of the discussion sessions. For each theme, one or more participants in that session agreed to be responsible for working on the identified action steps in collaboration with the continuing committee. At this time, the continuing committee members and volunteers from the forum are still meeting to work on generating community action.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/1s73-t639
Extent:: viii, 113 pages : illustrations, 1 map ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2007
Keyword:: African Americans, Moore County (N.C.), Health Status, Socioeconomic Factors, North Carolina, and Community Health Services
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and FirstHealth Community Health
Person:: Shirah, Kate, Miller, Christopher, Smith, Dionne, Eng, Eugenia, Amell, Jim, Leopper, Roxanne, McDonough, Manuela, O'Daniel, Kelly, Jatau, Afabwaje, Kays, Megan, and Keisling, Kelly
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_46

36. Moncure/Haywood, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Title Tesim:: Moncure/Haywood, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creator:: Harrell, Kevin, McIntire, Katie, Rogers, Dawn, and Harris, Shelly
Date of publication:: 1999
Abstract Tesim:: Community health cannot be fully understood without considering the health of the individuals that make up that community and social and environmental health indicators. The Moncure/Haywood community in rural Southeastern Chatham County was examined through Community Diagnosis, a process that integrates quantitative and qualitative data to create a picture of the social, political, psychological, environmental and physical health of communities. Our findings create this document that may provide a tool to help the community in future organizing and developing endeavors. Four students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina's School of Public Health were assigned the task of exploring the community health of Moncure/Haywood as a learning experience. The four students, Shelly Harris, Kevin Harrell, Katie McIntire, and Dawn Rogers, worked within the community from September 1998 until May 1999, compiling data and interacting with Moncure/Haywood community members with the assistance of a preceptor, Margaret Pollard, the Chatham County Commissioner. The community diagnosis process attempts to understand the community from an insider's perspective. In order to attain this perspective, the methodology acknowledges that health status cannot be determined by statistics alone. Community Diagnosis examines the strengths and resources available to a community while examining the needs and weaknesses. A simultaneous examination may result in matching needs with already available assets and preventing overlap and duplication of services. This document provides a starting point for community members to address needs and use available resources. The project began in the Fall of 1998 with the secondary data collection regarding the general and social health of the community. Statistics gathered include morbidity and mortality, economic and demographic information, and historical and cultural information. Due to the lack of specific data on Moncure/Haywood, information was collected from the 1990 United States Census for the block group that includes Moncure/Haywood. Chatham County statistics were used when block group level data was not available. These data were compared to county and state statistics as well as to government health goals. Sources for secondary data include Log Into North Carolina (LINC), United States Census of 1990, Chatham Community Health Improvement Project (CCHIP), various state and county web sites, and agents within the local community. The qualitative data collection process began simultaneously. Community windshield tours and informal interviews at local gathering spots provided a glimpse into the community life of Moncure/Haywood. One aspect of exploring and introducing ourselves to the community included attending church services and community events. Moncure/Haywood is rich in cultural and community resources, which aided our endeavor. The Moncure/Haywood community sits in the southeast corner of Chatham County bordered by the Deep and Haw Rivers and U.S. Highway One, which are vital resources for the community. Many towns are located within a fifteen-mile radius of the community including Pittsboro, Sanford and Apex. The Research Triangle Park, a major technical and research center, and Raleigh, the state capital, are within 30 miles. The residents of Moncure/Haywood enjoy a community with a long, rich history. Originally attracting farming settlers, Moncure/Haywood lured developers of railroad and industry due to the plentiful natural resources. Religion also played a major role in the development of the community and continues to be of great importance to community members. Moncure/Haywood is a small community with less than 1000 residents. The population is almost equally balanced between African-Americans and White, providing a more integrated feel to the community than other rural towns. The majority of community members own their homes and the unemployment rate is very low. Once a booming town, Moncure/Haywood is now a bedroom community that relies on local industries and larger towns for employment. Residents generally travel to neighboring towns