Photo: Brian Stansberry

EXPLORING BRIGHT SPOTS IN 

APPALACHIAN HEALTH: CASE 

STUDIES

The third report in a series exploring health 

issues in Appalachia

July 2018

Prepared by:

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.

PDA, INC.

Raleigh, North Carolina

THE CECIL G. SHEPS CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

BURNESS

Bethesda, Maryland

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i

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated to health. 

For more than 40 years, RWJF has supported research and programs targeting some of the nation’s most 

pressing health issues. 

RWJF provided funding for this research project as part of its Culture of Health Initiative. David M. Krol, 

MD, MPH, FAAP, Senior Program Officer, provided the impetus for the Creating a Culture of Health in 

Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots project and solicited the Appalachian Regional Commission 

and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky as partners. Hilary Heishman, MPH, Senior Program Officer, 

provided final guidance.

Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provided funding, leadership, and project management for 

the project. ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state

governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate,

partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help

the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky served as the grantee and fiscal agent for the project. Funded by

an endowment, the nonpartisan Foundation’s mission is to address the unmet health needs of Kentuckians 

by developing and influencing policy, improving access to care, reducing health risks and disparities, and 

promoting health equity. Since the Foundation opened its doors in 2001, it has invested more than 

$27 million in health policy research, advocacy, and demonstration project grants across the 

Commonwealth.

Principal Investigators

To implement the research, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Foundation for a Healthy 

Kentucky named two Principal Investigators: Julie L. Marshall, PhD, Senior Economist, Division of 

Planning and Research, for the Appalachian Regional Commission, and Gabriela Alcalde, DrPH, Vice 

President, Policy and Program, for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Mary Jo Shircliffe, MBA, 

Vice President, Operations and Administration, later assumed the role for the Foundation for a Healthy 

Kentucky to complete the project. 
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Authors

PDA, Inc., in Raleigh, North Carolina, prepared this report in collaboration with the Cecil G. Sheps 

Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the 

Appalachian Regional Commission. The principal authors of the report include:

Nancy M. Lane, MA, President, PDA, Inc.

G. Mark Holmes, PhD, Center Director, UNC 

Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services 

Research

Thomas A. Arcury, PhD, Program Director, 

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center 

Clinical and Translational Science 

Institute

Michael L. Schwalbe, PhD, Professor, 

Department of Sociology and 

Anthropology at North Carolina State 

University

Randy Randolph, MRP, Applications Analyst 

Programmer, UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center 

for Health Services Research

John Frank, FACHE, Consultant, Former 

Director, Kate B. Reynolds Foundation

Sharita Thomas, MPP, Research Associate, 

UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health 

Services Research

Janine Latus, MA, Journalist, Writer, and 

Speaker

Jonathan Rodgers, MHA, Consultant and 

Research Associate, PDA, Inc.

Alexa Cohen, BA, Research Assistant, UNC 

Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services 

Research

Kelly Ivey, BS, Project Manager, PDA, Inc.

William Holding, MHA, Senior Consultant 

and Data Analyst, PDA, Inc.

Maura Lane, BA, Consultant, Media 

Communications and Marketing 

Pam Silberman, JD, DrPH, Associate Director 

for Policy Analysis, UNC Cecil G. Sheps 

Center for Health Services Research

Katie Gaul, MA, Deputy Director, Health 

Workforce Technical Assistance Center, 

UNC Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health 

Services Research

Lisa Villamil, MAE, Assistant Professor, 

UNC Chapel Hill School of Media and 

Journalism

Ashli Keyser, Project Assistant, PDA, Inc.

Additionally, the Bright Spots case study teams included local journalists who brought local perspective 

to the field research and contributed to the case study development. Journalists included:

Kim Cross, Hale County, Alabama, and 

Noxubee County, Mississippi

Joyce Pinson, McCreary and Wayne Counties, 

Kentucky

Mary Beth Jones, Tioga County, New York

Becky Johnson, Madison County, North 

Carolina

Amanda Jones, Potter County, Pennsylvania

Nancy Henderson, Sequatchie County, 

Tennessee

Jenni Vincent, Grant County, West Virginia

Aaron Payne, Wirt County, West Virginia
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Advisors and Contributors

Members of the case study communities provided invaluable commentary on culture, programs, and 

practices in each site during the field visits and afterwards. Though many are mentioned by name in each 

case study report, as a group they deserve special mention and thanks.

The project benefited from insight from an Advisory Committee assembled by ARC, RWJF, and the 

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky that included Rui Li, PhD, Health Economist, Division of Diabetes 

Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Rozelia Harris, MBA, Director of Mississippi 

Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Mississippi State Department of Health; Amy Martin, DrPh, 

MSPH, College of Dental Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina; Wayne Myers, MD; and 

Kadie Peters, Vice President of Community Impact for Health, United Way of Central Alabama.

Others who assisted with review and feedback include Eric Stockton, ARC Health Program Manager;

Logan Thomas, ARC Research Analyst; Kostas Skordas, ARC Director, Planning and Research; Keith 

Witt, ARC Geographic Information Specialist; Karen Entress, ARC Communications staff; and Diane 

Smith, ARC Communications staff.
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CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Figures ..........................................................................................................................ix

List of Tables............................................................................................................................xi

Executive Summary..................................................................................................................1

Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 3

Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian Health ............................................................................... 4

Fostering a Culture of Health........................................................................................................... 5

The Bright Spot Counties................................................................................................................. 6

A Deeper Look at the Bright Spot Counties.................................................................................... 9

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives............................................................ 9

Cross-Sector Collaboration................................................................................................. 9

Resource Sharing .............................................................................................................. 10

Local Providers Committed to Public Health ................................................................... 11

Active Faith Community .................................................................................................. 12

Initiatives to Combat Substance Abuse ............................................................................ 12

Remaining Gaps................................................................................................................ 12

Improving Health throughout Appalachia ..................................................................................... 13

References...................................................................................................................................... 14

Introduction.............................................................................................................................15

About the Project ........................................................................................................................... 17

Culture of Health .............................................................................................................. 17

About the Appalachian Region...................................................................................................... 18

Geographic Subregions..................................................................................................... 18

Rurality in Appalachia ...................................................................................................... 19

County Economic Status in Appalachia ........................................................................... 19

About the Case Study Report......................................................................................................... 21

References...................................................................................................................................... 24

Case Studies ...........................................................................................................................25

Hale County, Alabama................................................................................................................... 27

County Overview.............................................................................................................. 31

A Deeper Look at Hale County: Community Strengths................................................... 32

Creating a Culture of Health in Hale County.................................................................... 36
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References ........................................................................................................................ 37

Appendix: Hale County Data............................................................................................ 38

McCreary County, Kentucky......................................................................................................... 43

County Overview.............................................................................................................. 47

A Deeper Look at McCreary County: Community Strengths........................................... 48

Creating a Culture of Health in McCreary County........................................................... 54

References ........................................................................................................................ 55

Appendix: McCreary County Data ................................................................................... 56

Wayne County, Kentucky.............................................................................................................. 61

County Overview.............................................................................................................. 65

A Deeper Look at Wayne County: Community Strengths ............................................... 66

Creating a Culture of Health in Wayne County................................................................ 70

References ........................................................................................................................ 71

Appendix: Wayne County Data........................................................................................ 72

Noxubee County, Mississippi ........................................................................................................ 77

County Overview.............................................................................................................. 81

A Deeper Look at Noxubee County: Community Strengths ............................................ 82

Creating a Culture of Health in Noxubee County............................................................. 87

References ........................................................................................................................ 88

Appendix: Noxubee County Data..................................................................................... 89

 Tioga County, New York................................................................................................................ 95

County Overview.............................................................................................................. 99

A Deeper Look at Tioga County: Community Strengths ............................................... 100

Creating a Culture of Health in Tioga County................................................................ 104

References ...................................................................................................................... 105

Appendix: Tioga County Data........................................................................................ 106

Madison County, North Carolina................................................................................................. 111

County Overview............................................................................................................ 115

A Deeper Look at Madison County: Community Strengths........................................... 116

Creating a Culture of Health in Madison County ........................................................... 121

References ...................................................................................................................... 122

Appendix: Madison County Data ................................................................................... 123
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Potter County, Pennsylvania........................................................................................................ 129

County Overview............................................................................................................ 133

A Deeper Look at Potter County: Community Strengths............................................... 134

Creating a Culture of Health in Potter County................................................................ 138

References ...................................................................................................................... 140

Appendix: Potter County Data........................................................................................ 141

Sequatchie County, Tennessee..................................................................................................... 147

County Overview............................................................................................................ 151

A Deeper Look at Sequatchie County: Community Strengths....................................... 152

Creating a Culture of Health in Sequatchie County........................................................ 156

References ...................................................................................................................... 158

Appendix: Sequatchie County Data................................................................................ 159

Grant County, West Virginia ....................................................................................................... 165

County Overview............................................................................................................ 169

A Deeper Look at Grant County: Community Strengths................................................ 170

Creating a Culture of Health in Grant County................................................................ 175

References ...................................................................................................................... 176

Appendix: Grant County Data ........................................................................................ 177

Wirt County, West Virginia......................................................................................................... 183

County Overview............................................................................................................ 187

A Deeper Look at Wirt County: Community Strengths ................................................. 188

Creating a Culture of Health in Wirt County.................................................................. 192

References ...................................................................................................................... 194

Appendix: Wirt County Data.......................................................................................... 195

Appendices ...........................................................................................................................201

A. Glossary of Terms................................................................................................................... 203

B. Research Approach ................................................................................................................. 205

C. Research Support Materials .................................................................................................... 215

1. Briefing Packets for Key Informants.......................................................................... 217

2. Key Informant Interview Guide.................................................................................. 251

D. Radio Spots............................................................................................................................. 267
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CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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LIST OF FIGURES

Executive Summary

Figure 1: Map – OMB Designation of Appalachian Bright Spot Counties

(Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan)................................................................................................................... 7

