• By Ayotunde Ademoyero
• Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2012

2012 Forsyth County State of the County Health Report

The 2012 State-of-the-County Health (SOTCH) Report includes findings and recommendations from the 2011 Community Health Assessment process. It also highlights the new priority health focus areas with each action team or coalition addressing each area as listed below:

• Physical Activity & Nutrition with emphasis on Healthy Families (Healthy Families Community Collaborations)
• Physical Activity and Nutrition with emphasis on Tobacco Prevention & Cessation (Tobacco Reality Unfiltered-TRU)
• Physical Activity and Nutrition with emphasis on Nutrition (Behealthy Coalition)
• Physical Activity and Nutrition with emphasis on Physical Activity (Behealthy Coalition)
• Chronic Disease with emphasis on Chronic Disease Management (FC Chronic Disease Coalition)
• Maternal and Infant Health with emphasis on Breastfeeding Initiative (Infant Mortality Reduction Coalition)
• Social Determinants of Health with emphasis on Translating Social Determinants Messages for Lay Audiences (Health Equity Action Team-HEAT)

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough has been identified as emerging issue in Forsyth County. The number of confirmed cases has tripled in Forsyth County and in North Carolina. In response to the rising numbers, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services-administered Immunization Program (NCIP) has made Tdap vaccine, which protects against pertussis, available to anyone age 7 years and older, including adults, who are uninsured. Children and adults who are covered by Medicaid or North Carolina Health Choice can receive free Tdap also at the FC Health Department.

The following two new initiatives were funded at the FC Department of Public health-1) The Nurse-Family Partnership that provides first-time, low-income expectant mothers with a committed nurse who makes regular home visits over 30 months from before birth until the baby is two years old. 2) Community Transformation Grant which focuses on reducing chronic diseases, promoting healthier lifestyles, reducing health disparities, and controlling health care spending.