2011

New Hanover County Community Health Assessment

New Hanover County Health Department

2029 South 17th Street Wilmington NC 28401

910-798-6500

www.nhcgov.com/Health www.facebook.com/NHCHealth

www.twitter.com/NHChealth

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*Disclaimer: Please note in this document, the resources and interventions listed are asampling and may not include of all the community resources and interventions in NewHanover County. New Hanover County Health Department will treat this document as a

live document until May of 2011 to allow any updates or additional interventions that may be added.

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Acknowledgements

On behalf of the New Hanover County Health Department, we would like to extend a special thanks to New Hanover Regional Medical Center and the following community partners for their support and participation in the 2011 New Hanover County Community Health Assessment. Without their help, this process would not have been possible.

Agencies and Community Partner Collaborations:Boys and Girls Club

Cape Fear Community College

City of Wilmington

City of Wilmington Fire Department

Cape Fear Community College

Coastal Horizons Center

Faith-community

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE)

New Hanover Community Health Center

New Hanover County Health Department (NHCHD) Staff

New Hanover County Library

New Hanover County Schools

New Hanover County Senior Center

New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence

Northside Resource Center

Pacifica Senior Living Wilmington

Smart Start of New Hanover County

Town of Carolina Beach

University of North Carolina- Wilmington

o Obesity Prevention Initiativeo UNCW Tobacco Free

Collegeo School of Nursing Studentso Health Education Students

United Way of Cape Fear

Voces Latinas

Wilmington Family YMCA

Wilmington Health Access for Teens (WHAT) Center

Wilmington Housing Authority

Winter Park Baptist Church

Community Health Assessment (CHA) Advisory Committee: The New Hanover County Health Department Health Promotions and Support Services staff, in collaboration with the Outreach Coordinator from New Hanover Regional Medical Center, functioned as an advisory committee in the CHA process. The NHCHD’s Health Promotion staff also served as project facilitators of the CHA process. The advisory committee reviewed CHA materials, helped to identify resources and support in the community, compiled the secondary and primary data, and assisted in the interpretation of data. Community meetings were held to provide the committee with community input and assistance.

Health Promotions Amy Cook, NHCHD Health Promotions Supervisor Pam Hatch, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Associate Katelyn Register, NHCHD Health Promotions, Health Educator Erin Morrissette, NHCHD Health Promotions, Health Educator Sharema Williams, NHCHD Health Promotions, Health Educator Caree Varughese, NHCHD Health Promotions, Health Educator

New Hanover County Regional Medical Center Iris Baker, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, Outreach Coordinator

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Health Director and New Hanover County Board of Health

Health Director Chair Vice-Chair

David E. Rice C. Benjamin Spradley Michael E. Goins, OD

drice@nhcgov.com bspradley@nhcgov.com mgoins@nhcgov.com Public Member Optometrist Member

Virginia W. Adams, PhD Jonathan A. Barfield, Jr. Donald P. Blake

vadams@nhcgov.com jbarfield@nhcgov.com dblake@nhcgov.com

Nurse Member County Commissioner Public Member

Melody S. Evans, DVM James R. Hickmon, RPh Robert E. Lewis

mevans@nhcgov.com jhickmon@nhcgov.com rlewis@nhcgov.com

Veterinarian Member Pharmacist Member Public Member

Sandra L. Miles, DDS Robert M. Shakar, Jr., MD Karen L. Valiquett, PE

smiles@nhcgov.com rshakar@nhcgov.com kvaliquett@nhcgov.com

Dentist Member Physician Member Engineer Member

mailto:cspradley@nhcgov.commailto:drice@nhcgov.commailto:bspradley@nhcgov.commailto:mgoins@nhcgov.commailto:vadams@nhcgov.commailto:jbarfield@nhcgov.commailto:dblake@nhcgov.commailto:mevans@nhcgov.commailto:jhickmon@nhcgov.commailto:rlewis@nhcgov.commailto:smiles@nhcgov.commailto:rshakar@nhcgov.commailto:kvaliquett@nhcgov.com

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Executive Summary

In 2010 - 2011, the New Hanover County Health Department and community partners evaluated the county’s overall health through the community health assessment process. The community assessment is an analysis of the health status of the community in context with the community’s economic, social and environmental climate. This report will be an important resource for the community to improve the health and well-being of the people in New Hanover County. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services requires that all local health departments complete a community health assessment every four years, with the last community health assessment being completed in 2007 for New Hanover County. During the interim period, a State of the County Health Report (SOTCH) is completed annually to highlight the progress through programs, policies and environmental changes as well as evaluate any changes in the health status of the county. These reports allow citizens, leaders and officials to monitor trends to effectively create strategies to improve the health of the community. Below are the key findings of the 2011 New Hanover County Community Health Assessment: Leading Causes of Death New Hanover County and North Carolina shared the same top five leading

causes of death: heart disease, cancer (all sites), cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and unintentional injuries.

As of 2009, New Hanover County has a higher age-adjusted death rate for heart disease compared to North Carolina’s rate (200.5 per 100,000 persons compared 191.7 per 100,000 persons)

Health Opinion Survey Results When asked, “What most people die from in New Hanover County?”, the majority

of New Hanover County residents answered heart disease, followed by cancer.

Chronic diseases, obesity and drug and alcohol abuse were voiced as the county’s biggest health concerns.

Focus Group Findings New Hanover County residents collectively expressed the desire for continued

community collaboration efforts, attention to youth prevention initiatives, pedestrian safety improvements and community well-being.

Health Behaviors Findings According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, since 2007, New

Hanover County continues to have higher percentages of heavy and binge drinkers than North Carolina.

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Data Collection and Assessment Process

As part of the community health assessment, a health opinion survey was developed by Coastal Carolina Health Alliance and New Hanover County Health Department’s Community Health Assessment Committee. This survey was designed to capture the opinions of county residents on the overall health of New Hanover County. The NHCHD Community Health Assessment Committee, community partners and additional NHCHD staff distributed the survey throughout the community to a wide range of locations, while targeting different income levels, ages, and the ethnicities. The survey was printed in both English and Spanish. In addition to the health opinion survey, seven focus groups were held throughout New Hanover County to identify the community’s perception of the health needs and concerns. Data Collection Methodology Primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed as part of the community assessment process.

Primary Data

Primary data is information that has been collected firsthand by the Community Health Assessment team about those who live in New Hanover County. For the 2011 New Hanover Community Health Assessment, primary data was collected by conducting community focus groups and distributing the health opinion survey.

Community Focus Groups

A total of seven focus groups were held in New Hanover County to gain a better understanding of the needs in the community. To ensure that all populations were represented, focus group members consisted of individuals from different ethnic populations, a wide range of age populations (high school and college students, middle aged and senior residents), faith based groups, service groups, community civic groups and health care professionals. The focus group questions were developed by Coastal Carolina Health Alliance. A copy of the Focus group questions can be found in the documents appendix.

Health Opinion Surveys

From March to June of 2011, a total of 2,250 surveys were collected from New Hanover County citizens. The survey results reflect the health opinions of those in the community regarding the county’s leading causes of death, emergency preparedness, major health concerns and desired resources, screenings, and health programs. More detailed survey results can be found under the section Health Opinion Survey Results (page 130).

