What We've Done
- 1999: Partnered with the United Way to complete the 2000 Community Needs Assessment.
- 1999: Established a Dental Task Force, an organized effort among dentists and other community partners to address the issue of access to dental care. Within two years, over 2,000 children were provided dental exams and fluoride varnish through the generous support of donated care from 22 local dentists.
- 2001: Development of the Community Care Plan, a partnership between public, private, and non-profit health providers to provide donated healthcare for almost 9,000 uninsured residents in the span of four years. Cabarrus received $2.5 million in federal funding to initiate this program.
- 2001: Approximately 400 low-income children receive NC Health Choice Insurance due to premiums paid by $19,000 in donations sought by Healthy Cabarrus. Created a 24-hour teen telephone health hotline called Teen Talk.
- 2003: Coordinated a local system and provided $205,000 worth of prescription medications in response to the needs of displaced Pillowtex workers.
- 2003: Successfully sought $353,000 in grant funding to support the establishment of comprehensive dental services for nursing home residents and special needs populations in Cabarrus and neighboring counties.
- 2003: Give Kids a Smile established in Cabarrus County with the goal of garnering donated dental care (free dental cleanings) for uninsured children.
- 2003: Partnered with the United Way to complete the 2004 Community Needs Assessment.
- 2004: Advocated for the transportation needs of the underserved. Established and disseminated a Transportation Position Statement. Provided technical assistance in grant writing to support the development of a public transit program, CK Rider.
- 2005: A local 24-hour ACCESS/Crisis Line was created (800-939-5911 and remains in operation through Cardinal Innovations. A Crisis Recovery Center was established for the community. In addition, a two-year pilot project began to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of depression for patients in primary care offices.
- 2005: Established Men for Living, a volunteer advocate group of over 40 African American men to promote prostate cancer screening and provide educational trainings, including awareness breakfasts and barber shop outreach.
- 2006: Increased the number of pediatric dentists in Cabarrus County from 0 to 2. Established dental services in the hospital operation room to provide specialized dental treatment for low-income children, the elderly, and special needs residents. Expanded the Cabarrus Health Alliance dental clinic's capacity from 6 chairs to 12 chairs.
- 2006: Gathered baseline data on substance use among Cabarrus County middle and high school students. Established Teen Task Force, a youth-led coalition that has implemented local health campaigns in Cabarrus County over the past ten years, including Hands on the Wheel (no texting and driving), Kick Butts 5K (smoke-free lifestyle), Feeding Frenzy 5K (hunger action), and antibullying messages.
- 2006: Cabarrus Community Health Center, a federally qualified health center, opened to provide primary healthcare to a high-need community.
- 2007: Expanded local medication assistance programs to assist uninsured, low-income residents in getting prescription medications. Received 3 grant awards from Health and Wellness Trust Fund. Developed a local resource guide for medication assistance. Cabarrus Senior Center and other community partners created a Medicare Part D information to help seniors access prescription medications.
- 2007: Partnered with the United Way to complete the 2008 Community Needs Assessment.
- 2008: Created a smoke-free dining guide for Cabarrus County, including 150 local restaurants that were 100% smoke-free. Teen TRU Crews established at local high schools to build support for tobacco-free policies. Implemented a tobacco prevention curriculum in all Cabarrus County middle schools. Cabarrus County Dental Society hosted an educational training on the oral health effects of spit tobacco.
- 2008: Established a broad safety-net system for providing primary healthcare for low-income/uninsured residents. Safety-net providers include: Cabarrus Community Health Center, Community Free Clinic, Southern Piedmont Community Care Plan, Cabarrus Health Alliance, CMC-Northeast, private medical providers, Cooperative Christian Ministry, and DSS.
- 2008: Community partner PBH (now Cardinal Innovations) establishes Community Lunch and Learn sessions, offers Cultural Competency trainings, and provides Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement officers. A new mobile crisis service is established.
- 2009: Implemented a childhood obesity prevention program throughout Cabarrus County with 12-month funding from NC Department of Health and Human Services. Resulted in the establishment of a Childhood Obesity Prevention Partnership, including 25 community partners seeking to reduce childhood obesity in Cabarrus County; low-fat milk policy change at childcare centers; administering the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey among high school students. Trained 20 health providers as childhood obesity advocates within the school systems with funding from NICHQ.
- 2010: Partnered with Cabarrus Health Alliance to implement the ACHIEVE grant. During the two-year project, community agencies adopted 21 policies and made 18 environmental changes.
- 2011: Local municipalities (Cabarrus County, City of Concord, and City of Kannapolis) pass tobacco-free policies in all parks, which led to a domino effect of many other campuses going smoke-free.
- 2011: Facilitated the county’s 2012 Community Needs Assessment with community partners.