for shopping and recreation. Elementary and middle school children attend Moncure Elementary, and the community’s high school age teens are bussed to Northwood High School in Pittsboro. Moncure/Haywood is unincorporated and has no formal governing body. As a result, all community decisions are made at the county level by elected county commissioners. The community has grappled with the issue of incorporation for many years. Although not all agree, most community members feel that incorporation would be good for the community because of increased access to services and the potential for further growth. Community members obtain health services from the Moncure Community Health Center as well as from providers in Pittsboro, Sanford, Chapel Hill and other neighboring towns. The community health center provides many services and many of the older community members utilize its services. Other services for the community include a mobile health unit, social services, and community organizations. Data collection also involved collecting qualitative data through interviews with community members and service providers. An interview guide was established providing a framework of questions and issues to be addressed with interviewees. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, and interviews began in January 1999. Interviewees were recruited through the preceptor as well as through informal interviews at church services. Community members suggested other persons to interview that would help create a picture of Moncure/Haywood life. Twenty people were interviewed and emerging issues became apparent as to the assets and needs of Moncure/Haywood. Data from the interviews were and then coded and organized into chapters to demonstrate the concerns of the community. A synopsis of the data was presented to community members in a community meeting on March 20, 1999 in order to reflect our findings and to obtain feedback. The forum provided an avenue for new issues to emerge and to reach residents who had not been heard. The drug problem that has emerged within the past five years in Moncure/Haywood concerned almost every community member. The drug problem has led to increased crime in the community. Many felt that the drug problem is a direct result from the lack of recreation and youth activities for the community's children. With an increase in the number of juvenile arrests within the past five years, the secondary data support the problem among the community's youth. Some community members also felt that lack of police protection may contribute to this problem as well, but action has been taken to place a Chatham County Deputy within a satellite office in the community. Most residents see growth in Moncure/Haywood positively. Growth would increase the tax base and attract businesses to the area. Sanford has begun the construction of a regional airport within two miles of the community which may further development. Residents felt that more opportunities and an increase in services would benefit Moncure/Haywood. The need for the development of a sewer system in Moncure/Haywood would be exacerbated by growth in the community. Many residents expressed that a sewage system needed to be developed in the community in order to attract more businesses and developers. Many residents also felt that this may only be accomplished if the community was incorporated. The strong sense of community and community ties in Moncure/Haywood was heard throughout the interviews. Community members felt that in times of need the community would pull together and assist one another. Churches and relationships between neighbors provide a stable foundation for the community and often catalyze community organizing. These fundamental foundations make the community competent to approach the issues that concern the community and to derive solutions. There are several limitations to the community diagnosis process in Moncure/Haywood. A large portion of secondary data was collected from the 1990 census that may not represent the current population. Lack of data specific to Moncure/Haywood also limited the accuracy of secondary data. The referral process limited the accuracy of the qualitative data. Interviewees referred community members to us. Therefore, data collected may represent one side of community issues. Data may also have been limited by a lack of trust among community members. This community diagnosis process only allowed a limited amount of time to engage and get to know residents. This may have influenced the type of information they were willing to share with us. This Community Diagnosis identified the strengths and weaknesses of Moncure/Haywood. This process can provide community members with a starting place to address their needs and to aid in getting support or funding for potential services. By highlighting the resources already available to the community, community members can also examine what creative solutions may already exist and prioritize the issues at hand.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/8508-az35
Extent:: ii, 83 pages, 11 unnumbered leaves of plates : illustrations (some color), maps ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 1999
Keyword:: Haywood (N.C.), Moncure (N.C.), Public health, Community Health Services, North Carolina, Health Status, Socioeconomic Factors, and Chatham County (N.C.)