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Secondary Data

Secondary data, which can be defined as pre-existing data, was collected and compiled by the Community Health Assessment Team using an array of data sources. The major sources of data used in the Community Assessment are: North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS) United States Census Bureau and the American Community Survey The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin Population

Health Institute County Health Rankings North Carolina School Report Cards The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor

Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) North Carolina Healthy Schools: Youth Risk Behavior Survey North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch: Youth Tobacco Survey Annie E. Casey Foundation: KIDS COUNT Data Center New Hanover County Health Department New Hanover County School System New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign of North Carolina (APPCNC) Wilmington Chamber of Commerce North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: HIV/STD Prevention

and Care Branch

Data from these sources will be taken from the current year posted; from some sources the most current data will be 2009 or earlier. Some data sets used from the SCHS will be expressed in four year increments (i.e. 2001-2005, 2005-2009). The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is a random telephone health survey where residents aged 18 and older (in households with telephones) are asked questions about their health behaviors. Those surveyed are asked wide range of questions such as “How many days during the past 30 days was your physical health not good?” and “During the past 30 days, have you had at least one drink of any alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, a malt beverage or liquor?” to “Was there a time in the past 12 months when you needed to see a doctor but could not because of cost?” The North Carolina Division of Public Health has participated in the BRFSS since 1987 with the BRFSS interviews conducted monthly and data analyzed annually (on a calendar-year basis). The BRFSS information that has been gathered from New Hanover County residents is included in this report as an additional secondary data tool used to evaluate the health status of those living in county.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... 2

Health Director and New Hanover County Board of Health ............................................. 4

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 5

Data Collection and Assessment Process ....................................................................... 6

Primary Data ................................................................................................................ 6

Secondary Data ........................................................................................................... 7

New Hanover County Profile ......................................................................................... 10

Snapshot of New Hanover County ............................................................................. 12

County Health Rankings: Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH) .... 14

Population .................................................................................................................. 15

Households ................................................................................................................ 16

Employment ............................................................................................................... 17

Industries ................................................................................................................... 19

Transportation ............................................................................................................ 21

Education ................................................................................................................... 23

Health Insurance and Access to Care ........................................................................... 30

Substance Abuse, Disability and Mental Health ............................................................ 34

Substance Abuse ....................................................................................................... 34

Disability..................................................................................................................... 37

Mental Health ............................................................................................................. 38

Crime and Violence ....................................................................................................... 40

Mother and Baby ........................................................................................................... 41

Child and Adolescent Health ......................................................................................... 46

Health Behaviors Among Children and Youth in New Hanover County ........................ 52

Health Behaviors Among Adults In New Hanover County ............................................. 58

Leading Causes of Death .............................................................................................. 65

Cardiovascular Disease ............................................................................................. 71

Cancer ....................................................................................................................... 74

Colon, Anus and Rectum Cancer ........................................................................... 77

Pancreas ................................................................................................................ 80

Trachea, Bronchus and Lung Cancer ..................................................................... 82

Breast Cancer ......................................................................................................... 85

Prostate Cancer ...................................................................................................... 88

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Cerebrovascular Disease or Stroke ........................................................................... 92

Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease ........................................................................... 95

Diabetes ..................................................................................................................... 98

Unintentional Motor Vehicle Injuries ......................................................................... 101

All Other Unintentional Injuries ................................................................................. 103

Suicide ..................................................................................................................... 106

Homicide .................................................................................................................. 109

Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome, and Nephrosis ....................................................... 111

Pneumonia and Influenza ........................................................................................ 113

Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis ........................................................................ 116

Septicemia ............................................................................................................... 118

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) ...................................................... 120

Alzheimer’s Disease ................................................................................................ 123

Senior Health .............................................................................................................. 126

Environmental Health .................................................................................................. 128

Animal Control Services .............................................................................................. 131

Health Opinion Survey Results ................................................................................... 132

Focus Group ............................................................................................................... 136

Health Priorities ........................................................................................................... 139

Community Resources ................................................................................................ 140

Appendix ..................................................................................................................... 162

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New Hanover County Profile

Located in southeastern North Carolina and established in 1729, New Hanover County was formed from Craven County, one of three original counties in North Carolina. New Hanover County is the second smallest county in the State but one of the most densely populated. The county’s land area totals approximately 220 square miles, and of this total, over 21 square miles consist of water and wetlands.

New Hanover County was named in honor of the English King, King George I, who also ruled the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany. The English royal family was, therefore, called the House of Hanover. The New Hanover County seat is the city of Wilmington. Wilmington is over 250 years old and is located along the Cape Fear River. The city is rich in historical significance, including an architectural heritage reflected in the recently revitalized 200-block National Register Historic District. The city of Wilmington played a vital role during the Civil War as a center for Confederate blockade running; it was the final spot in the South to fall to the Union. In the twentieth century, the city’s economy shifted from river commerce to the railroad.

New Hanover County is home to four incorporated municipalities: Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Wrightsville Beach. The county’s beaches provide miles of unspoiled natural beauty and are the area’s most popular tourist attractions. The surrounding terrain is low

lying, with an average elevation of less than 40 feet. The highest elevation is approximately 75 feet above sea level. The city’s riverbanks boast a major container seaport, a charming historical district, The U.S.S. North Carolina Battleship, Gothic churches and riverfront shops. To the south lie majestic plantations, the North Carolina Aquarium, Fort Fisher, and miles of beautiful beaches. Although Wilmington is the largest city in southeastern North Carolina, it retains a small town atmosphere. Visitors are treated hospitably and immediately sense the strong community pride. Wilmington is the cultural, medical, educational and economic center for the southeastern region of the state. There are at least 348 churches in New Hanover County, according to information on file at the county tax office. 3 3 http://www.myreporter.com/?p=8731

http://www.myreporter.com/?p=8731

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Churches in the Wilmington area consist of a variety of different faiths including; Baptist, Catholic, Christian Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist, Nondenominational, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, and Religious Science. Wilmington is what the emerging “New South” is all about. The inviting business climate has attracted giants like G.E., DuPont, Corning, Pharmaceutical Product Development, Incorporated (PPD Inc.) and Verizon Wireless, as well as smaller, high-tech firms and corporations. Wilmington is known for historic preservation, proximity to area beaches, and annual events such as the North Carolina Azalea Festival and Riverfest. Wilmington is also home to a major film studio, Screen Gem Studios. All of this adds to the pleasant lifestyle that growing numbers are enjoying in New Hanover County. A History of Public Health in New Hanover County

Linked to a long history of public service and strong responses to the health needs of its citizens, the New Hanover County Health Department continues to adapt to the changing conditions. From its humble beginnings as an office which began with health officers who reported to a former Civil War surgeon in the late 1870s, the Health Department has developed into a

model organization with a staff of over 200 employees. Whether it is an issue of sanitation, disease prevention, animal control, or public health, the New Hanover Health Department continues to lead the way through the 21st century. New Hanover County Health Department highlights:

Animal Control Services completed a new spay and neuter facility in 2004.

In effort to improve dental care for children, the Health Department established the “Miles of Smiles” mobile dental unit in June 2006.

School Mental Health Program, which initially began in 2001, was successfully transferred from the Southeastern Mental Health Center to the New Hanover County Health Department in 2007.

In 2007, the Public Health Foundation of New Hanover County, Inc. received its 501 (c) (3) status from the Internal Revenue Service.

The Wellness and You worksite program, also known as the WAY Program, which focuses on improving physical fitness for county employees was established in 2008.

In 2009, the Health Department responded to the threat of H1N1 influenza in an organized and efficient manner.

The Health Department began enforcing the Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law in 2010.

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Snapshot of New Hanover County

From 2000 to 2010, New Hanover County has seen an increase in population of about 27 percent while North Carolina only saw an increase of about 19 percent. New Hanover County has a population of 202,667 people. When broken down by ages, New Hanover County has a higher percentage of 65 and older residents than North Carolina (13.9% compared to 12.9%). New Hanover County has a higher percentage of residents 25 and older who are high school graduates (89.1% compared to 83.0%) and a higher percentage of those 25 and older who have bachelor's degree or higher (35.5% compared to 25.8%) compared to the state. In 2009, New Hanover and North Carolina’s shared about the same percentage of those below the poverty level (16% compared to 16.2%). From 2005-2009, the median value of owner-occupied housing units in New Hanover County was $218,300 compared to North Carolina average of $143,700. In 2009, the median household income for New Hanover County of $44,719 was slightly above the states of $43,754. 4 U.S Census, State and County Quick Facts http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37129.html People QuickFacts 2010

4 New Hanover County

North Carolina

Population, 2010 202,667 9,535,483

Population, 2000 160,307 8,049,313

Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010 26.4% 18.5%

Population by Age, Gender, Race

Persons under 5 years 5.8% 6.6%

Persons under 18 years 19.9% 23.9%

Persons 65 years and over 13.9% 12.9%

Female persons 51.5% 51.3%

Male persons 48.5% 48.7%

White persons 79.1% 68.5%

African American persons 14.8% 21.5%

American Indian and Alaska Native persons 0.5% 1.3%

Asian persons 1.2% 2.2%

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.1%

Persons reporting two or more races 2.0% 2.2%

Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin 5.3% 8.4%

White persons not Hispanic 76.8% 65.3%

Education and Services (2005-2009)

High school graduates (age 25+) 89.1% 83.0%

Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) 35.5% 25.8%

Veterans 16,590 741,429

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37129.html

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In 2009, there were 6,736 private nonfarm establishments and 22,306 firms in New Hanover County. A total of 568 building permits were reported in New Hanover County.