Introduction

Figure 2: Map of the Appalachian Subregions ........................................................................................... 18

Figure 3: Map of County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2017 ......................................................... 19

Figure 4: Map of Bright Spot Counties in Appalachia ............................................................................... 21

Case Studies

Hale County, Alabama

Figure 5: Map - Bright Spot Community Hale County, Alabama .............................................................. 31

McCreary County, Kentucky

Figure 6: Map - Bright Spot Community McCreary County, Kentucky .................................................... 47

Wayne County, Kentucky

Figure 7: Map - Bright Spot Community Wayne County, Kentucky ......................................................... 65

Noxubee County, Mississippi

Figure 8: Map - Bright Spot Community Noxubee County, Mississippi ................................................... 81

Tioga County, New York

Figure 9: Map - Bright Spot Community Tioga County, New York.......................................................... 99

Madison County, North Carolina

Figure 10: Map - Bright Spot Community Madison County, North Carolina .......................................... 115

Potter County, Pennsylvania

Figure 11: Map - Bright Spot Community Potter County, Pennsylvania ................................................. 133

Sequatchie County, Tennessee

Figure 12: Map - Bright Spot Community Sequatchie County, Tennessee.............................................. 151
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Grant County, West Virginia

Figure 13: Map - Bright Spot Community Grant County, West Virginia................................................. 169

Wirt County, West Virginia

Figure 14: Map - Bright Spot Community Wirt County, West Virginia .................................................. 187
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LIST OF TABLES

Executive Summary

Table 1: Selected Characteristics of Case Study Counties............................................................................ 6

Table 2: Health Outcomes in the Case Study Counties................................................................................ 8

Introduction

Table 3: Case Study Site Characteristics.................................................................................................... 22

Case Studies

Hale County, Alabama

Table 4: Hale County Characteristics......................................................................................................... 38

Table 5: Hale County Key Informants........................................................................................................ 39

Table 6: Hale County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted.................................................................. 40

Table 7: Hale County Health Drivers vs. National Median........................................................................ 41

McCreary County, Kentucky

Table 8: McCreary County Characteristics................................................................................................. 56

Table 9: McCreary County Key Informants............................................................................................... 57

Table 10: McCreary County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ...................................................... 58

Table 11: McCreary County Health Drivers vs. National Median ............................................................ 59

Wayne County, Kentucky

Table 12: Wayne County Characteristics.................................................................................................... 72

Table 13: Wayne County Key Informants.................................................................................................. 73

Table 14: Wayne County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ........................................................... 74

Table 15: Wayne County Health Drivers vs. National Median ................................................................. 75

Noxubee County, Mississippi

Table 16: Noxubee County Characteristics ................................................................................................ 89

Table 17: Noxubee County Key Informants............................................................................................... 90

Table 18: Noxubee County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ........................................................ 91

Table 19: Noxubee County Health Drivers vs. National Median .............................................................. 92
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Tioga County, New York

Table 20: Tioga County Characteristics.................................................................................................... 106

Table 21: Tioga County Key Informants.................................................................................................. 107

Table 22: Tioga County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ........................................................... 108

Table 23: Tioga County Health Drivers vs. National Median ................................................................. 109

Madison County, North Carolina

Table 24: Madison County Characteristics............................................................................................... 123

Table 25: Madison County Key Informants ............................................................................................. 124

Table 26: Madison County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ...................................................... 125

Table 27: Madison County Health Drivers vs. National Median ............................................................. 126

Potter County, Pennsylvania

Table 28: Potter County Characteristics ................................................................................................... 141

Table 29: Potter County Key Informants.................................................................................................. 142

Table 30: Potter County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ........................................................... 143

Table 31: Potter County Health Drivers vs. National Median ................................................................. 144

Sequatchie County, Tennessee

Table 32: Sequatchie County Characteristics ........................................................................................... 159

Table 33: Sequatchie County Key Informants.......................................................................................... 160

Table 34: Sequatchie County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ................................................... 161

Table 35: Sequatchie County Health Drivers vs. National Median ......................................................... 162

Grant County, West Virginia

Table 36: Grant County Characteristics.................................................................................................... 177

Table 37: Grant County Key Informants .................................................................................................. 178

Table 38: Grant County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ........................................................... 179

Table 39: Grant County Health Drivers vs. National Median ................................................................. 180

Wirt County, West Virginia

Table 40: Wirt County Characteristics...................................................................................................... 195

Table 41: Wirt County Key Informants.................................................................................................... 196

Table 42: Wirt County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted ............................................................. 197

Table 43: Wirt County Health Drivers vs. National Median ................................................................... 198
1

Executive Summary

Overview

Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian Health

Fostering a Culture of Health

The Bright Spot Counties

A Deeper Look at the Bright Spot Counties

Improving Health throughout Appalachia

References
2
Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian 

Health: Case Studies

Executive Summary

CASE STUDIES

3

OVERVIEW

Longstanding perceptions of Appalachia paint a picture of a monolithic region, one characterized by lowincome communities, lack of education and racial diversity, and limited economic opportunity. The 

reality is that Appalachia is by nature a diverse and complex region of the country, stretching across 

205,000 square miles in 13 states, and home to more than 25 million people. While as a region it has 

faced, and continues to face, greater economic challenges than the rest of the country, statistics show that 

Appalachia has achieved progress or evolved in a number of significant ways over the last decades: 

 Many Appalachian counties are economically distressed, but since 1960, the Region’s poverty 

rate has dropped by almost half—from 31 percent in 1960 to 17 percent in the period 2011–2015 

(compared with a national rate of 15.5 percent in 2011–2015).

 The Region’s population is racially diverse. Many counties are home to large minority 

populations, and, in some counties, black and Latino residents constitute the majority. 

 High school graduation rates have steadily improved since 1960. The Region’s graduation rate is 

now on par with the rest of the country.

Statistics also show that within Appalachia, there is considerable diversity in the socioeconomic 

characteristics of different subregions: 

 Northern Appalachia’s poverty rate is 14.5 percent, compared with Central Appalachia’s rate of 

24.4 percent.

 Minorities make up 31.3 percent of Southern Appalachia’s population. They are 11 percent of 

Northern Appalachia’s.

 In South Central Appalachia, 19.6 percent of the population age 25 and up holds at least a 

bachelor’s degree; in North Central Appalachia, the figure is 14 percent.1

But these differences within the Region are reflective of diversity at the most fundamental level, the 

communities. Appalachian communities vary widely in their characteristics, their resources, and their 

levels of physical, social, and economic health: In the ten Appalachian counties examined for this report, 

the 2014 unemployment rate ranged from a low of 6.2 percent to a high of 12.4 percent, compared with 

the national unemployment rate of 6.2 percent.2 Employment options differ widely from county to 

county, ranging from retail to health services to manufacturing. Some of those counties have a thriving 

arts community, while others draw thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to their hiking trails and other 

outdoor-recreation attractions. 

Although Appalachian communities face different sets of challenges related to their individual 

characteristics, one common challenge many of them are working to address today is poor health 

 1 Poverty, demographic, and education data come from the American Community Survey, 2011–2015. 2 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2014
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outcomes among their residents. Appalachia has higher 

mortality rates in 7 of the leading causes of death in the 

United States: heart disease, cancer, COPD, 

unintentional injury, including drug overdose, stroke, 

diabetes, and suicide.3 The Appalachian Region’s 

number of physically unhealthy days, mentally 

unhealthy days, and prevalence of depression are all 

higher than the national averages for these measures. 

Obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity—risk factors 

for a number of health outcomes—are all higher in 

Appalachia than in the nation overall. The Region also 

has lower supplies of healthcare professionals 

when compared to the United States as a whole, 

including primary care physicians, mental health 

providers, specialty physicians, and dentists. Lower 

household incomes and higher poverty rates—both 

social determinants of health—reflect worse living 

conditions in the Region than in the nation as a whole.

Over the past two decades, the Appalachian Region as 

a whole has made some progress in a number of health 

measures. However, the progress often comes up short 

when compared with the progress made by the United 

States overall, and indicates a widening gap in overall 

health between Appalachia and the nation as a whole.

EXPLORING BRIGHT SPOTS IN 

APPALACHIAN HEALTH

This report, Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian 

Health: Case Studies, looks at how ten Appalachian 

counties with health outcomes that are better than 

expected—given the counties’ characteristics and 

resources—are using their resources and strengths in 

different ways to address their health challenges. It 

identifies concrete actions these communities are 

taking to improve health and well-being, that others in 

the Region can work to replicate. 

This is the qualitative companion report to the second 

report in the series, Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis, which 

described the analysis used to assess how each of the 

420 Appalachian counties scored on 19 health 

indicators, and identified counties with better-than-expected outcomes given their characteristics and 

resource levels.4

Using the average degree to which a county’s observed health outcomes exceeded predicted values, the 

model identified the counties that either did very well on a few measures or exceeded expectations across 

 3 See Health Disparities in Appalachia for more details about health outcomes in the Appalachian Region. 4 See Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis for more details on the analysis.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

This report presents case studies of ten Bright 

Spot counties conducted over a nine-month 

period from September 2016 to May 2017. 

The purpose of the case studies was to identify 

local practices, programs, and policies that may 

be associated with better-than-expected health 

outcomes. However, the case studies were not 

designed to trace causal paths between specific 

practices and specific outcomes. Rather, by 

using the technique of rapid ethnographic 

assessment (see Research Approach in 

Appendix B), the case studies sought to answer 

a more general question: what is happening in 

these counties that might be contributing to 

better-than-expected population health 

outcomes?

A team of researchers and journalists gathered 

extensive background information on each case 

study location, traveled to each county to

interview key informants, and worked together to 

develop both a qualitative assessment of local 

practices and a narrative account of the local 

culture of health. The team interviewed people 

with leadership roles in county government, 

health care, social services, education, 

university extension agencies, business, and the 

ministry. The researchers explored perceptions 

of local health challenges and sought to identify 

practices that were relevant to understanding 

community-level health outcomes.

