COMMUNITY VISION

Forsyth County residents are physically and mentally healthy.

PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY DEFINED

Residents of all ages have positive physical and mental health outcomes, display health-promoting behaviors and have access to health care.

Health Coverage

§      The percent of all adults with health coverage steadily increased from 2004 to 2006. In 2007, there was a decline, but a 5.7% increase from 2007 to 2008 which placed Forsyth County above the state and national average. However, in 2008, more persons (18.5%) in the 18-65 age group were uninsured which was higher than the state average (15.3%).

§      The percent of Forsyth County children who lacked health insurance was approximately 3% higher in 2007 (most recent complete data) than in the previous three years.

§      For the past three years, approximately 65% of the children eligible for Health Choice health coverage were enrolled in the program. 

§      HealthCare Access, the largest safety net provider for the uninsured in Forsyth County, enrolled 1,042 new patients for YTD 2008 (January-September), for the same time period in 2009 the number rose to 2,731 representing an increase of 162%. A 45.4% increase was reported in the 2009 year-to-date (January-September) totals for HealthCare Access recertifications (continued eligibility of patients for the program are every 6 or 12 months depending on eligibility status).

Mental Health Services

§      The treated prevalence, the number of people receiving mental health services compared to the number of people estimated to have mental health conditions, for Forsyth County was 42% for adults and 38% for children during the Fourth Quarter, Fiscal Year 2008-2009. [Note: Data reported in Division of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services’ Community Systems Progress Report is based on paid claims for Medicaid and state-funded services to consumers (unduplicated consumer count) through October 2009.  Number/rate of consumers served will increase as additional Medicaid claims are processed.]

§      During Fiscal Year 2008-2009, there was an increase of 8% of Forsyth County consumers served by CenterPoint providers for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and/or Substance Abuse as compared to individuals served during the previous fiscal year. [Note: These figures are based on paid claims through October 2009 for Medicaid and state-funded services to consumers (unduplicated consumer count). Numbers will increase as additional Medicaid claims are processed.]

§      During the 2008-2009 academic year, 1565 psychological evaluation and 1,105 screening of students (preschool-12^th grade) were completed by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, Psychological Services Department.

§      CenterPoint, the state designated Local Management Entity, had contracts (with providers delivering state-funded services) or Memoranda of Agreement (Medicaid providers) with over 300 service providers. These providers were primarily located in Forsyth, Stokes and Davie Counties during FY 2008-2009, but include providers serving CenterPoint consumers living elsewhere in the state.

§      As of September 2009, Carolina Behavioral Health Alliance network, Forsyth County’s largest private insurance network, listed 173 mental health service providers (individual practitioners with varying academic credentials) who were located in Forsyth County.

§      As of September 2009, the Mental Health Association listed188 mental health service providers (individual practitioners with varying academic credentials) who were located in Forsyth County.

§      In 2009, 25 psychologists were employed by Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.  

Substance Abuse

§      There was an 8.2% increase in the number of Forsyth County residents who received substance abuse services funded by Medicaid from FY 2007 (N=863) to FY 2008 (N=934).  While the average cost per recipient was 29.9% higher for Forsyth County than the state for FY 2007, it was consistent with the state costs (0.9% higher) for FY2008.

§      In FY 2007-2008, the rate at which Forsyth County residents were served on an in-patient basis in a North Carolina drug and alcohol treatment center (excludes outpatients) was estimated as 22.4 (per 100,000 persons) based on an actual count of 77 Forsyth County residents. The North Carolina rate for the same time period was 46.4 (per 100,000 persons) with a state count of 4,284 total residents served.

§      The treated prevalence, the number of people receiving substance abuse services compared to the number of people estimated to have substance abuse (inclusive of illegal drug and/or alcohol abuse/dependency), for Forsyth County was 10% for adults and 14% for children during the Fourth Quarter, FY 2008-2009. [Note: Data reported in Division of Mental Health Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services’ Community Systems Progress Report is based on paid claims for Medicaid and state-funded services to consumers (unduplicated consumer count) through October 2009.  Number/rate of consumers served will increase as additional Medicaid claims are processed.]

§      The most recent survey data for our area (NC-TOPPS) indicated that among recipients of substance abuse services, the majority tended to be diagnosed with substance dependence or abuse rather than with alcohol dependence or abuse.

§      The average number of traffic stops for driving under the influence for Forsyth County (with four law enforcement agencies reporting) from 2005-2008 was approximately 380 stops.

Violent Deaths

§      Suicide accounted for 62% of all violent deaths in the state of North Carolina and 57% of all violent deaths in Forsyth County between 2004 and 2006. On average, a Forsyth County resident commits suicide once every 9.5 days.

§      Males account for 77% of homicide victims in North Carolina. In Forsyth County, males account for 80.6% of homicide victims while African-Americans made up 58.2% of homicide victims. 

§      People between the ages of 15 and 44 accounted for 64% of all homicide victims in Forsyth County.

Chronic Disease

§      The leading cause of death in Forsyth County is Cancer, followed by Heart Disease, Stroke, Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes and Kidney Disease. 

§      Lung Cancer represents 30.4% of all cancer deaths in Forsyth County. 

§      Over a five year time period (2004-2008), the average percent of Forsyth County self-described smokers was 21.02% which is slightly lower than the state average percent of 22.2%.

§      Heart Disease mortality rates in Forsyth County have decreased in each of the last 4 years.

Infant Deaths

§      The infant mortality rate (12 per 1,000 live births) rate in 2008 for Forsyth County was the highest since 2008. This rate is considerably higher than the rates for benchmark communities and the state.

§      2005 had the lowest mortality rate (8.9 per 1,000 live births) in Forsyth County.

§      The infant mortality rate for minority females in Forsyth County is almost 4 times higher compared to Caucasian females. In North Carolina, this ratio is about 2.25.

§      The average rate of low birth weight infants in Forsyth County for years 2003-2007 was approximately 10%. The average rate for minority infants (15.7%) was almost double that for Caucasian infants (7.9%).

Obesity

§      There was a 1.0% decrease from 2007 to 2008 in residents who are considered obese in Forsyth County.

§      19.8% of all WS/FCS 1^st graders and 22.2% of 9^th graders who were tested were found to be obese.

§      In Forsyth County, 38.9% of 1^st graders are classified as obese or overweight.

§      In Forsyth County, 41.0% of 9^th graders are classified as obese weight or overweight.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

§      Chlamydia was the most prevalent STI among Forsyth County residents in 2007, accounting for 68.9% of all STIs. 

§      The incidence of Gonorrhea in Forsyth County in 2007 was 41.2% more than the incidence rate for North Carolina. 

Teen Pregnancy

§      There were 772 reported pregnancies of women age 15 – 19, which resulted in 566 births in Forsyth County in 2007. This accounts for 11.9% of all pregnancies and 11% of all births for 2007.

§      The pregnancy rate for minority females is 60.4% more than that for Caucasian females ages 15 – 19 in Forsyth County, compared to 57.8% for all of North Carolina.