5 U.S Census, State and County Quick Facts http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37129.html

Household and Income New Hanover County

North Carolina

Language other than English spoken at home (age 5+)

6.3% 9.6%

Foreign born persons, 2005-2009 4.3% 6.8%

Living in same house 1 year & over, 2005-2009 77.3% 82.7%

Housing units (2010) 101,436 4,327,528

Mean travel time to work (age 16+), 2005-2009 19.6 minutes 23.2 minutes

Households, 2005-2009 82,156 3,541,807

Homeownership rate, 2005-2009 61.5% 68.1%

Housing units in multi-unit structures, 2005-2009 27.4% 16.8%

Housing units in multi-unit structures, 2005-2009 27.4% 16.8%

Households, 2005-2009 82,156 3,541,807

Persons per household, 2005-2009 2.25 2.47

Persons below poverty level 2009 16.0% 16.2%

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2005-2009

$218,300 $143,700

Per capita money income in past 12 months (2009) 2005-2009 $29,148 $24,547

Median household income, 2009 $44,719 $43,754

Business QuickFacts 20095 New

Hanover County

North Carolina

Private nonfarm establishments, 2009 6,736 218,987

Private nonfarm employment, 2009 83,846 3,353,931

Private nonfarm employment percent change 2000-2009

8.3% -0.9%

Non-employer establishments, 2009 16,264 620,363

Total number of firms, 2007 22,306 798,791

Black-owned firms, percent, 2007 5.9% 10.5%

American Indian-Alaska Native owned firms, 2007 0.4% 1.0%

Asian-owned firms, 2007 1.4% 2.5%

Native Hawaiian-Other Pacific Islander owned firms, 2007 *F 0.1%

Hispanic-owned firms, 2007 *S 2.7%

Women-owned firms, 2007 26.6% 28.2%

Manufacturers’ shipments, 2007 ($1000) 2,883,612 205,867,299

Merchant wholesaler sales, 2007 ($1000) 1,410,140 88,795,885

Retail sales, 2007 ($1000) 3,825,475 114,578,173

Retail sales per capita, 2007 $20,126 $12,641

Accommodation/food services sales, 2007 ($1000) 525,548 16,126,939

Building permits, 2010 568 33,889

Federal spending, 2009 1,405,879 85,843,896

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37129.html

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County Health Rankings: Mobilizing Action Toward Community Health (MATCH)

In March of 2010, an online report (MATCH) was released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that ranked the overall health of the 100 counties in North Carolina by measuring how healthy people are and how long they live (A ranking of 1 is the best in NC). New Hanover County ranked 6th in the state for Health Outcomes

Health outcomes represent how healthy a county is and is based on an equal weighting of one length of life (mortality) measure and four quality of life (morbidity) measures. New Hanover County ranked 4th for Mortality and ranked 15th for Morbidity. New Hanover County ranked 7th in the state for Health Factors

Health factors represent what influences the health of a county. Four types of health factors were explored: clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment, and health behaviors. New Hanover County ranked 5th in the state for Clinical Care

Factors considered under Clinical Care were access to care and quality of care. New Hanover County ranked 17th in the state for Social and Economic Factors

Social and Economic Factors measured were education, employment, income, family and social support, and community safety. New Hanover County ranked 68th in Physical Environment

Factors measured under Physical Environment were environmental quality and built environment. New Hanover County ranked 7th in the state for Health Behaviors Areas Health Behaviors represent the percentage of adults who were smokers, obese, and reported binge drinking. It also included motor vehicle crash death rates, Chlamydia rates and teen birth rates.

Geography QuickFacts New Hanover County

North Carolina

Land area in square miles, 2010 191.53 48,617.91

Persons per square mile, 2010 1,058.1 196.1

**FIPS Code 129 37

Metropolitan or Metropolitan Statistical Area Wilmington, NC Metro Area *F: Fewer than 100 firms; S: Suppressed; does not meet publication standards **FIPS=Federal Information Processing Standard

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Population

Information from the American Community Survey, 2005-2009 is provided below. Age: In 2005-2009, New Hanover County had a total population of 189,000 with 52 percent (98,000) females and 48 percent (91,000) males. The majority of New Hanover County residents fell into the 25-44 age group with the median age of 36.9 years old.

Race: For people reporting one race alone, 80 percent were White, 16 percent were African American, less than 0.5 percent was American Indian and Alaska Native; One percent were Asian, less than 0.5 percent were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; and two percent were another race. There was only one percent who reported two or more races. Three percent of the people in New Hanover County reported as Hispanic, which left 78 percent of the people in New Hanover County as White non-Hispanic.

Nativity and Language: Four percent of the people living in New Hanover County in 2005-2009 were foreign born; 96 percent native, including 51 percent who were born in North Carolina. Among people at least five years old living in New Hanover County in 2005-2009, six percent spoke a language other than English at home. Of those speaking a language other than English at home, 57 percent spoke Spanish and 43 percent spoke some other language, and of those, 37 percent reported that they did not speak English "very well."

13%

25% 26%

14%

21%

65 and over 45 to 64 25 to 44 18 to 24 Under 18

The Age Distribution of People in New Hanover County in 2005-2009

(Percent of population)

80%

16% 0.50% 1% 0.50% 2%

White African American American Indian

and Alaska Native

Asian Native Hawaiian

and Other Pacific

Islander

Other race

The Race Distribution of People in New Hanover County in 2005-2009

(Percent of population)

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Households

Information from the American Community Survey, 2005-2009 is provided below. Households and Families: From 2005-2009, there were 82,000 households in New Hanover County. The average household size was 2.3 people.

Families made up 58 percent of the households in New Hanover County. This figure includes both married-couple families (44%) and other families (14%). Nonfamily households made up 42 percent of all households in New Hanover County. Most of the nonfamily households were people living alone, but some were composed of people living in households in which no one was related to the householder.

Housing Characteristics: In 2005-2009, New Hanover County had a total of 97,000 housing units, 16 percent of which were vacant. Of the total housing units, 68 percent were in single-unit structures, 27 percent were in multi-unit structures, and four percent were mobile homes. Forty-four percent of the housing units were built since 1990.

Occupied Housing Unit Characteristics: In 2005-2009, New Hanover County had 82,000 occupied housing units; 51,000 (61%) were owner occupied and 32,000 (39%) were renter occupied. Eleven percent of the households did not have telephone service and seven percent of the households did not have access to a car, truck, or van for private use. Multi vehicle households were not rare. Forty percent had two vehicles and another 18 percent had three or more.

Housing Costs: The median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,399, $420 for non-mortgaged owners, and $820 for renters. Thirty-seven percent of owners with mortgages, 13 percent of owners without mortgages, and 55 percent of renters in New Hanover County spent 30 percent or more of household income on housing.

Married-

couple

families

44% Other

families

14%

People

living alone

31%

Other

nonfamily

households

11%

Types of Families in New Hanover

County

(2005-2009)

$1,399

$820

Owners Renters

Median Monthly Housing Costs in

New Hanover County

(2005-2009)

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Income: The median income of households in New Hanover County was $47,644. Eighty-one percent of the households received earnings and 18 percent received retirement income other than Social Security. Twenty-seven percent of the households received Social Security. The average income from Social Security was $15,879. These income sources are not mutually exclusive, that is, some households received income from more than one source. Poverty and Participation in Government Programs: In 2005-2009, 15 percent of people were in poverty. Seventeen percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level, compared with seven percent of people 65 years old and over. Nine percent of all families and 33 percent of families with a female householder and no husband present, had incomes below the poverty level.