Throughout the field studies and during followup analysis, the team looked for patterns across 

the ten counties, as well as individual practices 

that might be replicated more widely. 
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many health outcomes. Ultimately, 42 Appalachian counties—the top ten percent of counties in the 

Region—were classified as “Bright Spots.” 

Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Case Studies presents in-depth qualitative analyses of ten

Bright Spot counties identified by the statistical analysis; digs deeper to explore local perceptions of 

practices that may be associated with better-than-expected health outcomes; and summarizes promising 

strategies that may be replicable in other communities.

Together, these companion reports:

 Identify Bright Spot counties that exhibit better-than-expected health outcomes given their 

resources; and

 Explore ten Bright Spot counties through in-depth, field-based case studies. 

The reports offer a basis for understanding and addressing health in the Appalachian Region and identify 

factors that support a culture of health in Appalachian communities. They also explore activities, 

programs, and policies that appear to encourage better-than-expected health outcomes.

It is important to note that because the research team only studied counties that were classified as Bright 

Spots, we cannot attest that these conditions and practices distinguish Bright Spot counties from 

Appalachian counties whose outcome measures are not better than expected. To make such a 

determination would require a comparative research design and longer immersion in the field. We can 

say, however, based on previous public health research, that the practices we uncovered tend to be 

associated with better population-level health outcomes. 

The fourth and final report in the series, expected to be published in late 2018, will provide 

recommendations for practical strategies and activities that build on the findings of the first three reports. 

FOSTERING A CULTURE OF HEALTH

For decades, the country’s approach to health has been grounded in providing the best possible medical 

treatment and striving to make that care accessible and affordable. Research, however, shows that there is 

more to health than health care—although that is critically important. Where one lives, learns, works, and 

plays can have a greater impact on health than having access to a doctor. Given this knowledge, health 

systems, civic leaders, employers, community coalitions, and residents are collaborating to create

communities that help people stay healthy in the first place.

RWJF is championing efforts like these to foster a Culture of Health. According to RWJF, building a 

Culture of Health means creating a society that gives every person an equal opportunity to live the 

healthiest life they can—whatever their ethnic, geographic, racial, socioeconomic, or physical 

circumstances happen to be. A Culture of Health recognizes that health and well-being are greatly 

influenced by where we live, how we work, the safety of our surroundings, and the strength and 

connectivity of our families and communities.

Research from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that living in 

communities with inadequate housing, lower income levels, unsafe neighborhoods, limited access to 

food, or substandard education can have a detrimental effect on a person’s health. Efforts to address these 

conditions can improve individual and population health and lead to greater health equity.
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THE BRIGHT SPOT COUNTIES

Progress in the socioeconomic and health spheres are often interrelated if not interdependent, and this is 

no different in Appalachia. The Region’s economy, once highly dependent on mining, forestry, and 

agriculture, has diversified in recent decades, and now includes larger shares of manufacturing and 

professional services, among other industries. The number of high-poverty counties in the Region (those 

with poverty rates more than 1.5 times the U.S. average) declined from 295 in 1960 to 87 when measured 

from 2011 to 2015. However, incomes, poverty rates, unemployment rates, and post-secondary education 

levels continue to lag behind performance at the national level. 

Although the Region as a whole performs poorly on many health outcomes and drivers of health 

compared to the rest of the nation, many Appalachian communities are exceeding expectations on a 

number of health indicators. This report dives deep into ten of those communities to explore the practices, 

programs, and policies that may be leading to their better-than-expected health outcomes.

These ten counties represent each of Appalachia’s five subregions, include eight states, both metropolitan 

and nonmetropolitan areas, and three of ARC’s five economic status classifications (see Table 1 and 

Figure 1). 

 Table 1: Selected Characteristics of Case Study Counties

State County Subregion Census 

Designation

2014 

Population

Economic 

Status5

AL Hale Southern Metropolitan 15,393 Distressed

KY McCreary Central Nonmetropolitan 18,073 Distressed

KY Wayne Central Nonmetropolitan 20,728 Distressed

MS Noxubee Southern Nonmetropolitan 11,240 Distressed

NY Tioga Northern Metropolitan 50,464 Transitional

NC Madison South Central Metropolitan 20,951 At-Risk

PA Potter Northern Nonmetropolitan 17,451 Transitional

TN Sequatchie South Central Metropolitan 14,431 Transitional

WV Grant North Central Nonmetropolitan 11,829 Transitional

WV Wirt North Central Metropolitan 5,810 At-Risk

It is important to note that the Bright Spot counties are not distributed evenly among the Appalachian 

states. The statistical analysis in the accompanying quantitative report determined that Kentucky and 

Mississippi have proportionately more Bright Spot counties than other states. The model did not identify 

any Bright Spot counties in Ohio despite the fact that the state contains 32 Appalachian counties. South 

Carolina and Maryland also had no identified Bright Spot counties.

 5 Fiscal year 2017
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Figure 1: Map – OMB Designation of Appalachian Bright Spot Counties 

(Metropolitan/Nonmetropolitan) 

While each of the ten counties has a unique health outcomes profile, all performed better than expected on 

premature mortality, injury mortality, and the prevalence of depression in Medicare patients (see Table 2). 

Wayne, Noxubee, and Hale Counties stand out for both the range of outcomes that were better than 

expected and the extent to which the outcomes exceeded expectations. 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Wirt County, WV

Tioga County, NY

Wayne 

County, KY

McCreary 

County, KY

Potter County, PA

Grant County, WV

Sequatchie County, TN

Madison County, NC

Hale County, AL

Noxubee

County, MS

KENTUCKY

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles

Case Study Counties

Metropolitan

Non-Metropolitan
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Table 2: Health Outcomes in the Case Study Counties

Category Indicator

Case Study County Total 

Counties 

Better Than

Expected per 

Measure

WayneNoxubeeHaleWirtSequatchieTiogaMcCrearyPotterMadisonGrant

(Max = 10)

Mortality and 

Morbidity

YPLL 10

Stroke 9

Cancer 7

Injury 10

COPD 9

Heart disease 9

Mental Health

Mentally bad day 5

Suicide mortality 8

Depression 10

Child Health % low birthweight 7

Infant mortality 8

Chronic 

Disease

Diabetes 4

Heart disease 

hospitalization 9

Medicare HCC 9

Obesity 4

Physically bad day 4

Substance 

Abuse

Excessive drinking 7

Poison mortal 8

Opioid Rx 5

Total Better-than-Expected 

Outcomes per County (Max = 19) 16 16 15 14 14 14 14 14 13 12

The expected values for the 19 health outcome measures are based on the regression analysis described in 

the Statistical Analysis companion report. The regression predicted health outcomes for every county in 

Appalachia using 29 health drivers associated with the environment, health behaviors, health care 

delivery system, quality of health care, and social determinants. It then compared actual outcomes with 

expected outcomes and standardized the differences to identify the counties in the top decile in both the 

metropolitan and nonmetropolitan categories. Data in the study cover the years 2008 to 2014.
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A DEEPER LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SPOT COUNTIES

Each of the ten Bright Spot counties has its own particular health-related challenges, available resources 

for dealing with them, and different responses. But there are similarities in the solutions and strategies 

they employed. These fall into six broad categories:

 Community leaders engaged in health initiatives

 Cross-sector collaboration

 Resource sharing

o Transportation

o Food

o Shelter

 Local healthcare providers committed to public health

 Active faith community

 Initiatives to combat substance abuse

Communities, policymakers, and funders who are interested in improving health outcomes could examine 

opportunities focusing on initiatives aligned in these broad categories.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

Sustained, committed leadership is critical to helping communities improve health outcomes. In the ten

Bright Spots studied, we found dedicated leaders who demonstrated resilience honed by decades of 

commitment to making the county a healthy place to live and visit. Each of the counties has a local leader 

or leaders with credibility, know-how, and a drive to make programs successful. These individuals 

include political officials, business leaders, volunteers, and health care workers. Coalitions of citizens 

work together toward a common goal, and even large employers are dedicated to the health and wellbeing of their employees.

Most receive training through formal leadership development programs or informally through local 

organizations or relationships. All appear to get support in a number of areas, including skill 

development, mentoring, encouragement, income assistance, and networking strategies and tools. Groups 

providing support include the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative Extension, university 

extension agencies, regional health care providers, regional health departments, area health education 

programs, national faith-based organizations, governments, and nonprofits.

Many leaders have years of experience working together. Groups of leaders and citizens meet face to face 

regularly to discuss health issues in the county and formulate responses. These groups—health coalitions, 

health councils, health consortiums, and community health advisory boards—function in a democratic 

way and are not dominated by any single member. They also form strong networks of communication and 

cooperation. 

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Cross-sector collaboration within a county—or between neighboring counties—is a given in Bright Spot 

communities. In the words of Peggy Bobo Alt, deputy director of emergency services in Grant County,

West Virginia: “Nobody has the resources to take care of everything all the time, so we’re sharing and 

helping, and that has been good here.”
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Collaboration among formal and informal organizations, long-time residents, and relative newcomers 

helps counties stretch and focus local resources while also avoiding wasteful duplication. These 

collaborations are facilitated by a seeming absence of turf wars, minimal competition, and sharing credit 

for accomplishments.

Almost every county studied has formal coalitions that meet regularly. They bring together government 

leaders, health care providers, local churches, and senior centers as well as less formal groups of 

volunteers from food banks, food delivery programs, and after-school programs. A core group of 

dedicated, long-term leaders combine forces to meet community needs.

In many communities, employers recognize the value of a healthy community and healthy employees, 

support comprehensive health insurance plans, wellness programs, and participate in community health 

fairs. In Hale County, Alabama, an industrial board that serves like a Chamber of Commerce to attract 

business also collaborates with the health department and the University of Alabama’s extension office to 

provide health education.

Area Agencies on Aging are frequently central to collaborative efforts, often providing needed resources. 

And social service agencies often collaborate with health providers to ensure access, either by providing 

transportation to health care services or by taking the needed services to clients. Tioga County, New York 

and Potter County, Pennsylvania house a range of service providers in one building, which fosters access 

for social service program beneficiaries as well as communication and cooperation among providers. 

