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| Healthy Caldwellians is a volunteer-based coalition
whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for all residents.
We operate under the direction of a Steering Committee and carry out
our work through committees. After completing the 2003 Community Health
Assessment, we established priorities for our activities in the following
areas: Healthy Living, Tobacco, Maternal and Child Health, Youth,
Asthma, Substance Abuse, and Dental. We recognize that collaboration
is the key to serving the needs of our people; therefore, we partner
with other agencies, civic groups, churches, and individuals. Our
motto is "Let's all be Healthy Caldwellians!"
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- Reduce tobacco use of middle and high school students by 5%
each of the four years of the plan. (Baseline data is from Health
Carolinians' NC 2010 document: High School Students 38.3% and
Middle School Students 18.4%).
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By December 2007, increase the number of adults who regularly
participate in physical activity. (Baseline: 29.5% of North
Carolinians report no leisure time activity - 2002 NC BRFSS)
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By December 2007, partner with employers in county to establish
obesity prevention policies at the workplace.
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Reduce tobacco use by adults by 5% each of the four years
of the plan. (25.1 % will serve as the baseline figure as taken
from the Healthy Carolinians' NC 2010 document.)
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By December 2007, increase the number of healthy eating environments
for school-aged youth.
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By December 2007, increase healthy food consumption in school-aged
youth (healthy foods defined as those that meet NC Winner's
Circle Healthy Dining Program criteria) Baseline: From 2001
YRBS vegetable and milk consumption results. Middle School -
22.9% and 47.8%; High School - 17.8% and 12.5%.
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By December 2007, increase community awareness about childhood
obesity.
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By 2007, reduce the rate of asthma hospitalizations in children
ages 0-14 related to asthma to 250 per 100,000 (Baseline: In
2001, asthma related hospitalizations in children ages 0-14
was 356.6 per 100,000). This represents a 30 % reduction.
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By December 2007, complete sidewalk survey of county that
would provide data for decision makers to update county walking
areas to create a future policy change for the county.??
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By December 2007, increase by 2 the number of non-motorized
pathways in Caldwell County that would allow for more opportunities
of leisure-time activities??
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By June 2007, increase availability of dentists to adults
without dental availability or on Medicaid (Baseline, 1999:
67.2 percent of adults 18 years and older visited a dentist
during the past year.) Represents a 10% reduction.
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By June 2007, decrease tooth loss & gum disease in blue
collar working adults. (Baseline, 1999: 22.3 percent of adults,
ages 45 to 64 years, had a tooth removed due to decay or gum
disease) Represents a 10% reduction.
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Support individuals to develop the capacities and skills to
achieve healthy living: Elementary and middle school initiative
to teach youth about the dangers of tobacco to help them make
the choice never to begin using it.
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Promote access to preventive health services: Initiative to
conduct annual prostate screenings for males ages 45+ and skin
cancer screenings for all ages.
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Protect the public's health: Substance Abuse Committee's Red
Ribbon initiative to prevent drinking and driving by our residents.
Health Disparities
Because a large portion of our community is made
up of blue-collar employees, we are trying to direct more of
our efforts toward their needs. We secure funding to provide
all our services free of charge to our residents. |
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1. Two of our former initiatives have been so successful that
they have evolved into their own 501c3 agencies. Caldwell County
Pathways, Inc. began as an initiative to increase walking, running,
and biking by our residents. Helping Hands Clinic began as an
initiative to secure health care and prescription assistance for
residents in need.
2. As a response to the Community Health Assessment, we established
an Asthma Committee to provide education for asthmatic children,
their parents, and teachers.
3. As a response to the Community Health Assessment, we established
a Dental Committee to address dental needs of older adults and
joined a regional dental task force to enlist partners to help
find solutions.
4. Healthy Caldwellians began Student Health Clubs in our three
high schools three years ago, and we have seen the enrollment
of members more than double in 2004-2005. Many of our students
are being trained to be advocates for health issues.
5. To encourage breastfeeding, our Maternal and Child Health Committee
established a room equipped with breast pumps at our three high
schools for staff and students. Several female students have reported
that they were able to breastfeed their babies and still graduate
because of our efforts.
6. Our Healthy Living Committee partnered with the Caldwell County
Health Department during Healthy NC Month last September to encourage
our residents to incorporate exercise into their daily lives in
order to make a real lifestyle change.
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- Thad B. Wester Community of Excellence Award - 1996 (Awarded
by the Governor's Task Force for Healthy Carolinians)
- William G. Anlyan Award - 2000 (Awarded by the Governor's Task
Force for Healthy Carolinians)
- Spirit Award - 2004 (Awarded by the local Arthritis Foundation)
- Public Awareness Award - 1998 (Awarded by the Caldwell Council
on Adolescent Health)
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Jan Pritchard, Coordinator
Caldwell County Health Department
1966-B Morganton Boulevard
Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: (828) 426-8519
Fax: (828) 426-8450
Email: healthycaldwellians@co.caldwell.nc.us
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content updated: tml-05/25/05
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