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: Chatham County Commissioner and
Person:: Pollard, Margaret, Quinn, Sandra Crouse, Harrell, Kevin, McIntire, Katie, Rogers, Dawn, and Harris, Shelly
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_45

37. Lincoln Heights, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Title Tesim:: Lincoln Heights, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creator:: Hudman, Jennifer, Bell, Mary Beth, Simon, Alisa, and Grady, Meredith
Date of publication:: 1998
Abstract Tesim:: This document is a result of a community diagnosis of Lincoln Heights, a community in Siler City, North Carolina. The diagnosis was completed by four graduate students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Community diagnosis is a process to understand what it is like to live in a given community. The process involves examining the culture and functioning of a community, exploring its strengths and assets, and discovering issues of concern to the community members. To gain a better understanding of Lincoln Heights, the first part of the project involved gathering census data for the community, county, and state. Secondary data was collected on the neighborhood's economics, history, environment, housing, education, health concerns, and other social issues, and then compared to county and state figures. There were limitations to these methods of data collection. Wherever possible, data was collected on a community or town level. However, most of the health and community profile data was available only on a county-wide basis or by block group and may not be representative of the Lincoln Heights community, a very small neighborhood within the county. Data that is representative of Chatham County, and not necessarily Lincoln Heights, is so identified in the community profile and health sections of the document. Limitations to collecting secondary data included a lack of current information, especially with regard to immigration statistics and demographic characteristics. Another problem encountered was the lack of identification of statistics for Latinos within the specified census race categories, resulting in difficulty in distinguishing various racial indicators. To obtain a more accurate picture of the community, the second portion of the project focused on a qualitative assessment of community members' opinions on the quality of life in Lincoln Heights. Interviews contained personal background questions as well as questions about life in the Lincoln Heights community. Questions were asked about the strengths and weaknesses of the community to determine what issues could be addressed in the future. Service provider questions focused on the type of services provided as well as the provider’s perspective on the competence of the Lincoln Heights community. The interview process was approved by the University of North Carolina School of Public Health Institutional Review Board (IRB), which must approve all requests from School of Public Health students or faculty to conduct research on human subjects. Interviews began in November 1997 and concluded in January 1998. Members of the community diagnosis team interviewed 23 community members and eight service providers. In addition, 46 community members completed short surveys on two separate occasions, and two focus groups were held in the community. Interviews focused primarily on the strengths of the community, as well as issues of concern, including housing, recreation, substance abuse, and the growth of the Latino population in the neighborhood. The community diagnosis process concluded in February with a community forum. A comprehensive report on the Forum is included in Appendix E of this document. Limitations in the qualitative data collection process included time constraints imposed by the IRB process. The “snowball” sampling process of obtaining referrals yielded a homogeneous group, and difficulties in gaining entree to other, less accessible, community members. These two things were a barrier to gaining the perspective of a more representative sample. Finally, building the trust necessary to gain full disclosure about sensitive issues in a community is a long, ongoing process and takes more time than the community diagnosis process allows. This document was produced to present back to the community the comprehensive findings of the team about the Lincoln Heights community. The first half of the document includes sections representing our secondary data collection and analysis. Chapters include: Geography, History, Economic Outlook, Community Profile, and Health. The second half contains a review of qualitative data collected from interviews and is divided into chapters representing the salient issues facing the community, including: Community Assets and Resources, Education, Politics and Government, Immigration, Crime and Safety, Drugs, Housing, Recreation, and A Changing Climate. During the interview process, community members shared with us many of their views, experiences, and concerns about life in Lincoln Heights. Some of the strengths and challenges that were identified as most important to the community are: Commitment to Community: Members of the community are very active in the community and committed to Lincoln Heights. They also belong to, and take pride in, several strong local associations and organizations. Their affiliation with church and religious