Resource Sharing

Patterns of cooperation and resource sharing differ, but one thread consistently identified in each Bright 

Spot community was a strong network of local volunteers. These volunteers engaged in outreach to 

isolated community members, delivered food, and provided a broad range of services. Each Bright Spot 

community also set aside any differences to achieve core, shared goals. This enables leaders to 

accomplish more with the resources available to them, sometimes pooling resources to more effectively 

meet needs.

Resource sharing includes combining different programs with multiple sources of funding to address local 

challenges. Examples include efforts to keep seniors and youth nourished, sheltered, engaged, and 

healthy. Resource sharing extends to co-sponsorship of expos and fairs where county residents can obtain 

free or subsidized health screenings.

Remote counties that do not have their own health care systems, or local specialty care services, rely on 

multicounty or regional organizations to obtain the health care services they need. This cross-county 

pooling of resources is crucial to residents in otherwise underserved counties.

People interviewed in each of the ten Bright Spot counties stressed the importance of transportation, food, 

and shelter safety nets. Intense poverty and a lack of reliable transportation make it difficult for many in 

these counties to access available food or obtain other services. Children and seniors, in particular, are 

often at risk of going hungry. 

Programs to improve local health generally involve low-cost solutions to address social determinants of 

health, such as providing affordable housing or help with utility bills; access to balanced and healthy 

food; health screenings with follow-ups; and wrap-around substance abuse programs that remove stigma, 

engage the entire community, provide clear information about risks, eliminate easy access to drugs

through prescription take-back programs, and assist with recovery.
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Transportation

Transporting people to services and food sites is a continuing struggle in many counties. Kentucky’s 

Wayne and McCreary counties have formal Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated programs that run 

scheduled vans covered through Medicaid. In other counties, churches, volunteer organizations, and 

senior centers provide transportation. In Tioga County, New York, cuts in Medicaid eligibility prompted 

the formation of a largely volunteer transportation service called Neighbors Helping Neighbors. 

Food

In Noxubee County, Mississippi, at least a half-dozen programs provide food to low-income children at 

churches and community centers year-round. Churches also provide afterschool food programs for lowincome children. In Wayne County, Kentucky, students grow and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables from 

a four-acre garden originally planted by the school food service director. The Hope Center, also located in 

Wayne County, provides weekend bag lunches to keep children from going hungry on the days when they 

are not in school. 

Shelter

A recent American Hospital Association study shows that housing takes priority over health care when 

resources are tight. Noxubee County, Mississippi; Hale County, Alabama; and Tioga County, New York

all offer programs to address affordable shelter. While some assist residents with utility payments, others 

focus on affordable home ownership.

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

In all ten counties studied, health care providers are essential to the health of the surrounding 

communities. They have long recognized that the health of their patients depends on more than the 

medical care they provide. “We recognized several years ago that we had to go beyond the four walls of 

the hospital,” says Grant Memorial Hospital CEO Mary Beth Barr. “We needed to serve the entire 

community.” 

Residents trust their local providers, whether they are an individual provider, hospital, or service network, 

and whether they are in-community or based in the next county over. While a few counties have an 

established hospital and easy access to emergency services, others rely on the county health department, 

small community hospitals, or a regional clinic network. All provide outreach into the community, and 

most have active regional mental health providers who work with physical health institutions and social 

service agencies.

In McCreary County, Kentucky, strong local volunteer organizations, emergency medical services, and 

the library connect residents to health and social services. More than half of the counties studied hold 

regular health fairs providing basic medical tests and health-related information. Others recognize that the 

location of health services matters a lot. In Madison County, North Carolina, the nonprofit Hot Springs 

Health Program operates four medical centers strategically placed around the county to give residents 

easy access—no one in Madison County has to travel more than half an hour for services. This kind of 

local outreach and commitment may lower cultural and psychological barriers to seeking care. 

Local providers also tend to champion public health-oriented measures such as safe places for walking 

and efforts to combat substance abuse.
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Active Faith Community

Faith-based communities are actively working to promote healthier lifestyles in a variety of ways,

including sharing information, hosting health fairs, providing food to nutritionally insecure families, or 

driving people to medical appointments. They are also involved in providing information and shaping 

attitudes about substance abuse.

In Sequatchie County, Tennessee, 19 local churches have created the Sequatchie Ministerial Association. 

This association helps pay utility bills for struggling families, provides a jail ministry, and operates a food

bank. Various churches in the community provide yoga and meditation classes, potluck dinners, and 

health fairs. In Hale County, Alabama, the health department collaborates with local congregations to 

provide regular screenings in churches or at one of the two area food stores. It distributes flyers about 

health-related events in area churches. According to many people we interviewed, this is especially 

effective given a long tradition of sharing news by word-of-mouth.

Initiatives to Combat Substance Abuse

Like much of the rest of the nation, counties in Appalachia are struggling with a substance abuse 

epidemic. In fact, the poisoning mortality rate in Appalachia (which includes overdose) was 37 percent 

higher than the national rate during the 2008–2014 period. Most of the ten counties are taking creative, 

proactive steps to face the issue head-on. These efforts range from organized substance abuse support 

groups for both addicted persons and their families to initiatives to curb addictive behaviors to low-cost 

disposal sites. Often, these initiatives involve agencies working across sectors. For example, in Grant 

County, West Virginia, the coalition called PITAR—Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, Anti-Stigma, 

and Recovery—comprises representatives from the prosecutor’s office, the sheriff’s department, the drug 

court, and treatment centers, and gathers monthly to discuss solutions. 

Prevention education for adolescents is common. Schools run programs which educate students on the 

dangers of drugs and long-term consequences of substance abuse. In Wirt County, West Virginia, schools 

partner with more than a dozen other agencies to create an annual sober event in which students play 

games and drive golf carts while wearing vision-altering goggles, often called “beer goggles.” Since the 

program began, there have been no alcohol-related auto deaths after prom and graduation. We could not 

measure how it translated to sustained health behaviors at other times. 

Wirt County, West Virginia, also has a “Drug Take Back Day,” during which any resident can dispose of 

old or unneeded medications at a chosen site. The county also has a permanent receptacle in front of the 

courthouse where residents can drop off medications, or any other substance, anonymously. 

Remaining Gaps

The research done for this report also found common challenges, which may suggest key roles that 

remain to be filled by outside entities. For example, many health coalitions are inspired to work among 

youth, but dwindling resources for public education make it increasingly difficult to engage with schools. 

Private investors, health systems, and insurance payers could fill that gap by investing resources in the 

schools. At a broader level, sustaining collaborative work depends on thorough planning, resourceful 

grant-writing, and effective communications—core elements of community capacity that are missing in 

many rural areas. Regional foundations, community development financial institutions, and advocacy 

groups could target investment to capacity building services, not just program delivery.

For example, a comprehensive report from the Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis released in 

February 2018 recommended that funders—including philanthropies and government agencies—adapt 
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their funding strategies to address barriers to participation in rural places; provide funding opportunities 

for rural communities that are ready for change but lack capacity to apply for grants; identify and grow 

rural leaders by ensuring opportunities for youth engagement and employment; support economic 

development efforts through investments in rural economies beyond the health care sector; and consider 

rural communities as program pilot sites to test interventions on a smaller scale, among other 

interventions that could be adopted in Appalachia. 

IMPROVING HEALTH THROUGHOUT APPALACHIA

The patterns evident in the Bright Spot counties encourage further exploration of strategies that could 

improve health throughout other parts of the Region. Many practices in these ten counties could be 

replicated elsewhere, and some could be replicated at low cost. 

Health councils can be organized wherever local leaders and citizens are willing to join forces to discuss 

community health problems and possible solutions. These councils or coalitions may also foster crosssector collaboration that, in turn, promotes efficient use of resources, diminished competition, and pulling 

together to get things done. 

Many of the programs supporting youth and seniors are also relatively inexpensive given that they are 

often supported by a large volunteer network or existing organizational infrastructure, such as university 

extension agencies. Some efforts to combat substance abuse are also relatively low-cost, such as 

providing safe places to discard unused and outdated drugs, and having courts divert low-level offenders 

into treatment programs.

Other conditions and initiatives are more difficult to replicate, mainly because they are rooted in local 

culture or historical community services. Half of the ten counties studied had a leading health care 

provider with roots in the community and strong ties to the local culture. These included “homegrown” 

publicly owned hospitals or health systems with a record of striving to serve local residents and improve 

population health. They reduce actual and perceived access barriers through outreach and cultural 

identification with the community, commit resources to screening and prevention, create extended 

networks of specialty providers, and help to organize and integrate health promotion efforts at the county 

level.

Practices that may be more difficult to replicate include strong communication networks among local 

leaders, a spirit of cooperation, community solidarity, a willingness to share resources and credit, and 

generous mutual support. These things develop organically over time. However, what may be more easily 

replicable are the organizational elements associated with these community characteristics: 

democratically functioning health councils with broad membership; co-located government, health, and 

social service hubs that aid communication and collaboration; and cooperative ties to regional 

organizations that can generate new ideas without being imposed from outside the community.

It is clear that making health a shared value is necessary to transform a county into a vibrant, healthy

place to live. But concrete action, fostered through sustained leadership and a willingness to work 

together for the benefit of the community, is just as crucial. This report identifies practices that other 

counties may want to consider implementing in order to improve overall health.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. "Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report." Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

American Hospital Association. 2017. Fast Facts on U.S. Hospitals 2017. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.aha.org/statistics/fast-facts-us-hospitals-2017 

Appalachian Regional Commission. 2017. The Appalachian Region. September 1. 

https://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/TheAppalachianRegion.asp

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2016. Health in the United States, 2016. Accessed May 15, 

2018. 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hus/description.htm

Dewalt, Darren A, Nancy Berkman, Stacey Sheridan, Kathleen Lohr and Michael Pignone. 2004. 

