Community Health Needs Assessment

About the Assessment


The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is a survey of county residents taken every three years. It allows the Health Department to understand what residents see as the most important health issues affecting the community. It provides the foundation for improving and promoting good health in our community.

In 2018, the CHNA was developed through a partnership between the Onslow County Health Department (OCHD), Onslow Memorial Hospital (OMH), Health Eastern North Carolina (Health ENC), and Conduent Healthy Communities Institute (HCI). Health ENC commissioned Conduent HCI to assist with the collection and analysis of health statistcs. This report describes the process and findings of the CHNA for the residents of our county.

The top 3 issues identified in the CHNA prioritization process were:
1. Exercise/ Weight/ Nutrition
2. Substance Abuse
3. Other Chronic Diseases

Community Health Needs assessment image Opens in new window

Community Health Improvement Plans 

The prioritization of the identified significant health needs has guided community health improvement efforts in Onslow County. Onslow County has outlined how they plan to address the prioritized health needs in its Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs).

Current Improvement Plans:

Community Health Advisory Team 

Onslow County Health Department's Community Health Advisory Team (CHAT) is a multidisciplinary team comprised of governmental, non-profit, and community agencies that work to further the goals of public health in our community. One of the responsibilities of the CHAT is to complete the Community Health Needs Assessment and subsequent action plans surrounding priority health issues in the community. The CHAT includes members from mental/behavioral health agencies, hospitals, civic organizations, faith-based institutions, the military community, law enforcement, health department, county government, educational institutions, child health & welfare, and concerned citizens.

We would be honored to have you join our CHAT. Membership on the team involves attending bi-monthly meetings. For more information, contact Lin McDevitt, Public Health Educator at Lin_McDevitt@onslowcountync.gov or call 910-989-3943.