organizations is an important part of their lives. Family Ties: The Lincoln Heights neighborhood has an extensive history, with multiple generation families still living there. There are bonds and family ties that run deep in the community. Community Involvement: The strengths of commitment and roots in Lincoln Heights have led to several successful endeavors and achievements. Growth of Latino Population: Over the past several years, the size of the Latino population has grown significantly in Lincoln Heights. This growth has impacted community resources, schools, and community services, as well as introduced difficulties in communication due to a language barrier. Housing: The community continues to experience a shortage of affordable housing and expressed concerns about the condition of some of the homes and trailers in the neighborhood. Youth Recreation: Community members expressed concerns about a lack of recreation for the youth of the neighborhood. Crime and Drugs: Substance abuse was also indicated as a problem, both with the use and sale of illegal drugs occurring within the neighborhood. Future Directions and Conclusions Although numerous issues still exist in Lincoln Heights, much has changed since the last community diagnosis was completed there in 1994. Concerned citizens from the neighborhood have worked hard to build a healthier community and throughout this document we have tried to highlight their successes. Two organizations in particular have impacted the quality of life for residents, the Lincoln Heights Improvement Association and the Chatham Alumni Advancement Association. As was mentioned previously, the Lincoln Heights Improvement Association has played a vital role in the neighborhood by building Washington Park and also by demonstrating that a small group of concerned residents could affect change. The Chatham Alumni Advancement Association also showed that strength in numbers could work when they pressured the local government to give them part of the old Chatham Middle School for use as a cultural center. Both of these groups have proved themselves capable of taking on the issues that face the neighborhood, and winning. It is our hope that these groups will continue to thrive and that they will be able to use this document to steer their course of action in the future.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/g2q0-4s68
Extent:: ii, 96 pages, 32 unnumbered pages : illustrations, maps, form ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 1998
Keyword:: North Carolina, Public health, Health Status, Community Health Services, Chatham County (N.C.), and Socioeconomic Factors
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and Chatham County Health Department
Person:: Quinn, Sandra Crouse, Alston, Paula, Hudman, Jennifer, Bell, Mary Beth, Simon, Alisa, and Grady, Meredith
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_44

38. Lee County, North Carolina : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Title Tesim:: Lee County, North Carolina : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creator:: Carpenter, Colleen, Noyes, Phil, Stevens, Rachel, Goldovsky, Ada, Marz, Pamela, and Lee, AnnMarie
Date of publication:: 2000
Abstract Tesim:: This document describes the most salient issues that exist for the residents of Lee County, North Carolina as determined through both primary and secondary data collected for a research project. This research project is called a ‘community diagnosis’ and aims to provide a thorough understanding of a community area by elucidating the assets, challenges, and future directions of the community, as defined by the community. This community diagnosis was conducted by six first-year masters students in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education of the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was conducted at the request of the Lee County Health Department, and as a requirement of the HBHE 240/241 course at the University of North Carolina. The collection and analysis of the data occurred between September, 1999 through April, 2000, culminating with the production of this document. The document is meant to serve as an aid to community members, the health department, and service providers to address the needs of the community by drawing on the identified strengths and challenges of the community. The Lee County community diagnosis commenced with informal talks with residents of the area, and by taking car tours of the area. Concurrently, we began gathering pre-existing or secondary data. We gathered statistics related to demographics, health status of the residents, economic conditions, as well as other social variables [such as housing] of the area. Much of these data came from sources such as LINC (Logging Into North Carolina), U.S. Census, the State Center for Health Statistics, and the Chamber of Commerce. We also researched the history of the area to provide us with a richer context in which to understand this data. All of this information combined comprises the first section of our document (Community Description, Community Profile and Health). The following is a brief summary of this first section. Lee County is found in the geographical center of North Carolina, and spans 259.3 square miles. Lee County is comprised of eight townships: Deep River, West Sanford, East Sanford, Sanford, Pocket, Cape Fear, Jonesboro, and Greenwood. The only incorporated