"Literacy and Health Outcomes A Systematic Review of the Literature." Journal of Internal Medicine

12 (December 19): 1228-1239. Accessed July 2017. 

Hamoudi, PhD, Amar, and PhD, Jennifer Beam Dowd. 2013. "Physical Health Effects of the Housing 

Boom: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study." American Journal of 

Public Health 1039-1045.

Hilbrand, Sonja, David A. Coall, Denis Gerstorf, and Ralph Hertwig. 2017. "Caregiving within and

beyond the family is associated with lower mortality for the caregiver: A prospective study." Evolution 

and Human Behavior 397-402.

Holmes, G. Mark, Lane, Nancy, et. al,. 2017. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical 

Analysis. Washington, D.C. Appalachian Regional Commission. 

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Appalachian Regional 

Commission. 

NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. 2018. Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity 

in Rural Communities. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://www.norc.org/Research/Projects/Pages/exploring-strategies-to-improve-health-and-equity-in-ruralcommunities.aspx 

Office of Management and Budget. 2013. "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, 

Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses ofthe Delineations 

of These Areas." OMB Bulletin 13-01. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b-13-01.pdf 

Plough, Alonzo L. 2015. Measuring What Matters: Introducing a New Action Framework. November 11. 

http://www.rwjf.org/en/culture-of-health/2015/11/measuring_what_matte.html 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. 2014. Time to Act: 

Investing in the Health of Our Children and Communities. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2014/rwjf409002
15

Introduction

About the Project

About the Appalachian Region

About the Case Study Report 

References
16
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ABOUT THE PROJECT 

“Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots" is a four-part research series 

sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Appalachian Regional Commission 

(ARC), and administered by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. To date, this research project has 

produced the following three reports: 

1. Health Disparities in Appalachia (August 2017) measures population health in the Appalachian 

Region and documents disparities between Appalachia and the nation as a whole, as well as disparities 

within the Region. 

2. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis (July 2018) describes the results of 

the regression analysis used to assess how each of the Appalachian Region’s 420 counties scored on 19 

different health indicators, and then identifies counties with better-than-expected outcomes, given their 

characteristics and resource levels. Through this process, 42 Appalachian counties were classified as 

Bright Spot counties. 

3. Exploring Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Case Studies (July 2018) presents in-depth studies of 

10 of the 42 Bright Spot counties identified through the statistical analysis. This report explores local 

perceptions of practices that may be associated with better-than-expected health outcomes, and 

summarizes promising strategies that may be replicable in other communities. 

As described above, this report is the third in the series and is the qualitative companion to the second 

report, Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis (July 2018). 

This report contains ten case studies of Bright Spot counties. The cases represent each of the five ARC 

Appalachian subregions, three of ARC’s five economic status classifications, and are equally distributed 

between metropolitan and nonmetropolitan locations. Researchers went into these ten counties to identify 

networks, activities, values, beliefs, programs, and processes that may have helped them achieve betterthan-expected-health outcomes.

The final report in the series—to be released in fall 2018—will offer recommendations for practical 

strategies and actions that can be applied in other communities across the United States. 

Culture of Health 

A Culture of Health recognizes that where we live, how we work, the safety of our surroundings, and the 

strength and connectivity of our families and communities heavily influence health and well-being 

(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2017). A Culture of Health ensures that every person has an equal 

opportunity to live the healthiest life they can—whatever their ethnic, geographic, racial, socioeconomic, 

or physical circumstances. Practices that can facilitate this fall into four action areas: 

 Making health a shared value 

 Fostering cross-sector collaboration to improve well-being 

 Creating healthier, more equitable communities 

 Strengthening integration of health services and systems 
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The key features of a fully realized Culture of Health informed the selection of health outcome measures 

and, in the field studies, helped focus attention on local practices possibly related to those outcomes. 

Using the features of the Culture of Health model as touchstones for measurement enabled a comparison 

between counties within Appalachia and with national averages. 

ABOUT THE APPALACHIAN REGION 

Geographic Subregions 

The current boundary of the Appalachian Region includes all of West Virginia and parts of 12 other 

states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, 

Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. It covers 205,000 square miles and 420 counties, 

and it is home to more than 25 million people. 

The Appalachian subregions are contiguous regions with relatively similar characteristics (topography, 

demographics, and economics) within Appalachia. Originally consisting of three subregions, ARC 

revised the classification system in 2009 and now divides the Region into five subregions (see Figure 2). 

Recent economic and transportation data provide the basis for these smaller areas, allowing for greater 

analytical detail. 

Figure 2: Map of the Appalachian Subregions 

Data Source: Appalachian Regional Commission, Created November 2009 

GEORGIA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

SOUTH

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

VIRGINIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

KENTUCKY

OHIO ILLINOIS INDIANA

WISCONSIN

MICHIGAN

DE

NJ

PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

NEW YORK

TENNESSEE

0 100 50

Miles

Northern

North Central

Central

South Central

Southern

Subregions
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Rurality in Appalachia

To describe Appalachian areas in terms of rurality, counties were organized into metropolitan and 

nonmetropolitan groups using the 2015 U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definition of 

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This separation recognizes that metropolitan and nonmetropolitan 

counties can be quite different in terms of resources and overall population size, and that these differences 

can affect the degree to which health drivers affect health outcomes. The OMB metropolitan delineation 

is broad; some metropolitan counties (e.g., “bedroom counties”) classify as such because of their high 

levels of commuting to core urban areas. Otherwise, they may resemble nonmetropolitan areas in both 

population size and density. However, to the extent that metropolitan status captures integration with a 

metropolitan center, the chosen delineation is appropriate for this model. 

County Economic Status in Appalachia 

ARC classifies counties based on economic status. The following information is based on ARC’s report, 

“County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2017.” Figure 3 shows Appalachian counties by economic 

status for fiscal year 2017. 

Figure 3: Map of County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2017 
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The Appalachian Regional Commission uses an index-based county economic classification system to 

identify and monitor the economic status of Appalachian counties. The system involves the creation of a 

national index of county economic status through a comparison of each county's averages for three 

economic indicators—three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty 

rate—with national averages. The resulting values are summed and averaged to create a composite index 

value for each county. Each county in the nation receives a rank based on its composite index value, with 

higher values indicating higher levels of distress. 

Each Appalachian county is classified into one of five economic status designations, based on its position 

in the national ranking. 

Distressed: Distressed counties are the most economically depressed counties. They rank in the worst 10 

percent of the nation's counties. 

At-Risk: At-Risk counties are those at risk of becoming economically distressed. They rank between the 

worst 10 percent and worst 25 percent of the nation's counties. 

Transitional: Transitional counties are those transitioning between strong and weak economies. They 

make up the largest economic status designation. Transitional counties rank between the worst 25 percent 

and the best 25 percent of the nation's counties. 

Competitive: Competitive counties are those that are able to compete in the national economy but are not 

in the highest 10 percent of the nation's counties. Counties ranking between the best 10 percent and best 

25 percent of the nation's counties are classified competitive. 

Attainment: Attainment counties are the economically strongest counties. Counties ranking in the best 

10 percent of the nation's counties are classified attainment. 
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ABOUT THE CASE STUDY REPORT 

This is the qualitative companion report to the second report in the series, Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis, which described the analysis used to assess how each of the 420 

Appalachian counties scored on 19 health indicators, and identified counties with better-than-expected 

outcomes given their characteristics and resource levels.6

Using the average degree to which a county’s observed health outcomes exceeded predicted values, the 

model identified the counties that either did very well on a few measures or exceeded expectations across 

many health outcomes. Ultimately, 42 Appalachian counties—the top ten percent of counties in the 

Region—were classified as “Bright Spots.” Figure 4 contains a map of all Bright Spot counties.

Figure 4: Map of Bright Spot Counties in Appalachia 

The ten counties selected for the case studies represent each of Appalachia’s five subregions, include 

eight states, both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and three of ARC’s five economic status 

categories by subregion and metropolitan status. 

Table 3 lists the case study counties and the average standardized residual scores from the quantitative 

analysis that identified them as Bright Spots. Higher scores indicate better-than-expected outcomes, 

though metropolitan and nonmetropolitan scores cannot be compared. 

 

6

 See Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis for more details on the analysis. 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles

Bright Spot Counties

Rest of Region

Bright Spots
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Table 3: Case Study Site Characteristics 

State County Subregion Census 

Designation 

2014 

Population 

Economic 

Status 

Average 

Standardized 

Residual 

AL Hale Southern Metropolitan 15,393 Distressed 0.35 

KY McCreary Central Nonmetropolitan 18,073 Distressed 0.45 

KY Wayne Central Nonmetropolitan 20,728 Distressed 0.72 

MS Noxubee Southern Nonmetropolitan 11,240 Distressed 0.58 

NY Tioga Northern Metropolitan 50,464 Transitional 0.27 

NC Madison South Central Metropolitan 20,951 At-Risk 0.29 

PA Potter Northern Nonmetropolitan 17,451 Transitional 0.45 

TN Sequatchie South Central Metropolitan 14,431 Transitional 0.31 

WV Grant North Central Nonmetropolitan 11,829 Transitional 0.49 

WV Wirt North Central Metropolitan 5,810 At-Risk 0.47 

The quantitative analysis of health outcomes and health drivers identified counties that, on average, 

appear healthier than expected given their characteristics and resource levels, such as sociodemographics, 

behaviors, health care facilities, and other characteristics of the communities that influence health 

outcomes. The field work conducted for this report added additional insight and a more in-depth 

assessment of programs and other elements in place that may play a role in the better-than-expected 

health outcomes. 

The methodology specifically did not seek to identify healthy counties with high levels of resources and 

characteristics that tend to support positive health outcomes. Instead, the goal was to identify and examine 

counties with a wide range of characteristics and resource levels that had all managed to find a way to be 

healthier than expected. 