Employment

Information from the American Community Survey, 2005-2009 is provided below. Occupations and Type of Employer: Among the most common occupations in New Hanover County, 36 percent were management, professional, and related occupations; 27 percent were sales and office occupations; 20 percent were service occupations; nine percent were construction, extraction, maintenance, repair occupations, and production, transportation, and material moving occupations make up the remaining eight percent. Seventy-nine percent of the people employed were private wage and salary workers; 13 percent were federal, state, or local government workers; and eight percent were self-employed, not incorporated business workers.

7%

17%

9%

33%

People age 65 and over

Related children under 18 years

All families

Female householder families

Poverty in New Hanover County

(2005-2009)

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Travel to Work: Eighty-two percent of New Hanover County workers drove to work alone in 2005-2009, while 10 percent carpooled, one percent took public transportation, and four percent used other means. The remaining four percent worked at home. Among those who commuted to work, it took them on average about 20 minutes. 7Unemployment: In September 2011, New Hanover County’s unemployment rate was 9.5 percent with 9,760 people who were unemployed. Since June 2011, New Hanover County continues to have higher unemployment rates compared to the 2010 year. New Hanover County’s 2011 unemployment rate continues to remain below North Carolina’s rate. September 2011 unemployment rate for New Hanover County was 9.5 percent compared to the state’s rate of 10.0 percent.

6 https://edis.commerce.state.nc.us/docs/topEmployers/topEmp_37129.pdf

7 http://eslmi23.esc.state.nc.us/ncp/genInfo/labForce.aspx

10.9% 10.9% 10.4%

9.9% 9.8% 9.8% 9.6%

9.2% 8.8%

9.7% 9.5% 9.0% 9.1% 9.2%

10.1% 10.1% 10.2%

9.5%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

January February March April May June July August Sept

Unemployment Rates in New Hanover County

January 2010-August 2011

2010

2011

6New Hanover County Top 10 Employers: 4th Quarter 2010

Company Industry Employment

range

1. New Hanover Regional Medical Center Education & Health 1,000+

2. New Hanover County School System Education & Health 1,000+

3. University Of North Carolina Education & Health 1,000+

4. The Shaw Group Incorporated Construction 1,000+

5. County Of New Hanover Public Administration 1,000+

6. Cellco Partnership Information 1,000+

7. PPD Development Lp Professional & Business 1,000+

8. Wal-Mart Associates Incorporated Trade Transportation & Utilities 1,000+

9. Cape Fear Community College Education & Health 1,000+

10. Corning Incorporated Manufacturing 1,000+

https://edis.commerce.state.nc.us/docs/topEmployers/topEmp_37129.pdfhttp://eslmi23.esc.state.nc.us/ncp/genInfo/labForce.aspx

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New Hanover County: Unemployment Rate January 2010 through August 20118

Month Labor Force Employed Unemployed

Unemployment Rate

2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011 2010 2011

January 101,827 99,764 90,755 90,086 11,072 9,678 10.9% 9.7%

February 102,345 100,297 91,167 90,751 11,178 9,546 10.9% 9.5%

March 103,166 102,072 92,398 92,849 10,768 9,223 10.4% 9.0%

April 104,861 101,801 94,498 92,560 10,363 9,241 9.9% 9.1%

May 105,780 103,749 95,393 94,159 10,387 9,590 9.8% 9.2%

June 105,009 104,542 94,686 94,030 10,323 10,512 9.8% 10.1%

July 105,250 104,563 95,195 94,008 10,055 10,555 9.6% 10.1%

August 104,713 103,870 95,057 93,467 9,656 10,403 9.2% 10.2%

September 103,275 102,251 94,233 92,491 9,042 9,760 8.8% 9.5%

*October 102,857 -- 93,853 -- 9,004 -- 8.8% --

*November 102,099 -- 92,678 -- 9,421 -- 9.2% --

*December 100,834 -- 91,884 -- 8,950 -- 8.9% -- *Data is currently not available from source for October- December 2011

Intervention: The Department of Social Services provides economic assistance to New Hanover County citizens with basic subsistence needs and provides services to citizens with physical, social and emotional problems.

Industries

In 2005-2009, the top two leading industries for the employed population (16 years and older) in New Hanover County were the educational services, health care, and social assistance, (23%) and the arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services (14%).9 8 http://eslmi23.esc.state.nc.us/ncp/genInfo/labForce.aspx

9 American Community Survey, 2005-2009

0%

9%

7%

3%

12%

4%

3%

7%

11%

23%

14%

5%

3%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities

Information

Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and…

Professional, scientific, and management, and…

Educational services, and health care and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and…

Other Services, except public administration

Public administration

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Industries in New Hanover County

(2005-2009)

http://eslmi23.esc.state.nc.us/ncp/genInfo/labForce.aspx

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Biotech: New Hanover County has put itself on the Biotech map, becoming home to both large and small firms in the industry; among them, Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc. (PPD), Lek Pharmaceuticals, AAIPharma Services, and Corning Inc. PPD is a leading provider of discovery and development services, and products for pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms operating worldwide. Lek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is now part of Novartis, produces and markets a wide range of products that include over-the-counter medicines, cosmetics, animal care products, and medical devices. AAIPharma Services is a science-based, specialty pharmaceutical company with more than 23 years of drug development experience. In October 2011, PPD announced the merger agreement with The Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman. The transaction is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011. Following completion of the transaction, PPD will become a privately held company and its stock will no longer trade on Nasdaq.10 Furthermore, a branch of Corning Incorporated, the world leader in specialty glass and ceramics, is also a flourishing company in the Wilmington area.11

General Electric (GE) is a diversified company trying to solve the world’s toughest challenges through multiple sources. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.12

New Hanover County is home to several GE businesses which are located at GE’s Castle Hayne campus, including the global headquarters of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Global Nuclear Fuel Americas’ fuel fabrication plant and a GE aircraft engine services center.8 Currently, GE is one of the largest employers in the county. Film Industry: Since 1983, the Wilmington region has continued to be one of the most productive and cost-effective filmmaking destinations in the world. To date, the Wilmington area has hosted over 300 features, mini-series, movies of the week, and ten TV series along with numerous commercials and music videos. 13 Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill are among the more famous ones known. The most recent major motion picture filmed in the Wilmington area was Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, sequel to the 2008 Journey to the Center of the Earth. This film features famous actors such as Vanessa Hudgens, Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine. The expected release date is January of 2012. 14 10

http://investor.ppdi.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=610217 11

Corning, http://www.corning.com/about_us/index.aspx 12

http://www.ge.com/index.html 13

Wilmington Regional Film Commission, INC- http://www.wilmingtonfilm.com 14

The Internet Movie Database, http://www.imdb.com

http://investor.ppdi.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=610217http://www.corning.com/about_us/index.aspxhttp://www.ge.com/index.htmlhttp://www.wilmingtonfilm.com/http://www.imdb.com/

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Transportation

The transportation industry in New Hanover County consists of local and international travel through the regional airport, bus and taxi services, a North Carolina State Port, and a well-developed highway and rail system.

Wilmington International Airport: Serving southeastern North Carolina, Wilmington International Airport (ILM) is one of the most hospitable and progressive international airports in the Carolinas; This airport serves more than 3.4 million passengers each year. Since March of 2011, US Airways is offering nonstop service between Wilmington International Airport and Washington's Reagan National Airport and added nonstop flights to Chicago.15

North Carolina State Port in Wilmington: Wilmington is home to one of the two major state ports in North Carolina. Located on the east bank of the Cape Fear River, the port in Wilmington offers facilities to handle containerized, bulk and break bulk cargos. The Port of Wilmington is one of the few South Atlantic ports with readily available berths and storage areas for containers and cargo.16 The entire Wilmington Terminal is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone. The Port’s 42-foot channel allows current container vessel customers the additional vessel capacity. Home to readily available modern transit and warehouse facilities, state-of-the-art Panamax container cranes and support equipment, as well as the latest in cargo management technology, the Wilmington port provides a broad platform for supporting international trade to the fast-growing Southeast U.S. market.17

In May of 2010, The Journal of Commerce (JOC) ranked North Carolina ports as the top 25th overall container ports based in North America, as Top 16th in U.S imports and Top 18th among U.S. exports.18 Export volumes at NC’s ports increased 47.2 percent over fiscal year 2008-2009 while import volumes increased 26.3 percent over that same time period.19 The JOC characterized the Port of Wilmington as ‘perhaps the biggest success story’.20 The port has direct interstate access to Interstates 95 and 40 and daily train service from CSX and Norfolk Southern railways. The Secretary of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, announced that the department will serve as a partner with the federal government in a study of the Wilmington Port. The feasibility study, to be conducted by 15

Nonstop flights from Wilmington to D.C. to begin this spring, www.starnewsonline.com 16

Ports of Wilmington, www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htm 17

NC Ports Named Top 16 U.S. Container Port, www.ncports.com 18

Ports of Wilmington, www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htm 19

NC Ports Named Top 16 U.S. Container Port, www.ncports.com 20

NC Ports Named Top 16 U.S. Container Port, www.ncports.com

http://www.starnewsonline.com/http://www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htmhttp://www.ncports.com/http://www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htmhttp://www.ncports.com/http://www.ncports.com/

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the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will look at how the existing port could be upgraded and made more accessible to increased traffic and larger vessels.21 Freight Railways Two of the nation’s premiere rail companies serve this area. They are CSX Transportation Inc. and Norfolk Southern Railways. New Hanover County has north to south and east to west rail lines.

