Agenda 04-01-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Attachment 5: BOCC /BOH Joint 04%01/04 FINAL DRAFT ultimately our whole community. Strong collaborations have begun between related service agencies and it will be important to continue and strengthen those collaborations. The Advocates for Children committee of Healthy Carolinians has brought together over 15 community agencies to address the issue of child abuse, raise awareness about the problem, provide education and training to professionals on recognition and response and education and prevention information to parents. • High suicide rates. In Orange County in 2002, there were 12.8 suicides per 100,000, higher than the NC 2010 target of 8 and slightly higher than the state rate of 11.6. Substance abuse and mental illness are both significant contributing factors to a high suicide rate. While residents did not express a great deal of concern about suicides, substance abuse and mental health were two of the community's top priorities. • High unintentional injury rates. While deaths and non -fatal injuries due to motor vehicle crashes were lower than the Healthy Carolinians 2010 objectives, the number of such incidents that were alcohol - related was extremely high, with 26.5% of fatal crashes and 7.9% of non -fatal crashes being alcohol - related. In addition, the number of non -motor vehicle related injury deaths were significantly higher than the state average with 29.4/100,000 deaths in Orange County versus only 22.3/100,000 on average in the state. Non -motor vehicle related injuries were the 5th leading cause of death in Orange County, most often caused by falls and poisonings, and injuries and poisonings were the 4 leading cause of hospitalizations. Call to Action Many efforts are currently underway to address some of the priority issues especially in the area of weight management and nutrition, but new initiatives will be needed to address some of the more pressing and difficult issues such as barriers to accessing health care and the need for more substance abuse services. The more difficult issues related to the economy and the cost of living will require long term commitment on the part of government and all residents to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Orange County but particularly for those who face greater challenges economically, emotionally and physically.