The model is motivated by the positive deviance research approach, which identifies individuals, groups, 

and organizations that affect change at the local level as opposed to macro-level policies at the state and 

national levels. Although the Bright Spots model does not fully mirror the positive deviance model, the 

approach provided the motivation for the Bright Spots framework and the foundation for exploring 

counties through in-depth, field-based case studies. The underlying principle is that by identifying 

individuals and groups that are overcoming challenges affecting a large number of people in a given 

community, researchers can also identify simple best practices that can be shared more broadly. 

The field study work occurred over a ten-month period (August 2016 through May 2017) and used a rapid 

ethnographic analysis protocol. The field teams consisted of journalists, public health researchers, and 

health care delivery system specialists. A cultural anthropologist and a sociologist—with experience 

directing and publishing similar research in their fields—developed the protocols described in the 

Research Approach section in Appendix B. Data include observations, interviews with key informants 

that were selected for their familiarity with the community and its health issues, and post-visit follow-ups. 
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Using the detailed case study interviews, observations, and assessments of on-the-ground resources, this 

report assesses the practices and programs that appear to contribute to the better-than-expected health 

outcomes. Researchers used the four Culture of Health action areas previously described to discern 

patterns in counties where attaining the best health possible is a core value. The report then synthesizes all 

of this information to identify activities and strategies that may be replicable elsewhere. 

Though each case has unique features, counties included in this report also exhibit common patterns. 

Each has sustained and dedicated leaders engaged in health initiatives who demonstrate resilience honed 

by decades of commitment to a shared vision of making the county a good place to live and visit. Patterns 

of cooperation and resource sharing may differ, but all case study communities set aside differences to 

achieve core, shared goals. The case studies verified that Appalachia has Bright Spots where health is 

important and communities are able to accomplish a great deal with the resources available to them. 

 
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REFERENCES 

Galea, S., Melissa Tracy, Katherine J Hoggatt, Charles DiMaggio and Adam Karpati. 2011. “Estimated 

Deaths Attributable to Social Factors in the United States.” American Journal of Public Health 101 no. 8: 

1456-1465. 

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission. 

Marmot, M., Sharon Friel, Ruth Bell, Tanja AJ Houweling and Sebastian Taylor. 2008. “Closing the gap 

in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health.” The Lancet 372 no. 

9650: 1661-1669. 

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Appalachian Regional 

Commission. 

McGinnis, J.M., Pamela Williams Russo and James R Knickman. 2002. “The case for more active policy

attention to health promotion.” Health Affairs 2: 78-93.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. 2014. Time to Act: 

Investing in the Health of Our Children and Communities. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2014/rwjf409002 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 2017. About a Culture of Health. March 15. 

http://www.cultureofhealth.org/about/ 
25

Case Studies

Hale County, Alabama

McCreary County, Kentucky

Wayne County, Kentucky

Noxubee County, Mississippi

Tioga County, New York

Madison County, North Carolina

Potter County, Pennsylvania

Sequatchie County, Tennessee

Grant County, West Virginia

Wirt County, West Virginia
26
27

Hale County, Alabama

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Hale County: Community 

Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Hale County

References

Appendix: Hale County Data
28
Hale County, Alabama

CASE STUDIES

29

Hale County [is] focused on people having access to healthy foods, having 

access to a nice park to be physically active. We have had good success here.

 —Stacey Adams, Assistant Area Administrator, 

 Alabama Department of Public Health

Located in Alabama’s rural Black Belt, Hale County is no longer the place captured so starkly by 

journalist James Agee and photographer Walker Evans in their 1941 book, Let Us Now Praise Famous 

Men. The book documented the abject lives of impoverished sharecropper families, mostly white, 

subsisting in the rural South. Hale County still struggles with poverty, but it is also home to innovative 

nonprofits and creative collaborations reimagining how to improve community health and well-being.

Agriculture in Hale County benefits from local environmental conditions, including the water-retentive 

soil of the southern Black Belt region. That same soil once made cotton an important agricultural crop for 

the area; though, now, Hale is known for its catfish industry.

Hale is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and the only county in Appalachian Alabama—

identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on 15 out of 19 health outcome measures. 

Notably, Hale County performed better than expected on the following measures:

 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mortality: 32 percent better than expected

 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with depression: 26 percent better than expected

Greensboro, Alabama, is the county seat of Hale County.

© Kim Cross 
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

30

 Years of potential life lost: 14 percent better than expected

 Percentage of excessive drinkers: 13 percent better than expected

 Infant mortality: 13 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives that improve 

overall well-being. For example, field research suggests that a strong commitment to both providing 

access to health care and addressing social factors that affect health—such as housing and employment—

plays a major role in community health. At the same time, a sense of connectedness among different 

generations and diverse sectors helps to promote overall health and meet community needs with limited 

resources. 

Hale County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. Like other counties with limited 

resources, Bright Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Hale County’s 

performance, however, indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate 

better-than-expected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit 

from adopting similar initiatives.1

 1 See Table 6 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Hale 

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES 

31 

COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 5: Map - Bright Spot Community Hale County, Alabama 

Hale County represents a metropolitan county in Southern Appalachia. It was the

only county in Appalachian Alabama identified as a Bright Spot.

Hale County lies in Appalachia’s southernmost part, where the mountains may be more accurately 

described as foothills. It is approximately 33 miles southwest of Tuscaloosa. Three distinct areas make up 

most of the county: the town of Newbern in the south, the city of Moundville in the north, and the county 

seat of Greensboro in the middle. The remainder of the county consists of small rural communities, 

although the county is designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget as a metropolitan 

county. 

With a population of just over 15,000, Hale County is Alabama’s tenth-poorest county. Unemployment in 

2014 was 9.9 percent, compared with 6.5 percent regionally and 6.2 percent nationally. Classified by the 

Appalachian Regional Commission as economically distressed in fiscal year 2017, Hale County has a 

median household income of $33,315, about 60 percent of the national median. 

The catfish industry employs many county residents, and more than half of the county’s residents work in 

health and social assistance, retail and wholesale trade, or manufacturing. The transportation and real 

estate sectors offer the highest-income jobs. 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Hale County, AL

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

32

Hale’s population is 58 percent black and 41 percent white, with other races, including American Indians, 

nominally represented. Nearly half (48.8 percent) of adults have some college education, compared with

63.3 percent nationally.

2 Approximately 16 percent of the population receives benefits from the Social 

Security Administration, compared with about 5 percent of the national population.3

Beyond the poverty are signs of community investment and creative use of limited resources. The field 

work conducted for this report shows that a handful of leaders and nonprofits have played a major role in 

addressing the county’s housing shortage. Hale County has emphasized collaboration to leverage 

available resources. Stakeholders note that county residents have looked through the lens of opportunity 

instead of the lens of need. 

A DEEPER LOOK AT HALE COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

As in the other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people in Hale County have worked to 

elevate physical, social, and economic health in several ways. In Hale County, these efforts include 

developing affordable housing initiatives, establishing social programs for helping elderly people as well 

as those who are isolated and who have mental illness, and creating a health care clinic network. 

Field work helped identify local practices that appear to be contributing to overall health, document 

effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and 

strategies that should be explored further.4 Specifically, the research identified these features in Hale 

County:

 Presence of strong social programs and sustainable community-focused nonprofits: The 

long history of social support and community development of nonprofits in Hale County indicates 

strong community support and a high likelihood that the work of these nonprofits aligns with the 

needs of the community. 

 Cross-sector collaboration of local leaders, organizations, and volunteers: Organizations in 

and outside of health care regularly communicate and collaborate face to face to address 

community issues such as transportation, housing, and chronic health conditions. The presence of 

committed and resourceful leadership supports these efforts. Volunteers often fill in when 

funding is insufficient.

 Access to health and human services: Hale County has the basic infrastructure necessary to 

maintain and strengthen access to health care services. The county has a hospital, network clinics, 

home health services, rehabilitation and therapy, and mental health services.

 Targeted support of youth and at-risk groups: Empowering youth and providing opportunities 

for them to engage with the community creates strong social connections between generations. It 

also provides the opportunity and space for young people to become community leaders. The 

elderly, as well as other vulnerable groups, benefit from strong social support systems.

 2 Table 4 in the Hale County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.

3 This includes receipt of benefits either through the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program 

or the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program in 2014. 4 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 5 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

33

Community connectedness, the presence of exceptionally strong nonprofit leaders, and a focus on 

addressing underlying social factors such as lack of housing, workforce training, and substance abuse, 

seem to be important components in making health a shared value in Hale County. County residents also 

see value in collaborating with organizations outside the county, such as the Auburn University School of 

Architecture, to create a win-win for the university’s own learning initiatives and for Hale County

residents.

Hale County has undertaken efforts that fall into four overarching categories echoed in other Bright Spot 

counties: leadership, cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and local providers committed to public 

health. 

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

Strong, sustained leadership is evident in all of the Bright Spot communities, but especially so in Hale. 

Leaders include longtime resident entrepreneurs, members of the faith community, and dedicated health 

providers. Three programs have played a major role in shaping the county’s emphasis on housing—a 

known social factor that impacts health and well-being—and using local resources creatively to meet 

needs. These are the Hale Empowerment and Revitalization Organization (HERO), the Auburn Rural 

Studio, and Project Horseshoe Farm.

Pam Dorr has been a dedicated steward of Hale County for years. She came to Hale County from San 

Francisco as a fellow in the Auburn Rural Studio program, one of Hale County’s first collaborative 

initiatives aimed at solving the county’s affordable housing problem. She found the work so meaningful 

that she decided to stay in Hale County and, in 2006, revived a defunct 501(c)(3) organization known as 

HERO.

Under Dorr’s leadership, HERO worked to provide affordable housing and utilities assistance to 

residents. It focuses on three areas: supporting affordable housing development and education to reduce 

homelessness; helping families cover utility bills; and creating social enterprises that help residents in 

other ways, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to foster their own well-being. 

HERO does this through a combination of grants, partnerships, and reliance on a culture of recycling and 

resourcefulness. 