New Hanover County Roads: In New Hanover County, 94 percent of the population lives within 10 miles of a major four-lane highway. The inter-regional network of roads and highways in the region has ready access to North-South Interstate 95, U.S. Highway 421, East-West Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 17, and East-West Interstate 74/76. The region’s strategic location relative to domestic and international markets provides an important competitive advantage to industrial sector of the economy.6

Bus and Taxi

The Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority provides a variety of local public transportation options to the residents of the Cape Fear region, including the Wave Transit and Seahawk Shuttle buses on fixed routes, local shuttles and a free downtown trolley. All have schedules designed for convenience and easy accessibility. The Wave Transit also provides Para transit services for disabled individuals and has a taxi voucher program in place for visually impaired citizens. A trip planner is available at www.wavetransit.com.22 Greyhound is the one inter-city bus line that operates daily, involving several departures. Several taxicab companies provide service to the Greater Wilmington Area.

21

Ports of Wilmington, www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htm 22

http://www.wilmingtonchamber.org/highwaysystem.html

http://www.wavetransit.com/http://www.ncports.com/port_of_wilmington.htmhttp://www.wilmingtonchamber.org/highwaysystem.html

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Education

New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) is the 12th largest school system in North Carolina and estimated to be the 311th largest in the United States.23

It is comprised of over 4,000 faculty staff members, over 24,000 students, and 333 National Board Certified teachers.

New Hanover County Public Schools is the main source of elementary and secondary education in the county, with three Title I Pre-K Centers, 25 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and five high schools.24 There are 14 private schools in New Hanover County. 25 Also, many colleges are located in the Wilmington region,

which include The University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), Cape Fear Community College, Miller-Motte Technical College, Mount Olive College, The College of Wilmington, and David’s Hair School. All of these offer continuing education programs and provide a great outlet for a successful future. From 2005 to 2009, 89 percent of people 25 years and over in New Hanover County had graduated from high school and 36 percent had a bachelor's degree or higher. Eleven percent of people ages 25 and older do not have a high school diploma in New Hanover County. New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) Annual Report According to the 2010-2011 New Hanover County Schools Annual Report, there are 463 students enrolled in Pre-K Centers, 11,567 in elementary schools, 5,352 in middle schools, 7,008 in high schools, and 415 enrolled in early colleges.26

In 2010-2011, the calculated expenditures per student, in New Hanover County, K-12, was $8,427 which has been an increase since 2009-2010, however, continues to be lower than the expenditures per student from the 2007-2008 school year.

27Per Student Expenditures (Currency) by New Hanover County District

2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

Total $7,640 $8,330 $8,926 $8,740 $8,343 $8,427

23

www.nhcs.k12.nc.us 24

www.nhcs.k12.nc.us 25

http://www.wilmingtonchamber.org/schools_privateprek_12_.html 26

http://nhcsannualreport.com/ 27

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/

2010-2011

Student Diversity Number Percent

White 15,469 63.5%

Black 5,612 23.1%

Hispanic 1,590 6.5%

American Indian 111 0.5%

Asian 438 1.8%

Multi-Racial 1,124 4.6%

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=new+hanover+county+schools+in+NC&view=detail&id=4201958C0F8324578A975A6025A3A6F77D4E3290&first=0&FORM=IDFRIRhttp://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Rankings.aspx?state=NC&ind=2271&dtm=4746http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/http://www.wilmingtonchamber.org/schools_privateprek_12_.htmlhttp://nhcsannualreport.com/http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/

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Since the 2005 -2006 NHCS Annual Report, the NHCS district has seen an increase in the average number of students enrolled in Kindergarten, Grades 1, 4 and 5. New Hanover County school district is reporting the same or a higher average of students enrolled in class K-Grade 8 when compared to the state.

28Average Class Size in New Hanover County 2005-06 compared to 2010-11 The average number of students enrolled in "typical" Kindergarten-Grade 8 classrooms

‘05-‘06 Kindergarten Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

District 19 20 20 20 20 19 24 24 24

State 19 19 19 19 21 21 21 21 20

‘10-‘11 Kindergarten Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

Grade 6

Grade 7

Grade 8

District 21 21 20 20 22 22 24 23 24

State 19 20 19 20 21 21 22 21 21 * Legislation mandates that class sizes for grades 4-12 are not restricted for 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Dropout Rates

As of 2009-2010, New Hanover County’s dropout rate among grades 7-13 is 3.40 compared to the 4.04 rate from 2006-2007. Even though the 2009-2010 rate is lower, there is a rate increase from the 2008-2009 rate of 3.10. Since 2006, New Hanover County continues to have a higher dropout rate compared to the state.

30Intervention: New Hanover County is the first area of the state to experiment with a new dropout recovery program. This is a nontraditional program for kids who have already dropped out. Once completing the program, the student will receive a high school diploma from New Hanover County Schools. 28

http://www.ncreportcards.org/ 29

http://dpi.state.nc.us/docs/research/dropout/reports/2009-10/713countsrates.pdf 30

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110628/ARTICLES/110629691?p=2&tc=pg

New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) 29Grades 7-13, Dropout Counts and Rates

Year NHCS Number of Students

NHCS Rate

North Carolina Rate

2005-06 309 2.72 3.46

2006-07 464 4.04 3.63

2007-08 422 3.70 3.43

2008-09 350 3.10 2.93

2009-10 386 3.40 2.55

http://www.ncreportcards.org/http://dpi.state.nc.us/docs/research/dropout/reports/2009-10/713countsrates.pdfhttp://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110628/ARTICLES/110629691?p=2&tc=pg

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31New Hanover County School Report Card According to the data from the NC School Report Cards, New Hanover County has seen a decrease among the percentage of students’ reading scores that are at or above the grade level for grades 3 through 8 when comparing the 2006-2007 to 2010-2011 school years. There was an increase among the percentage of math scores among New Hanover County students.

The percentage of students scores at or above the grade level for math and reading in New Hanover County are higher the state’s percentages.

32Performance of Students in Each Grade on the ABCs End-of-Grade Tests: 2010-2011 (Percentage of students' scores at or above grade level)

Reading

2010-11 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Overall

District 71.7% 73.3% 75.3% 78.1% 74.8% 77.3% 75.0%

State 67.6% 71.6% 72.3% 75.1% 67.8% 69.8% 70.7%

Math

2010-11 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Overall

District 84.7% 84.5% 83.7% 83.7% 84.6% 89.2% 85.0%

State 82.1% 83.8% 82.0% 80.7% 81.1% 84.4% 82.4%

31

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/ 32

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

Grade 3 Grade4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Overall

2006-2007 85.2% 89.0% 91.9% 84.8% 89.6% 90.0% 88.4%

2010-2011 71.7% 73.3% 75.3% 78.1% 74.8% 77.3% 75.0%

85.2% 89.0% 91.9%

84.8% 89.6% 90.0% 88.4%

71.7% 73.3% 75.3% 78.1% 74.8% 77.3% 75.0%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

New Hanover County District Overall Student Performance: Reading

Grade 3 Grade4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Overall

2006-2007 72.8% 72.9% 74.8% 70.4% 67.1% 69.3% 71.2%

2010-2011 84.7% 84.5% 83.7% 83.7% 84.6% 89.2% 85.0%

72.8% 72.9% 74.8% 70.4% 67.1% 69.3% 71.2% 84.7% 84.5% 83.7% 83.7% 84.6% 89.2% 85.0%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

New Hanover County District Overall Student Performance: Math

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

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Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Cohort Graduation Rate This reflects the cohort percentage of students who graduated with a regular diploma in four years or less (the four-year Cohort Graduation Rate) or for schools with a five-year program; it reflects the five-year graduation rate.