towns, Sanford and Broadway, are found within the townships of Sanford and Cape Fear, respectively. Lee County was officially incorporated in 1907, building on a strong history of economic growth stemming from natural resources and natural deposits. These natural resources and natural deposits allowed people in the area to develop the mining industry, and in more recent history, agricultural development, and manufacturing. The county grew quickly as people were attracted to the new tobacco farming as well as brick production, which later put Lee on the map as the Brick Capital. Throughout the next few decades, the area continued to grow despite some trouble during the depression. Once World War II had ended, industry prospered. This trend has more or less continued to the present day. Today Lee is a burgeoning industrial and economic center. The economy has shifted from a largely agricultural base to largely a manufacturing base. The manufacturing industry in Lee is currently very strong, accounting for 45% of the county’s total employment. Manufacturing holds five of the ten positions in the Lee County’s top ten employers' list (Chamber of Commerce, 1998). It is largely a result of Lee’s prosperity in that so many people are attracted to and continue to move to Lee County. The largest populated area in Lee County is Sanford, containing over one half (21,100) of the entire county population (48,813) (Chamber of Commerce, 1998). As mentioned above, Lee County has experienced tremendous growth throughout its history, which continues to the present day, much like the rest of North Carolina. There was a 59% increase in the population from 1970-1997, and it is projected that Lee will reach 51,182 in 2000. A good portion of the population growth can be attributed to the influx of Latino/a immigrants, which has shifted the racial composition of the county. In 1990 the racial breakdown of Lee County was 75% White, 21.9% Black, 1.2 % Latino/a, 1.3% other (U.S. Census, 1990). Estimates suggest the Latino/as now make up over 10% of Lee County, with much of this growth occurring over the last decade. Additionally, many people are moving to the area from Research Triangle Park (RTP) to take advantage of Lee’s growing economy. All of this growth, both with respect to population and economy, can be characterized as assets and challenges for the community. After we completed analyzing the data from secondary sources, we went to the community members and service providers themselves to try and get a myriad of perspectives on all of the assets, challenges, and future directions of Lee County. We created three different interview guides, one for community members, one for service providers, and one for focus groups. We selected the people we interviewed based on a list provided by the health department, referrals by other interviewees and our subjective opinion about who might best represent the voices of Lee County. One of our main goals was to hear voices not generally heard. We conducted a total of 26 interviews and four focus groups, which included between five and eleven participants each. What follows is a summary of our findings from these interviews and focus groups, which we refer to as our primary data. They are presented within six major themes: growth in population, jobs/economy, growth as it impacts infrastructure and the environment, health, youth, and recreation. The fact that Lee County is experiencing greater than average population growth surfaced in almost every interview as either or both an asset and a challenge for the community. Some were excited to see Lee evolve and change, while others feared a loss of the ‘small town feel.’ While Lee was considered “a great place to raise a family,” concerns were raised that crime and drug activity were on the rise. Also, there is a perception of division among racial/ethnic groups in Lee County, and that division was generally regarded as disturbing. On the same note, several people spoke of churches playing a seminal role in bringing various groups of people together. Lack of representation of various ethnic groups, as well as women and younger people, was mentioned with regard to city and county governments. The two groups that comprise the large numbers of people migrating into the county are people from Raleigh/Cary/RTP, and Latino/as. Despite the potential of bringing greater wealth into Lee County, there are major concerns regarding the growth of the Raleigh/Cary/RTP population. First, it was feared that the new housing being built for these generally wealthier people would lead to an increase in property values, which in turn would lead to a lack of affordable homes for those with middle or low incomes. Another concern was that Lee was becoming a ‘bedroom community’ to RTP. A third concern was that Lee might grow too quickly and become ‘the next Cary.’ A further concern was heard from communities who wanted to grow with Sanford and not be left behind while other neighborhoods grew. Others concerns surfaced regarding the resulting effects on the infrastructure due to this growth including the need for emergency and transitional housing, lack of public transportation, environmental issues as they relate to both the physical and natural environment, as well as an increase in traffic. The burgeoning Latino/a population in Lee was also viewed as both an asset and a challenge. Some spoke excitedly about a rich, new culture. They also mentioned that Latino/as help keep the economy growing with their hard work and willingness to take jobs others might not want. Some people, however, spoke about Latino/as as a strain on local services. Others spoke of the challenges that Latino/as face with regard to their quality of life in Lee County such as a lack of cultural awareness on the part of the Blacks and Whites, lack of bilingual services, and discrimination. Other challenges include poor housing, lack of representation in the government, and transportation barriers. With regard to jobs and economy, people stated that Lee had a strong and vibrant economy, a diverse industrial base, and a low rate of unemployment. Some challenges facing Lee County residents are the increasing cost of living, and the sentiment that the wages are too low. Finally, the influx of Latino/as was linked to employment in factories in the county. With regard to health, the interviewees’ greatest concerns were diabetes, cancer and HIV/AIDS. Community members were cognizant and generally pleased with the variety of health services. They spoke relatively highly of the Lee County Health Department, the Helping Hands Clinic, and the Central Carolina Hospital. However, they were quick to mention numerous barriers regarding accessing these services. The primary barriers were transportation, lack of bilingual services and cultural sensitivity, and lack of insurance coverage. Special mention was made of the need for increased services for the elderly, expecting mothers and their infants, and for people with substance addictions. With regard to youth, our findings suggest that many community members are concerned about older teens in the community. Many community members and providers expressed concern with the burgeoning high school in Lee. Additionally, drug and alcohol misuse and teenage pregnancy were identified as challenges to older teens. As far as assets were concerned, community members were proud of the programs and resources developed for younger youth, and expressed responsibility of attention to youth issues. In terms of recreation, the majority of the people interviewed felt that Lee County had good, organized youth sports opportunities, but lacked a variety of places to go for entertainment and exercise. Some identified barriers to recreation included lack of space available and a lack of free or inexpensive opportunities. The final component of the Lee County community diagnosis process was the Community Forum, which was held on March 4, 2000 at the Lee County Senior High School cafeteria (see Appendix E). The ultimate goal of the Forum was to share all of the findings from both the primary and secondary data with the community. It was our hope that the community members who came would then prioritize the issues most important to them and create solutions and mobilize around them. Although our turnout was lower than expected, there was vibrant discussion around the issues of health and growth, as well as additional themes born out of the discussion. The issues discussed were recreation, substance abuse, environmental issues, representative government, accurate count for the 2000 U.S. Census, and racial/ethnic barriers. It is our hope that the issues discussed at the Forum and the information presented in this document will be a helpful tool for community development in Lee County. In our interviews and focus groups we heard perspectives on the many assets and challenges of Lee County. What follows is a brief overview of recommendations and potential ways to target some of the issues that emerged in our data. These suggestions by no means imply that these are the sole actions that the community could take to address the issues. It is important to point out that above all, we found many caring, concerned individuals in Lee County, which is what makes Lee County a strong community. One way people in Lee could begin to address some of the challenges they face is to have each existing group, organization, or task force create assets maps, which are ostensibly a list of all the strengths each offers [such as services]. An assets map of the individual strengths of each member of each group or organization could be created as well. All of the groups could combine their assets maps to form a collective map of all of the strengths in Lee County. This collective map could provide a very useful tool to assist the community in addressing issues. More general suggestions are as follows: include youth in planning and discussions of the future of Lee County, address the increasing diversity in a proactive and positive way, utilize the sense of community pride to address issues of growth, and tap the already existing community organizing capabilities to further create change. Ultimately, Lee County is perceived to be a great place to live. It is our hope that our community diagnosis served to further create dialogue about what is important to the people of Lee.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/24a7-xt74
Extent:: 128 pages : illustrations ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2000
Keyword:: Lee County (N.C.), Health Status, North Carolina, Socioeconomic Factors, and Community Health Services
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and Lee County Health Department
Person:: Quinn, Sandra Crouse, Morgan, Gwen, Carpenter, Colleen, Noyes, Phil, Stevens, Rachel, Goldovsky, Ada, Marz, Pamela, and Lee, AnnMarie