During her tenure at HERO, Dorr recognized the need to shift from a business model that relied on 

federal grants for 94 percent of its funding to a more entrepreneurial model designed to generate income 

from local businesses. Dorr helped create 11 small businesses and at least 50 new jobs. Those operations 

have generated more than $15 million in profits that were invested back into the community to build 

affordable housing for a large number of residents. HERO also subsidizes utility bills for approximately 

1,800 households, which represent 30 percent of all homes in the county. These subsidies are a big part of 

the shelter safety net in Hale County.

Dorr’s vision was not limited to housing. She wrote many grant proposals that have influenced public 

health, including one credited with helping improve the county’s high infant mortality rate in the early 

2000s.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES 

34 

Cross-Sector Collaboration 

In Hale County, there is a rich network of health and human services organizations collaborating with 

organizations rooted in very different fields, ranging from the Auburn University School of Architecture 

to local businesses and public housing. For example, the publicly owned Hale County Hospital, which 

provides a full range of primary care services, works closely with the Hale County Cooperative Extension 

Office, keeping it informed of new services as well as offering blood pressure checks and other 

supportive services at events and festivals. 

Established in 1993, Auburn Rural Studio is a unique, Hale County–based nonprofit internship program 

created by the Auburn University School of Architecture. Students accepted into this program receive 

poverty-level income and live in substandard living conditions while learning to work with tight resources 

to design and build sustainable infrastructure for Hale County and its residents. 

Third- and fifth-year architecture students spend 

months— even years—living in a restored 

farmhouse in Hale County as they see their projects 

through to completion. The students and local 

helpers learn how to be resourceful and creative as 

they organize, design, and construct a project. The 

projects emphasize addressing community 

infrastructure deficits, low-cost construction and 

operations, sustainability, local sourcing of building 

elements, and student leadership development. One 

of Auburn Rural Studio’s more recent endeavors is 

the development of “$20K Houses.” Students and 

staff are putting together a portfolio of relatively 

easy-to-build one-bedroom homes designed to be 

affordable and energy-efficient. Other communitycentric projects have included new builds and 

renovations for the Antioch Baptist Church, the 

Newbern Volunteer Fire Department, the Hale County Animal Shelter, the Akron Boys and Girls Club, 

the Safe House Black History Museum, and, most recently, the redevelopment of Lions Park. 

Over the years, Auburn Rural Studio has engaged students in more than 170 projects in Hale and two 

other counties, often attracting resources from national nonprofits. By recognizing that lack of safe, 

affordable housing can negatively impact health, Auburn Rural Studio is making health a shared value. 

A number of other collaborative programs in Hale County support at-risk populations such as youth and 

the elderly. Several of the county’s most successful programs give young people meaningful ways to 

contribute to their personal development, to their families, and to their community. For example, 

YouthBuild, a national program with an active chapter in Hale through HERO, teaches construction 

skills to young people who have dropped out of high school as they work toward obtaining their GED. 

YouthBuild collaborates with Auburn Rural Studio on a wide range of construction projects, providing 

opportunities for creative, meaningful work. 

© Kim Cross 

A prototype of Auburn Rural Studio’s “$20K House”
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

35

Resource Sharing

Hale County has an industrial board that serves as a de facto chamber of commerce. While the board 

fosters cross-sector collaboration, a major focus is on helping secure resources, spur economic 

development, and attract business. The board is composed of representatives of local organizations and 

businesses, which have an interest in and sense of responsibility for helping improve the health of the 

county.

Many entities across the county share resources. Project Horseshoe Farm (PHF) has grown adept at 

doing this to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable populations: children, seniors, and 

adults with mental illness. Launched in 2007 by psychiatrist John Dorsey, PHF recruits college graduates 

in their “gap year” between graduation and medical school to live and work in Hale County, operating 

community-based health and service programs.

PHF’s student recruits live on the farm in a bunkhouse built by Auburn Rural Studio students and work 

with the farm’s senior community center program, mental health housing, and youth after-school 

program.

Students lead day programs four days a week at the Community Clubhouse, a senior center that sits in the 

center of town. The programs are for the elderly, those who are isolated, and those with mental illness,

and are designed to overcome the isolation and lack of purpose that often accompany old age and mental 

illness. Each day has a theme, such as arts and crafts or nutrition and cooking. A volunteer nurse 

practitioner comes in to take blood pressure, provide nutrition counseling, and make sure participants are 

taking their medications. Moreover, the program provides snacks for the attendees and delivers meals to 

seniors who cannot get to the clubhouse.

PHF also operates an independent 

living program for women, most of 

them elderly, who are transitioning 

from being institutionalized for mental 

illness. Dorsey bought and renovated a 

farmhouse capable of housing up to 12 

women. The farmhouse is not an 

assisted living facility—residents must

cook and take care of themselves—but 

PHF students and other volunteers are 

accessible to the residents 24 hours a 

day, 7 days a week.

Before creating the senior center and 

the farmhouse, PHF started with an 

after-school program for fourth- and 

fifth-graders. Dorsey partnered with local schools and teachers to provide tutoring, mentoring, and 

enrichment programs for the children. The success of this program is quantifiable: 70 percent of the 

children in the program improved at least one quartile on the math portion of the Alabama Reading and 

Math Test. Also, more than 20 percent of the children advanced one to two years in their GatesMacGinitie reading levels. The program supports more than 80 children every day, and has a high 

retention rate, with children returning year after year. 

© Kim Cross 

Programs at Project Horseshoe Farm’s Community Clubhouse serve seniors and 

other vulnerable adult populations in Hale County.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

36

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

In an area where health decisions are often made by “the pocketbook,” many Hale County residents think 

about health in terms of whether they can or should seek treatment. Local health facilities and programs 

such as Auburn Rural Studio, HERO, and PHF approach health from a different angle, working to address 

conditions such as housing, education, or work opportunities that can help improve overall community 

health. 

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN HALE COUNTY

Creativity, collaboration, and strong leadership are making a difference in Hale County. Across sectors, 

partners are operating innovative, entrepreneurial programs that make efficient use of local resources and 

recruit people from both inside and outside of the county to create an environment that fosters health. A 

resourceful, entrepreneurial approach by nonprofit and faith-based leaders has helped to advance 

community well-being, in part by tapping into the strong culture of volunteerism here. Relationships 

between generations and different sectors are part of what brings the community together. Several 

programs work to reduce social isolation and address mental health for vulnerable populations, such as 

the elderly, and to support and nurture young people. 

Access to fundamental health care services is good, but community leaders also recognize the importance 

of social factors beyond medical care, including affordable housing and good jobs, to support health and 

well-being. This broad approach to health as part of the fabric of everyday life, combined with a 

commitment to ensuring that all residents have the basics they need for good health, has helped Hale 

County accomplish much with few resources.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES 

37 

REFERENCES 

Agee, James, and Walker Evans. 1941. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Alabama Department of Public Health. 2007–2015. “Alabama National Health File, 1974–2006.” 

http://alabama.nationalhealthfile.org/Hale/Details/5--Year-Average-Total-Infant-Mortality-Rate,-lessthan-1-year-old 

Bernstein, Fred A. 2005. “In Alabama, a Poor County is Rich in Modern Architecture.” New York Times,

December 25, 2005. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/25/travel/in-alabama-a-poor-county-is-rich-in-modernarchitecture.html 

Catlin, Bridget, A. Jovaag, and J. Williams Van Dijk. 2015. 2015 County Health Rankings Key Findings 

Report. Population Health Institute, University of Wisconson, Madison, Wis.: County Health Rankings & 

Roadmaps. 

Data USA. 2017. Hale County, AL. 

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/hale-county-al/ 

Downes, Lawrence. 2011. “Of Poor Farmers and ‘Famous Men’.” New York Times, November 26, 2011. 

Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/opinion/sunday/of-poor-farmers-and-famous-men.html 

Edge, John T. 2010. “Pie + Design = Change.” New York Times, October 8, 2010. Accessed May 15, 

2018. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/magazine/10pielab-t.html 

Grabowski, David C. 2007. “Medicare and Medicaid: Conflicting Incentives for Long-Term Care.” The 

Milbank Quarterly 84 (4): 579-610. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2007.00502.x. 

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission. 

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Appalachian Regional 

Commission. 

Rural SW Alabama. 2017. About Rural Southwest Alabama. 

http://www.ruralswalabama.org/about/ 

Sawyerville Day Camp. 2017. Sawyerville Day Camp. 

http://www.sawyervilledaycamp.org/ 
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

38

APPENDIX: HALE COUNTY DATA

Table 4: Hale County Characteristics

Characteristic Hale County United States

Population, 2010–2014 15,393 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -4.4% 4.1%

Median age, 2015 40.6 37.8

Percent persons over age 65, 2015 17.8% 14.9%

Median household income, 2014 $ 33,315 $ 56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $ 18,877 $ 28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 9.9% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 28.1% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 41.1% 77.1%

Percent black alone, 2015 57.8% 13.3%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 48.83% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Tuscaloosa – 33.1 miles N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Distressed

Southern Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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39

Table 5: Hale County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Stacey Adams Greensboro Assistant Area 

Administrator

Hale County Health 

Department 9/21/2016

Regina Knox Greensboro

Executive Director,

West Central 

Alabama AHEC

Area Health Education Center 9/21/2016

Tyrone Smith Greensboro County Coordinator Alabama Cooperative 

Extension System 9/21/2016

Pam Dorr Greensboro Director Hale Empowerment and 

Revitalization Organization 9/21/2016

Dr. John Dorsey Greensboro Director Project Horseshoe Farm 9/21/2016

Xavier Vendrell Newbern Director/Professor Auburn Rural Studio 9/22/2016

Natalie Butts-Ball Newbern Communications 

Manager Auburn Rural Studio 9/22/2016
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

40

Table 6: Hale County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 44.04 64.41 -31.6%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 10.50% 14.18% -26.0%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 10,037 11,691 -14.1%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 10.10% 11.67% -13.4%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 10.53 12.05 -12.6%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 48.85 55.68 -12.3%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 55.50 61.95 -10.4%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 8.41 9.26 -9.1%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 11.81 12.76 -7.4%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.91 0.98 -7.0%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 58.39 60.77 -3.9%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 35.9% 37.1% -3.2%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 206.66 213.48 -3.2%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 293.52 298.88 -1.8%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 5.10 5.14 -0.8%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 7.84 7.75 1.1%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 14.26 14.06 1.4%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 17.20% 16.77% 2.6%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 5.60 5.36 4.5%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

41

Table 7: Hale County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Hale 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 12.92 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 28.98 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 1,260.72 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 13.18 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 159.67 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.26 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.19 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $33,315.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 19.76 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 21.8%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 35.3%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 48.8%

Income inequality ratio,5 2010-2014 Yes 4.4% 5.6%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 77.2%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 80.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 79.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 28.1%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 65.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 58.3%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.00%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 16.2%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 35.1%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 0.06%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 12.99 

5 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA Hale County, Alabama | CASE STUDIES

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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Hale 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 5.19 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 19.49 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 14.76 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 42.58 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 16.09 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
43

McCreary County, Kentucky

County Overview

A Deeper Look at McCreary County: Community 

Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in McCreary County

References

Appendix: McCreary County Data
44
McCreary County, Kentucky

CASE STUDIES

45

What I think makes it a Bright Spot is that we do see ourselves—the whole 

county—as a community, and that we do come together.