Since 2006-2007, New Hanover County continues to see an increase among those who graduated, with the current rate of 73.9 percent. However, New Hanover County’s district graduation rate remains lower than the state. From 2009-2011, New Hanover County District saw an increase among graduation rates, greatest among the Hispanic student population.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Scores: The percentage of high school seniors that took the SAT and their combined total scores (critical reading and mathematics sections) are reported annually on the New Hanover County School Report Card. Since 2006, New Hanover County has seen an average participation rate of 64 percent, which is lower than the state’s average but higher than the national average. .

33

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/ 34

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/ 35

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

33AYP Cohort Graduation Rate

School Year District Rate State Rate

2006-2007 64.0% 69.5%

2007-2008 63.6% 70.3%

2008-2009 65.5% 71.7%

2009-2010 70.9% 74.2%

2010-2011 73.9% 77.9%

34AYP Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group New Hanover County–District 2009-2011

District All White Black Hispanic 2010-2011 73.9% 80.3% 62.3% 62.0% 2009-2010 70.9% 77.9% 56.1% 50.0%

Percent Change between years 3.0% 2.4% 6.2% 12.0%

35SAT Scores (reading and math only)

District Rate State Rate Nation

School Year *Rate **SAT Score *Rate **SAT Score

*Rate **SAT Score

2006-2007 71% 1,017 71% 1,004 48% 1,017

2007-2008 63% 1,029 63% 1,007 45% 1,017

2008-2009 54% 1,038 63% 1,006 46% 1,016

2009-2010 66% 1,030 67% 1,001 50% 1,011

2010-2011 66% 1,030 67% 1,001 50% 1,011

Average 64% 1,029 66.2% 1,004 47.8% 1,014 *Participation Rate (%); **Average Total SAT Score (writing portion not included)

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

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36School Performance: Each year, schools in North Carolina may receive several designations based on their performance on the state's ABCs tests. Those designations are awarded on the basis of the percentage of students performing at grade level and on whether students have learned as much as they are expected to learn in one year.

Percent of Schools Performance 2010-2011: New Hanover County (District)

Designation Performance Elementary Middle High School

District State District State District State

Honor Schools of Excellence

At least 90% of students at grade level & the school made expected growth or more & adequate yearly progress (AYP)

24% 8% 0% 4% 14% 14%

High Growth School made expected growth & at least 60% of the students achieved their growth expectations

36% 42% 75% 42% 29% 43%

Expected Growth

School made expected growth 40% 39% 25% 50% 29% 32%

Schools of Excellence

At least 90% of students at grade level & school made expected growth or more

0% 1% 0% 4% 0% 2%

Schools of Distinction

80 to 89% of students at grade level & school made expected growth or more

12% 28% 63% 29% 29% 29%

Schools of Progress

At least 60 to 79% of students at grade level & school made expected growth or more

36% 38% 38% 46% 14% 27%

No Recognition 60 to 100% of students at grade level, but school did not make expected growth

20% 15% 0% 6% 43% 24%

Priority Schools 50 to 59% of students at grade level or less than 50% of students at grade level but school made expected growth

8% 11% 0% 10% 0% 3%

Low Performing Less than 50% of students at grade level & school did not make expected growth

0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%

Annie E. Casey Foundation-Kids Count Data Center: New Hanover County Child Profile

For the past 21 years, the KIDS COUNT project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation has tracked the well-being of children at the national, state, and local levels. Below are highlights from the New Hanover County Profile.

School Daily: There was an average of 23,722 students in the New Hanover County school system, on any given day in 2009-2010.

Free and Reduced Lunch: In 2009-2010, 44.3% of students were enrolled in free and reduced lunch in New Hanover County.

36

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

http://www.ncreportcards.org/src/

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New Hanover County KIDS COUNT 2010 Profile

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

Average Daily Membership: Total (Number) 23,848 23,781 23,757 23,825 23,722

Percent of Students enrolled in Free and Reduced Lunch (Percent) 43.0% 43.4% 41.2% 43.9% 44.3%

Crime in New Hanover County Schools When comparing the acts of crime that happened during the 2007-2008 to the 2009-2010 school year, New Hanover County schools saw an increase among possession of controlled substances, possession of a weapon, burning of school building and assault involving the use of a weapon.

Juvenile Delinquency: In 2010, there were 703 delinquent complaints (ages 6-15 years old) received by court services offices. New Hanover County’s juvenile delinquency rate decreased from 57.26 per 1,000 in 2006 to 34.51 per 1,000 in 2010. New Hanover County KIDS COUNT 2010 Profile 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Juvenile Delinquency (Rate per 1,000) 57.26 45.10 37.04 38.31 34.51

Juvenile Delinquency (Number) 1,212 956 803 848 703

Juvenile Detention Admissions (Number) 186 138 101 83 96

Juveniles Detained (Number) 137 91 68 63 71

37

http://dpi.state.nc.us/research/dropout/reports/

37Total number of Crime Acts in New Hanover County

Acts 2007-2008 2009-2010

Assault resulting in serious injury 1 0

Assault involving use of a weapon 0 1

Assault on school personnel 17 3

Bomb Threat 1 0

Burning of school building 0 1

Possession of alcoholic beverage 14 13

Possession of controlled substance 61 101

Possession of a weapon 58 68

Robbery with a dangerous weapon 0 1

Robbery without a dangerous weapon 1 1

Sexual Assault 2 1 Sexual Offense 0 1

Total acts committed 155 191

Total # of acts per 1,000 students 6.524 8.052

http://dpi.state.nc.us/research/dropout/reports/

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Interventions: Safe and Drug Free Schools in New Hanover County Schools promotes a safe and orderly environment that supports positive youth development through the provision of Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Services. New Hanover County Blue Ribbon Commission on the Prevention of Youth Violence The Youth Enrichment Zone (YEZ) is a project modeled after the Harlem Children’s Zone. The goal is to transform communities’ one area at a time by identifying, coordinating and making community resources available to reduce youth violence in high risk areas of violence and crime. Youth Enrichment Zone specialist go door to door and help build relationships with families, help connect them to necessary resources, and serve as a family/school advocate in local schools. Dreams Center for Arts Education offers arts programs free of charge to economically deprived students. Youth Development Specialists (YDS) provide direct substance abuse/violence prevention services to NHCS students in each traditional high school through a variety of activities. YDS often serve as club advisors for a variety of peer-led prevention initiatives such as SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere), Teens Against Tobacco Use, and Peer Mediation. Gang Resistance and Education Training (GREAT) is a program where the New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputies educate NHCS middle school students about the dangers of gangs using thirteen, 45 minute sessions with topics including gang awareness, anger management, and resisting peer pressure. 38In the News: 646 homeless students in New Hanover County

According to the local news source, WECT6, in 2010, there were 646 children and youth identified as homeless in New Hanover County's public school system. In prior years, the total has been around 400. A federal law called the McKinney-Vento Act mandates that the school district provide supportive services to homeless students.

Intervention: In addition to the district support, New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) provides a free or reduced lunch to students and the school district's program called Project Reach Out where social workers work closely with local agencies like the local homeless shelter, Good Shepherd, to provide services that will enable the students to attend and succeed in school. 38

http://www.wect.tv/story/14557185/646-homeless-students-in-new-hanover-county

http://www.wect.tv/story/14557185/646-homeless-students-in-new-hanover-county

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Health Insurance and Access to Care

In 2009, New Hanover County had a total of 1,537 physicians, with the majority of them as specialty and primary care physicians. In addition, New Hanover County reported 2,671 registered nurses. New Hanover County reported 141 dentists and 149 dental hygienists.