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_43

39. Northern Orange Latino community, Orange County, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action

Title Tesim:: Northern Orange Latino community, Orange County, North Carolina : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action
Creator:: Ramos, Michelle, Rodman, Emily, Woo, Samantha, Zeveloff, Abigail, Willard, Rachel, and Kepka, Deanna
Date of publication:: 2005
Abstract Tesim:: From September 2004 – April 2005, a six-member graduate student team from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill conducted an Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) with the Latino Community (LC) of Northern Orange County (NOC). An AOCD examines the quality of life, community capacity, and strengths and needs of a community. Two preceptors from the Orange County Public Health Department mentored the student team throughout this process. The students interviewed 67 community members and service providers in both individual and group interview settings. Additional information was collected using secondary data sources and participant observations by the student team. The students presented the results at a community forum held in Hillsborough, North Carolina on April 9, 2005. Major topics that were discussed and addressed at the forum include transportation, adult education, linguistically and culturally competent service providers, a central location for information, and dental care. Below, a summary of the themes and the key action steps that were laid out at the community forum are listed (note Appendix F): There is a lack of public transportation in Northern Orange County. 1. Develop bilingual pamphlets about existing public transportation in Northern Orange County and distribute them to churches and social service agencies serving Latinos. 2. The Department of Transportation will hold a forum to inform Latinos of the extended bus routes that are scheduled to take effect in January 2006. 3. A bilingual community member will attend the Department of Transportation (DOT) board meetings. The Latino community needs more dental services that are affordable. 1. Hold dental screening and cleaning for preschoolers. 2. Publicize this and other events through a network of Promotores de Salud (community members who have received training in health education) as well as churches serving Latinos. 3. Latino community members will help the dental clinic to demonstrate the need for more dental services that are affordable. There is a need for a central location in Northern Orange County that provides the Latino community with information about existing social and health services. 1. Establish a planning committee. 2. Speak to libraries, schools, churches, and county commissioners about office space. 3. Coordinate a petition from the community and service providers. There is a need for more service providers in Northern Orange County with linguistic and cultural competency. 1. Invite the following agencies to learn how to recruit bilingual service providers: Orange County Health Department Medical Clinic in Hillsborough. Orange County Health Department Dental Clinic in Hillsborough. Orange County Department of Social Services. Day cares. Schools (parent/teacher conferences). Police. Courts. 2. Plan and hold job fairs. 3. Share resources and bilingual personnel between towns and counties. 4. Increase English as a Second Language (ESL) educational opportunities. 5. Offer free Spanish classes to personnel in agencies serving a large number of Latinos. There is a need for more adult education in Northern Orange County, such as ESL classes and job skills training. 1. Ask about possible locations for ESL classes. 2. Ask the following people and places for information and help: Teachers and schools. Social service agencies. Day cares. County politicians
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/5tje-ez31
Extent:: vi, 152 pages : illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 2005
Keyword:: Community Health Services, Health Status, North Carolina, Orange County (N.C.), Hispanic Americans, and Socioeconomic Factors
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: and Orange County Health Department
Person:: Eng, Geni, Hitt, Maria, Clifford, Susan, Shirah, Kate, Ramos, Michelle, Rodman, Emily, Woo, Samantha, Zeveloff, Abigail, Willard, Rachel, and Kepka, Deanna
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_42

40. Jordan Grove, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection

Title Tesim:: Jordan Grove, Chatham County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creator:: Lissy, Karen S., Smith, Cindy, and Knight, Heather
Date of publication:: 1998
