Download Frankly Healthy - Franklin County

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State of the County
Health Report
www.franklincohealth.org
Franklin County is conveniently located 21 miles northeast of the
state capital, Raleigh, with easy access to three interstate highways
(I-40, I-85, I-95). The county is comprised of 494 square miles and
Louisburg is the county seat. Other municipalities in the county
include Bunn, Franklinton, Centerville and Youngsville. We have an
estimated population of 57,222 in 2007, gaining
approximately 1,773 residents since 2006.
Map provided by:
Franklin County
Graphic
Information
Systems (GIS)
Office
 In 2007, Franklin County Health Department provided
320 Maternal Health services, 74 Head Start dental
screenings, served 1,826 children in the Child Health Clinic,
an average of 600 clients per month through WIC
(Women’s, Infants and Children) and 616 food inspections.
In addition, our Dental Clinic provided 9,864 miles of free
patient transportation in the 2007-2008 Fiscal Year.
Franklin County Volunteers In Medicine Clinic serves
uninsured and underinsured residents of our county. In
2007, the facility served 330 patients, with a combined total
of 1,033 visits. The overall cost of medications disbursed
was over $48,842.
 Franklin County Health Department, Board of Health,
Animal Control, and the Animal Advisory Board initiated a
certified Rabies Vaccination Program in an effort to
decrease the instances of rabies and increase public
education of the disease.
According to the State Center for Health Statistics, these disease and
ailments represent 75.1% of the 333 deaths in Franklin County in 2006.
Cerebrovascular
Disease
5.4%
Cancer
23%
Endocrine &
Nutritional
Diseases
6.1%
Respiratory
Ailments
7.9%
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Heart & Circulatory
Diseases
32.7%
Diseases of the Circulatory System include
heart attacks, congestive heart failure,
atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension.
 Diseases of the Respiratory System include
influenza, pneumonia, emphysema, asthma and
COPD.
 Cerebrovascular Diseases includes strokes.
 Endocrine and nutritional diseases includes
diabetes.
Overweight and Obesity...

Franklin County and surrounding counties rank #6 in the
state for percentage of overweight and obese adults.
Diet…

22.2% of residents in Franklin County and surrounding
counties reported eating the recommended five or
more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Physical Activity…
• 44.6% of residents in Franklin County and surrounding
counties reported meeting the daily physical activity
recommendations that include, moderate exercise for 30
or more minutes per day, five or more days per week; or
20 or more minutes of vigorous activity on three or more
days per week.
All data gathered from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS). Franklin County data is
compiled with Nash and Wilson counties.
 51% of the Franklin County residents rated adult
obesity as a major problem.
 48% percent of respondents rated childhood obesity
as a major problem.
 59% percent of residents stated that lack of
transportation was a major barrier to health services.
 53% of respondents sited health insurance coverage
as the top county concern relative to health and human
services.
 23% of the Franklin County residents ranked child
asthma as a major problem in the county.
Based on findings in the 2007 Franklin County
Community Health Assessment and 2007 health data
collected for this report, the following health priorities has
been set for health promotion activities.

Frankly Healthy, the Franklin County Healthy Carolinians
Chapter, is currently publishing Ray of Hope newsletters that are
distributed to over 2000 people at a variety of locations,
organizations, and agencies throughout the county including
schools, businesses, and churches. It was designed to reach all
church members aged 18 and older who want to learn more
about making positive and healthy lifestyle choices.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awarded
the Franklin County Health Department a grant for a program
entitled “A Ray of Hope for Franklin County”. This initiative
provided training to volunteers, workshops and in-services to
educate women about breast health, in both churches and
worksites.

Franklin County Volunteers In Medicine Clinic collaborated
with Rex Mobile Mammography Unit in providing mammograms
to county residents. The Unit’s mission is to take high-quality
mammography services to areas where women have difficulty
accessing healthcare.

The Restaurant Heart Health Survey (RHHS) is a statewide
face-to-face survey used by local health departments and the NC Division
of Public Health to assess the smoking and dining policies and practices
of individual restaurants in each county. Franklin County obtained
51completed surveys, which resulted in one establishment becoming
smoke free and another agreeing to a ban on Sundays.

Frankly Healthy received funding from the Project DIRECT
Academy in 2006, to implement a diabetes education program in
Louisburg. This program entitled the Main Street Diabetes Program
(MSDP) involves African American churches on and near Main Street in
Louisburg, which includes walking and nutrition components. The goals
of the MSDP are to raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes,
educate people about the specifics of diabetes, increase physical activity,
and improve overall diet. This initiative remains ongoing.