2009 ACTIVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

New Hanover County

Physicians

Non-Federal Physicians 644

Primary Care Physicians 249

Family Practice 60

General Practice 4

Internal Medicine 105

Obstetrics/Gynecology 38

Pediatrics 42

Other Specialties 395

Nurses

Registered Nurses 2,671

Nurse Practitioners 122

Certified Nurse Midwives 4

Licensed Practical Nurses 542

Dentists and Dental Hygienists

Dentists 141

Dental Hygienists 149

Other Health Care

Chiropractors 57

Occupational Therapists 88

Occupational Therapy Assistants 53

Optometrists 35

Pharmacists 214

Physical Therapists 189

Physical Therapy Assistants 55

Podiatrists 11

Practicing Psychologists 73

Psychological Associates 55

Respiratory Therapists 111

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39Uninsured Estimate from North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) From 2007 to 2009, North Carolina’s unemployment increased from 4.7 percent to 9.7 percent which was one of the highest increases seen in the country. As a result, North Carolina also saw an increase among those (non-elderly) uninsured. According to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM) this increase in numbers of those uninsured was the fourth largest in the country, trailing only California, Texas, and Florida; making North Carolina the state with the largest percentage increase from 2007-2009 in the country.

States with the Five Largest Percentage Increases and Absolute Increases in Number Uninsured 2007-2009

State Percent of Growth in Uninsured

State Growth in Number of Uninsured

[Thousands]

North Carolina 22.5 California 890 Rhode Island 22.3 Texas 551

Indiana 22.0 Florida 506 Nevada 21.0 North Carolina 322 Michigan 20.2 Georgia 285

United States 13.7 United States 6,263

From 2007-2009, there was an increase seen in New Hanover County among those who are uninsured, particular among those aged 19-64.

40North Carolina County-Level Estimates of Non-Elderly Uninsured

New Hanover County

Year Children (0-18) Adult (19-64) Total (0-64)

Number % Rank Number % Rank Number % Rank

2006-07 5,000 9.8% Low 26,000 21.5% Mid-Low 30,000 18.1% Low

2008-09 4,448 10.1% Low 29,794 24.0% Mid-High 34,242 20.4% Mid-High

North Carolina

2006-07 345,000 11.3% --- 1,232,000 19.5% --- 1,578,000 19.5% ---

2008-09 282,000 11.5% --- 1,326,000 23.2% --- 1,608,000 19.7% ---

39

http://www.nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DS_2009-01_UninUnemp.pdf 40

http://nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/County-Level_Estimates_08-09.pdf

http://www.nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DS_2009-01_UninUnemp.pdfhttp://nciom.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/County-Level_Estimates_08-09.pdf

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41Snapshots for NC Medicaid Services The information provided below is data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services-North Carolina Division of Medical Assistance. In June of 2010, New Hanover County had 14.9 percent of those eligible for assistance dually enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare. This was a slightly higher percent when compared to the state’s 14.5 percent. When comparing the ratio of primary care providers per 100,000 population, New Hanover had 12.8 while North Carolina reported 9.2. Year Statistics County State

June 2010

Percent of eligible dually enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare 14.9% 14.5%

CY 2009

Ratio of Primary Care Providers per 10,000 population 12.8 9.2

*Calendar Year (CY)

In June of 2010, 26,590 residents in New Hanover County made up the total Medicaid population, which equals about 13 percent of the total population. This was an increase from the 22,705 total (12%) from 2007. Of those enrolled in 2010, 6,701 were 0-5 years, 3,877 were 6-11 years, and 5,337 were 12-20 years old. The 12-20 year old group saw the biggest increase from 2007.

41

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/countyreports/index.htm

5,900

3,285

3,866

6,701

3,877

5,337

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

0-5 years 6-11 years 12-20 years

En

roll

ed i

n M

edic

aid

Medicaid Eligibles by Age in New Hanover County

2007-2010

2007

2010

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/countyreports/index.htm

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Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): Health Insurance Coverage In 2009, New Hanover County reported 22.9 percent of adults under age 65 do not have any type of health insurance. In addition, 18.3 percent of adults who needed to see a doctor in the past 12 months could not because of cost.

Interventions: Cape Fear Health Net coordinates health care access for the low-income and uninsured in New Hanover and Brunswick counties to the Episodic Care Clinic, patient navigation services and patient advocacy/case management. The Good Shepherd Homeless Shelter Medical Clinic served 328 patients with 1,382 medical visits in fiscal year 2010-2011. The clinic staff managed to prevent 58 hospital emergency room visits for medical conditions that did not warrant the need for emergency care. There were 80 laboratory and diagnostic tests performed and a total of 589 prescriptions filled for the homeless. In addition, a multi-disciplinary team from the health department implemented a weekly educational program providing health education to the homeless clients of Good Shepherd.

15.4

18.3

16.0 17.1

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

2006 2009

BRFSS: Health Care Access

(Percentage of adults who needed to see a Doctor in the past 12

months and could not due to cost)

New Hanover

County

North Carolina

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Substance Abuse, Disability and Mental Health

Substance abuse, disability status and mental health not only affect the health of an individual, it affects the overall health of the community.

Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse is the harmful use of any substance for mood altering purposes which can lead to serious problems. These problems can affect performance at school, work or home, relationships begin to suffer and individuals abusing substances often have trouble with the law.42 Substance abuse is not simply drug abuse. It can include the use in inhalants, solvents, alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes. Youth Risk Behavior Survey-Eastern Region results: Other Drug Use In the spring of every odd numbered year, North Carolina Healthy Schools implements a statewide Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The NC YRBS helps assess behaviors in youth that impact their health now and in the future. This data represents the Eastern Region in North Carolina from 2007-2009. New Hanover County falls under the Eastern Region. According to the YRBS results, middle school students have seen a decrease in using any forms of cocaine and using glue, aerosol, or paint to get high since 2005.

42

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/services/consumerfactsheets/SACFS.pdf

4.4

14.7

2.5

11.8

2.0

11.2

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Students who used any form of cocaine

(powder, crack or freebase)

Students who sniffed glue, breathed aerosol

spray, or inhaled paint/spray to get high

YRBS Eastern Region: Other Drug Use

(Percentage of Middle School Students)

2005 2007 2009

http://www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/services/consumerfactsheets/SACFS.pdf

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As of 2009, high school students also saw a decrease among other drug use risk behaviors. According to the YRBS, sniffing glue, breathing aerosol spray, or inhaling paint or spray to get high remains the leading substance abuse behaviors among middle and high school students in the North Carolina Eastern Region.

43New Hanover County Sheriff’s Vice and Narcotics Report The table below provides a comparison of the 2007 and 2010 Vice and Narcotics report from the New Hanover County Sheriff’s office. Significant increases are seen among Mushrooms, Hash, Pharmaceuticals, Marijuana plants, and Ecstasy when comparing these reports. Type of Seizure 2007 2010 Units

Cocaine Powder 7,151.71 7,153.31 Grams

Crack Cocaine 1,976.79 176.06 Grams

Marijuana 129,968.19 152,463.24 Grams

Methamphetamine --------------- 6.5 Grams

Mushrooms 402.00 5,971.70 Grams

Hash 3.60 1,794.30 Grams

Heroin 8,610.50 4,303 Bags

Pharmaceuticals 737 3,749 Pills

Marijuana Plants 83 391 Plants

LSD -------------- 178 D. U.

Ecstasy 50 641 D. U.

43

http://www.newhanoversheriff.com/ViceNarcotics.html

5.6

1.2

3.8 3.8

10.4

6.6

2.5

4.4 6.0

14.1

4.9

2.1 3.5

4.3

12.6

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Students who used

any form of cocaine

(powder, crack or

freebase)

Students who used

heroin

Students who used

methamphetamines

Students who used

ecsatsy

Students who sniffed

glue, breathed aerosol

spray, or inhaled

paint/spray to get

high

YRBS Eastern Region: Other Drug Use

(Percentage of High School Students

who used one or more during their life)

2005 2007 2009

http://www.newhanoversheriff.com/ViceNarcotics.html

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44In the News: Wilmington one of top ten drunkest cities in America According to Mainstreet.com, Wilmington is ranked the tenth drunkest city in America. A total of 180 metropolitan areas across the country were analyzed, and the cities were ranked according to the percentage of residents who admitted to heavy drinking and binge drinking.

Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): Alcohol Consumption Since 2007, New Hanover County continues to remains above the state in percentage of binge drinking and continues to remain higher in those who heavy drink.

45BRFSS: Alcohol Consumption (Percentage of adults) 2005-2010

*Binge Drinking 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

New Hanover County 11.4 10.4 18.2 15.7 24.1 16.4

North Carolina 10.5 11.2 12.3 12.9 12.8 11.0

**Heavy Drinking 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

New Hanover County 4.7 4.0 11.0 4.8 8.9 6.4

North Carolina 2.9 3.4 3.8 3.9 4.4 3.5

* Five or more drinks on one or more occasions in the past month ** More than 2 drinks/day for males or more than 1 drink/day for females

44

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2011/03/21/wilmington-one-top-ten-drunkest-cities-america 45

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/SCHS/brfss/

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

BRFSS: Binge and Heavy Drinking

2005-2010

NHC-Binge Drinking NC-Binge NHC-Heavy Drinking NC-Heavy Drinking

Top 10 drunkest cities in America

1. Hilo, Hawaii

2. Kapaa, Hawaii

3. Fargo, North Dakota

4. Butte-Silver Bow, Montana

5. Bozeman, Montana

6. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

7. Bridgeport- Stamford, Connecticut

8. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

9. San Francisco, California

10. Wilmington, North Carolina

http://www.wwaytv3.com/2011/03/21/wilmington-one-top-ten-drunkest-cities-americahttp://www.epi.state.nc.us/SCHS/brfss/

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Interventions: Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. accepts referrals for NHCS students who are first-time violators of the NHC Board of Education Policies (8410) concerning substance (alcohol and other drugs) use, involve an interview to determine appropriate substance abuse services in lieu of a long-term suspension. Youth Development Specialists (YDS) provide direct substance abuse/violence prevention services to NHCS students in each traditional high school through a variety of activities. YDS often serve as club advisors for a variety of peer-led prevention initiatives such as SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere), Teens Against Tobacco Use and Peer Mediation. University of North Carolina –Wilmington (UNCW) CROSSROADS High School Drug Prevention Program provides high school students and staff with a highly interactive, evidence-based approach to preventing drug use. Cape Fear Coalition for a Drug Free Tomorrow’s goal is to reduce alcohol and substance abuse by youth in New Hanover County, NC. Operation Medicine Drop Events offer locations for residents to dispose old medications in a safe, environmental-friendly way.

Disability

A disability can be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, and developmental or a combination of them. There has been an increase since 2006 among those adults with disabilities in New Hanover County. Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): Disability According to the American Community Survey in 2009, there was estimated 12,152 people, ages 18-64, living with a disability in New Hanover County (NHC).

27.4

31.7 32.6 31.1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

NHC NC

BRFSS: Disabilities

(Percentage of adutls)

2006

2009

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Mental Health

According to the New Hanover County Southeastern Center for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services Annual Report for 2009/2010, approximately 9,438 New Hanover Residents received a behavioral health service. There were 6,837 calls received from New Hanover County residents by the Call Center, which is staffed 24 hours with licensed clinicians.

Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): Mental Health

46BRFSS: Mental Health (percentage of adults) 2010

How many days during the past 30 days was your *mental health not good?

3-7 days 8-29 days 30 days

New Hanover County 10.7 10.5 8.7

North Carolina 9.2 8.1 5.9

*mental health which includes stress, depression, and problems with emotions

As of 2010, New Hanover County reported a higher percentage compared to the state of adults who reported bad mental health days. When compared to the 2006 BRFSS results, New Hanover County has seen an increase among those adults reporting 3-7 days, 8-29 days or all 30 of the past 30 days, that their mental health was not good. 46

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/SCHS/brfss/

7.5

9.3

4.1

10.2

5.0 4.5

10.7 10.5

8.7

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

3-7 days 8-29 days 30 days

New Hanover County

BRFSS: Mental Health (Percentage of adults with bad mental health days during the past 30 days)

2006 2008 2010

http://www.epi.state.nc.us/SCHS/brfss/http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoS7wkbpOSR4AatyJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=mental+health&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-471&fr2=tab-web&b=1&tab=organic&w=500&h=375&imgurl=choicelifestyles.net/assets/assets/mental_health3.jpg&rurl=http://choicelifestyles.net/page/mental-health/6/&size=15.8+KB&name=Mental+Health+Services+|+Choice+Lifestyles&p=mental+health&oid=f5806612fd427c7ddc7d77b3e0a8b926&fr2=tab-web&fr=yfp-t-471&tt=Mental+Health+Services+|+Choice+Lifestyles&b=0&ni=28&no=23&tab=organic&ts=&sigr=11ht8jg73&sigb=13errmrsf&sigi=11la1vlms&.crumb=kcsnSlC6Jj0

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Interventions: Southeastern Center (SEC) is the Local Management Entity (LME) for Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties, managing mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance services for the region’s residents. Its mission is to make available to individuals and families with, or at risk of, mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse issues, the necessary prevention, intervention, treatment services and the supports they need to live successfully in our community. Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. promotes choices for healthier lives and safer communities by providing professional assistance to those in need of prevention, crisis intervention, criminal justice alternatives, community outreach, substance abuse and mental health.

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Crime and Violence

According to the North Carolina Department of Justice, from 2005-2008, the crime rates have all decreased in North Carolina and New Hanover County. In 2009, New Hanover County saw an increase in the crime rates, and then a decreased in 2010. New Hanover County continues to remain above the state rates for Crime, Violent Crime and Property Crime.

Statewide Crime Index Rate per 100,000 Persons47

*Crime Index Rate **Violent Crime Rate ***Property Crime Rate

North Carolina 2005 4,617.90 478.1 4139.70 2006 4,649.80 483.0 4,166.80 2007 4,658.90 480.2 4,178.70 2008 4,554.60 474.2 4,080.40 2009 4,191.20 417.1 3,774.10

2010 3,955.70 374.4 3,581.40

New Hanover County

2005 6,445.10 633.2 5,811.90

2006 6,157.70 636.8 5,520.90

2007 5,710.90 579.0 5,132.00

2008 5,171.60 520.7 4,650.90

2009 5,701.60 543.6 5,158.00

2010 5,228.20 473.4 4,754.90 *Crime Index rate includes the total number of murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies, and motor vehicle thefts. While arson is considered an Index Crime, the number of arsons is not included in the Crime Index tables. ** Violent Crime includes the offenses of murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as defined below *** Property Crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

Domestic Violence Homicides From 2008-2010, there have been two domestic violence related homicides reported annually in New Hanover County.

Intervention: Domestic Violence Shelter & Service, Inc. offers temporary residential services, emergency shelter and direct and support services for victims of abuse and their children. Direct services include: crisis intervention, court advocacy, peer support, referral and advocacy, provision of necessities and support groups for women and children. Education and awareness programs are provided and the Domestic Violence Shelter & Service participants the community outreach events. 47

www.ncdoj.com

Number of Domestic Violence Related Homicides 2008 - 2010

2008 2009 2010

New Hanover County 2 2 2

http://www.ncdoj.com/

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Mother and Baby

Maternal health is an important predictor of newborn health and well-being, and addressing women’s health is essential to improving birth outcomes. Many factors affect women’s health, including individual health behaviors, access to appropriate care, and socioeconomic factors. Focusing on the health of a woman before and during her pregnancy is essential to the reduction of poor birth outcomes such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and infant death.

Pregnancies and Live Births

New Hanover County had a total of 12,104 births from 2005-2009, which is an increase from the 10,709 total from 2001-2005. In 2009 alone, New Hanover County had 2,347 total births, with approximately 78 percent (1,825 births) of the births reported to be white and 22 percent (522 births) reported minority. In 2009, the total age group of mothers with the highest reported births (642 births) was 25-29 year olds. However, when compared by race, the highest reported births (548 births) for whites was seen among 30-34 year-olds and (211 births) for minorities from 20-24 year-olds.

From 2005-2007, there was an increase of total births in New Hanover County until 2008, when the number of births s