Abstract Tesim:: A Community Diagnosis of Jordan Grove was conducted by a team of graduate students from the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE) in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Community Diagnosis is the process of evaluating the health and quality of life of a community both by reviewing previously gathered data and by talking with residents and service providers who have first hand knowledge of that community. This process occurs over the course of seven months and is a requirement for Masters students in the HBHE department. The first semester of the Jordan Grove community diagnosis focused on collecting and summarizing previously existing or secondary data. Sources of this information included, but were not limited to, census data, county health data, and previously existing health documents created for Chatham County. These sources helped the research team to gain a broad understanding of Jordan Grove by defining location, history, economic and health status, as well as other sociodemographic characteristics of the community. While compiling this information we encountered some limitations. The secondary data that we were able to access was primarily county level data. Because Jordan Grove is a small geographic region of Chatham County, this county level information does not accurately reflect the Jordan Grove community. Additionally, much of the data was outdated. Census data, for example, was last collected eight years ago in 1990. The secondary data section, therefore, is comprehensive but should not be assumed to provide specific information about the community of Jordan Grove. The second method of community diagnosis data collection was qualitative: interviews were conducted with residents and service providers in the Jordan Grove community. This primary data collection was essential to our understanding of Jordan Grove, particularly given the limitations of our secondary data. Separate interview guides were developed for residents and service providers. In total, twenty three residents and fifteen service providers were interviewed. Additionally, seven residents participated in a focus group. Christine Brooks, a community resident, voluntarily took on the role of our “community preceptor”, and played a critical role in introducing us to the community. Among other things, Mrs. Brooks invited us to attend service at the Jordan Grove A.M.E. Zion church, the church attended by a majority of Jordan Grove residents. Church attendance provided us the opportunity to become familiar with community residents and, perhaps more importantly, for the community to become familiar with us. Jordan Grove is a small (approximately two square miles), rural, predominantly African American community located west of Siler City in Chatham County. The residents of this community are primarily descendants of the five families who originally resided in the area. The sense of family created by these longstanding relationships has created an element of community strength and competence that is reflected in this document. Governmental responsibility for Jordan Grove is shared between Siler City and the whole of Chatham County. Jordan Grove falls under the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction of Siler City. Siler City's management responsibilities in Jordan Grove are limited to Planning and Zoning issues. All other land and political matters in Jordan Grove are the direct responsibility of Chatham County. The homes in Jordan Grove are linked to Siler City water and sewer lines. The Jordan Grove community is also covered by the Siler City Fire Department. Residents and service providers described Jordan Grove as a community with many assets. Included in these assets were the Jordan Grove residents themselves. Residents described their neighbors as helpful, friendly, and dependable. Many referred to the area as a close-knit, safe community and indicated that they would not want to live anywhere but Jordan Grove. Other assets we were told about included the local churches, Joint Orange Chatham Community Action (JOCCA), and Us In Action (UIA). UIA is a group of residents credited with proactive efforts to improve the community. Achievements of this group include the extension of county water lines, renovation of a community church, and successful diversion of both a trailer park and airport that were proposed to be built in Jordan Grove. Residents and service providers also expressed areas in which Jordan Grove could be improved. Suggested areas for improvement included housing conditions, safety, recreation, transportation, cost of medications, home health care, water and sewer, and trash collection. A community meeting was held in February 1998 to present these findings to the residents and service providers of Jordan Grove. The purpose of the meeting was to share with everyone the information that the community diagnosis team had collected and summarized. This was also an opportunity for stakeholders in the community to listen and discuss with others issues and future directions for the Jordan Grove community. The priority areas identified for future action at the meeting were home health care and the cost of medications.
Resource type:: Masters Paper
Admin Note:: Paper was publicly available on HSL website. Anne does not think we need to get author permission
Affiliation Label Tesim:: Department of Health Behavior
Degree:: Master of Public Health
Degree Granting Institution:: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
DOI:: https://doi.org/10.17615/jhnm-3v44
Extent:: v, 101 pages, 33 unnumbered pages : illustrations, color maps ; 28 cm.
Graduation Year:: 1998
Keyword:: Public health, Jordan Grove (N.C.), Socioeconomic Factors, Health Status, Community Health Services, North Carolina, and Chatham County (N.C.)
Language Label:: English
ORCID:
Other Affiliation:: Chatham County Health Department and
Person:: Jeffries, Vanessa F., Quinn, Sandra Crouse, Lissy, Karen S., Smith, Cindy, and Knight, Heather
Rights Statement Label:: In Copyright
Source:: community_diagnosis_papers_41