Louisburg Senior Center, Volunteers In Medicine Clinic and Franklin
County Health Department partnered to facilitate a Diabetes Expo for our
residents. The event was used to increase the awareness of diabetes
prevention and management, physical activity and nutrition.
Overweight and Obesity
 Working On Wellness (W.O.W.) is a comprehensive
exercise and nutrition program available to Franklin County
employees. Various wellness initiatives are offered
throughout the year designed to help discover, educate, and
create awareness pertaining to health risks and behaviors.
 Franklin County Cooperative Extension is offering Eat Smart, Move
More, Weigh Less, a 12 week weight management program that uses a
variety of strategies to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
The agency will also provide nutrition education to all 3rd grade students at
Edward Best and Laurel Mill Elementary Schools beginning January 2009.
Students will have 45 minute, weekly lessons on various topics such as
portion sizes, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, reading nutrition
labels and becoming more physically active.
 Franklin County Public School System continues to implement their
annual 2nd Grade Nutrition Fair to build the knowledge of youth as it
pertains to healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors. In addition, the
organization has been working diligently to establish a Employee Wellness
Program to encourage healthy lifestyles among staff, enabling them to act
as role models for the children they serve.
Chronic Disease
Walk With Ease is a exercise program developed to
address the benefits of increased physical activity,
increased walking distance and speed, decreased pain
and decreased depression among individuals inflicted with
arthritis. Franklin County Health Department in
collaboration with Louisburg and Franklinton Senior
Centers have implemented this
initiative for citizens of the county.
The Walk With Ease program:
 Helps you develop a beneficial walking
plan that meets your needs.
 Helps you adhere to motivation and
manage pain.
 Teaches you to exercise safely.
Youth Health
Franklin County Health Department in conjunction with
Community Care Network and various county agencies,
have formed a coalition which has developed a
comprehensive Youth Asthma program designed to
educate parents and kids about the illness. The goals of
the program are to decrease the amount of hospital
discharges with a primary diagnosis of asthma rates
among youth in Franklin County, and increase the
underserved population's knowledge as to how this
disease relates to self management and environmental
factors. This will be accomplished by providing participants
with the necessary educational and self-management
resources.
Access to Care
The percent of NC residents that lack health insurance for
a full year has risen from 15.3 percent in 2000 to 18.1
percent in 2005. During that same year, 11.6
percent of youth ages 0 to 17 in Franklin County were
estimated to be uninsured. Those ages 18 to 64 that were
uninsured, comprised 20.6% of the population.
As such, many community organizations have formed the
Franklin County Healthcare Collaborative to address
access to care. These agencies include: Franklin County
Health Department, Franklin County Volunteers In
Medicine Clinic, Franklin County Department of Social
Services, Franklin Regional Medical Center, Franklin
Community Health Center (Wake Health Services),
Community Care Partners of Northern Piedmont, and
Franklin Granville Vance Partnership for Children.
 In October 2007 after seven years of operation,
Flextronics ceased its Franklin County plant production,
leaving 750 residents unemployed and resulted in the
termination of their health care coverage. Governor Easley
appointed a team to help employees of the layoff. A
current primary focus for our county government is to
replace the private employer, which had been the largest
in county.

Novozymes is a Denmark based company which
manufactures enzymes used to produce alternative fuels.
They have approved an $26 million expansion that will add
50 additional employment positions in their Franklin
County site.

Franklin Regional Medical Center (FRMC) is an
eighty-five bed facility located in Louisburg, built in 1956.
FRMC has proposed a new $90 million medical center in
Youngsville that will cover 200,000 square feet, and 70
private hospital rooms.
Our Healthy Carolinians Partnership, Frankly Healthy, is a
partnership between community organizations and
individuals. The mission of our collaborative is to improve health
status and prevent premature death and injury for residents of
the county regardless of age, race, income or educational level
through a collaborative community effort.
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Partners Include:
Franklin County Health Department
Franklin County Public Schools
Franklin County Cooperative Extension
Adolescent Parenting Program
Franklin County Volunteers in Medicine Clinic
Louisburg Senior Center
South Main Street Baptist Church
Franklin Regional Medical Center
Franklin County Parks and Recreation
Safe Space, Inc.
State of the County Health Report
The purpose of this report is to communicate current Franklin County health
information. Documents will be disseminated to the Public Library, Chambers
of Commerce, County Commissioners, Board of Health, Franklin Regional
Medical Center, Louisburg College, Franklin County Public Schools and other
community venues. The Frankly Healthy partnership produces this report
each year for three years, and a Community Health Assessment (CHA) in the
fourth year. The next SOTCH will be completed in December 2009. For
copies or for more information, contact:
Franklin County Health Department at (919)496-2533
Or download at: www.franklincohealth.org
A Note from the Health Director
This State of the County Health Report is a brief of the tremendous amount of
work being done and to be done in Franklin County. As with most
communities, Franklin County faces significant healthcare challenges,
challenges that must be addressed by the entire community not just one
organization or entity. Together we can continue building community
partnerships and relationships that will enhance the health of all of our
citizens. I invite you to join us in this endeavor and share in the
"wealth that is health."