DARE COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT Volume One: Demographic, Socioeconomic and Health Data Community Survey Stakeholder Interviews Issues Prioritization November, 2010 Acknowledgements This report is the culmination of a year’s effort by the members of Healthy Carolinians of the Outer Banks, whose dedicated focus on and support for the health and well-being of the citizens of Dare County is indeed remarkable: Skeeter Sawyer (Chair), Dare County Emergency Medical Services Brandi Rheubottom (Vice-Chair), Dare County Older Adult Services Sheila Davies (Treasurer), Dare County Department of Public Health Anne Thomas, Dare County Department of Public Health Laura Willingham (Coordinator), Dare County Department of Public Health Amanda McDanel, Dare County Center, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Bonnie Drewry, Dare County Department of Social Services Chris Kelley, Outer Banks Relief Foundation Chuck Poe, Outer Banks Community Development Corporation Ellie Ward, Dare Home Health and Hospice Gail Hutchison, Outer Banks Hotline Gail Sonnesso, Gem Day Services Ginger Candeloria, Interfaith Community Outreach, Inc. Janet Jarrett, Albemarle Health Jay Burrus, Dare County Department of Social Services Jo Ann Hummers, Professional Counseling Services John Bone, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce Katie Burgus, Outer Banks Family YMCA Loretta Michael, Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County Mandy Earnest, Dare County Department of Public Health Mary Betse Kelly, Outer Banks Hospital Sandy Brookshire, Dare County Department of Social Services Sue Burgess, Dare County Schools Van Smith, Outer Banks Hospital 2 Dare County Community Health Assessment – Volume One Table of Contents Table of Contents Acknowledgements . 2 Introduction . 8 Assessment Methodology . 9 Chapter One: Demographic and Socioeconomic Data . 11 Location and Geography . 12 History . 14 Population Characteristics . 19 General Population Characteristics . 19 Race and Ethnicity . 22 Age and Gender . 24 Households . 26 Older Adults . 27 Non-English Speaking Population . 32 Other Special Populations . 34 Government and Civic Participation . 36 Government . 36 Civic Engagement . 38 Electoral Process . 38 Religious Life . 39 Voluntary Participation in Community Organizations . 40 Economic Climate . 45 Income . 45 Dare County Revenue Indicators . 46 Tier Designation . 46 Employment . 47 Unemployment . 52 Seasonal Employment and Unemployment . 53 Business Closings and Layoffs . 54 3 Dare County Community Health Assessment – Volume One Table of Contents Poverty . 55 Poverty and Race . 56 Poverty and Age . 57 Economic Services Utilization . 59 Housing . 60 Affordable Housing . 61 Children and Families . 62 Single-Parent Families . 63 Family Services Utilization . 64 Child Care . 65 Child Care Facilities . 65 Child Care Enrollment . 67 Subsidized Child Care . 67 Education . 68 Schools and School Enrollment . 68 Institutions of Higher Education . 68 Primary and Secondary Education . 68 Educational Attainment and Investment . 70 High School Dropout Rate . 71 Crime and Violence in Schools . ..