—Kay Morrow, Director, McCreary County Public Library

The only Kentucky county without an incorporated city, McCreary County is a place where everyone 

knows everyone. As in many communities in Appalachia, residents here have seen their way of life shift 

dramatically as a result of the boom and bust of the coal and timber industries and declining economic

opportunities.

Despite living in one of the poorest counties in the state and the country, McCreary residents harbor a 

sense of hope for untapped potential. They embody the Kentucky commonwealth’s motto “United We 

Stand, Divided We Fall.” McCreary County may face many challenges, but this tight-knit community 

draws upon its collective strength and common goals to improve health across the county.

In downtown Whitley City, the county seat, the courthouse yard sprawls across the street from the local 

library, both welcoming venues in a community that is striving to reinvent itself as an outdoor-activity 

destination. 

The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River in McCreary County

Treewoman8 / Creative Commons 2.0 Generic
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

HEALTH IN APPALACHIA McCreary County, Kentucky | CASE STUDIES

46

McCreary County is home to approximately 18,000 people, and the population is predominantly white. Its 

poverty rate is triple the national rate, and the unemployment rate is 10.6 percent, much higher than the 

national average of 6.2 percent. 

McCreary County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of nine counties in 

Appalachian Kentucky—identified as a Bright Spot, performing better than expected on 14 out of 19 

different health outcome measures. Notably, McCreary County performed better than expected on:

 Injury mortality: 40 percent better than expected

 Stroke mortality: 37 percent better than expected

 Poisoning mortality: 34 percent better than expected 

 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with depression: 19 percent better than expected

 Years of potential life lost: 15 percent better than expected

McCreary County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better 

than expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, 

the socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. McCreary County still lags

behind national rates on many health-related indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. McCreary County’s performance, 

however, indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-thanexpected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting 

similar initiatives.1

 1 See Table 10 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for 

McCreary County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files

accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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47 

COUNTY OVERVIEW 

 

Figure 6: Map - Bright Spot Community McCreary County, Kentucky 

McCreary County represents a nonmetropolitan county in Central Appalachia. It is one of

nine Bright Spot counties in Appalachian Kentucky.

McCreary County is in southeastern Kentucky along the border of northeastern Tennessee. This nearly500-square-mile area is encompassed by two outdoor gems: the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Big 

South Fork National River and Recreation Area. A place that offers cliffs, gorges, waterfalls, rock 

shelters, and natural stone arches, McCreary County is trying to reinvent itself as a tourist destination for 

outdoor activities. Public-sector institutions have a heavy presence here, and the majority of land in this 

tiny county—the forest, the park, and the prison outside of Pine Knot—is owned or managed by the 

federal government. Because federal land isn’t taxable, the small amount of remaining private property 

provides a small tax base for local revenue. 

Like many Appalachian counties, McCreary was once heavily dependent on coal mining, but the last 

mine closed in 1994. Jobs here are scarce. Most residents here work in government jobs, including for the 

U.S. Penitentiary and the county school system. Although the county lacks a hospital or major health 

center, health care is the fifth-largest field of employment. Residents work in clinics, mental health 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

McCreary County, KY

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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facilities, home health, and nursing home care. Outdoor Venture Corporation, a military-grade shelter and 

related equipment manufacturer, supplies jobs via defense and private national contracts. 

Educational achievement is a challenge here. Some 72 percent of residents have finished high school, and 

only 7.5 percent have completed college, a figure much lower than the state rate and the national average. 

Slightly more than 40 percent of adults have had some college education, compared with 63.2 percent 

nationally.

Classified as economically distressed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in fiscal year 2017, 

McCreary County’s median household income of $24,265 is 43 percent of the national average. The per

capita income of $10,880 makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States. About 47 percent of 

people here live in poverty, compared with 15.6 percent nationally. Residents rely heavily on government 

assistance: some 85 percent of eligible residents are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 

Program (SNAP), and 17.4 percent are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or disability 

benefits—rates much higher than the national average.

2

A DEEPER LOOK AT MCCREARY COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

The people who live in McCreary County have a strong tradition of working together and leveraging 

resources in creative ways to solve challenges and address gaps. They do this through perseverance and

by pooling resources and creating partnerships. There is a deep commitment of neighbors eager to help 

neighbors in McCreary County.

Field work helped identify local practices that appear to be contributing to overall health, document 

effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and 

strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these characteristics and 

strategies in McCreary County:

 Intra-county cooperation and resource sharing: The absence of a hospital or major health 

center forces McCreary residents to pool resources and focus on efficiency. The community is 

close-knit, with a strong local volunteer culture and initiatives focused on perceived community 

health issues. The library, religious organizations, and organizations that deliver health care 

services appear strongly connected to each other and to the community at large.

 Presence and sustainability of community-focused nonprofits: Nonprofit organizations 

depend on the support of the communities they seek to help. The longevity of the nonprofits in 

McCreary County indicates strong community support and a higher likelihood that the nonprofits

have aligned with the specific needs of the community by matching the values and culture of its 

residents. It is also apparent that some nonprofits, like the Christian Care Center, are serving as 

safety net institutions. 

 Strong integration of health services and systems: McCreary County benefits from cooperation 

among a regional health department, emergency medical services, a home health agency, a 

nursing home, a mental health program, and primary care clinics that work together to provide 

 2 Table 8 in the McCreary County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of 

county characteristics.

3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 9 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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essential primary, preventive, and chronic health care. Adanta, the behavioral health and 

substance abuse program, has strong partnerships with the court and school systems.

 Making health a shared value: McCreary County leaders recognize the benefits of a healthy 

lifestyle. Elected officials invest in wellness programs, health care services, and recreation, and 

encourage residents to eat fresh, nutritious foods and take advantage of the natural environment to 

increase their physical activity. The county has also invested in the library as a resource center for 

health and social support information.

Like other Bright Spot counties explored in this report, McCreary County has used a variety of 

approaches to elevate the physical, social, and economic health of its residents. These actions fall into 

four overarching categories of leadership, cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and local providers 

committed to public health.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

Strong, sustained leadership was evident in all of the Bright Spot counties studied. In McCreary County, 

leaders are seen in all walks of life—from the local librarian and minister to a county official, a social 

worker, and a local emergency medicine professional. 

One example is Kay Morrow, who runs the McCreary County 

Public Library. The library serves as an important connector 

and resource to residents, community groups, organizations, 

businesses, churches, and schools. When residents enter, they 

are exposed to literature addressing drug abuse, infant care, 

upcoming health-focused community events, and details of 

library programs. A trained social worker, Morrow helps 

residents apply for utility subsidies and health insurance via the 

library’s computers. The library’s meeting room serves as a 

place for healthy-cooking classes, seminars on finance, and

family reunions. Always eager to make a better life for residents 

here, Morrow is spearheading efforts to rebuild the crumbling 

sidewalks downtown, secure more lighting at night, and 

organize a downtown walking club to boost physical activity. 

Another example is Sue Singleton, who oversees the 

McCreary County Christian Care Center’s food pantry. 

She has seen too many needed programs wither. But that hasn’t 

deterred this dynamic grandmother from pushing for services 

she knows residents need, including a needle exchange program

for intravenous drug users. Each day the center provides food to 

those in need; and medical services—including supplying 

medicine to residents without insurance or means to pay—are 

made possible due to donations from local business, churches, 

individuals, and small grants. The food pantry is open four days 

a week and supports more than 700 families each month. 

And there is also Reverend Braxton King, who directs a 

nonprofit community center called Lord’s Gym, which provides

gym participants with support and preventive information about 

© Joyce Pinson 

Kay Morrow, director of the McCreary 

County Public Library

© Joyce Pinson 

Sue Singleton, director of the McCreary 

County Christian Care Center
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substance abuse to combat the drug epidemic in a county where drug abuse and the rise of hepatitis are 

major concerns. Local churches work with Reverend King on other health initiatives aimed at promoting 

healthy behaviors among young people and providing support for those in need. About 150 children

participate. 

These are some of the people who with dignity, resolve, and a sense of humor help position McCreary 

County as a model of success despite its challenges. This cohesive group could easily succeed in a more 

economically vibrant community but choose to stay—because McCreary County is home.

Cross-Sector Collaboration 

McCreary County offers creative examples of how organizations work together to break down barriers 

that stand in the way of good health. For example, the Christian Care Center is consistently engaging 

with the community beyond its walls. Though it is primarily a food bank, the center also offers free overthe-counter medicine and medical supply rentals. The McCreary County Public Library is also a great

example of an organization doing all that it can to promote health. Director Kay Morrow understands that 

the library is an important component of a community that can offer a lot more than books. It actively 

works to promote community events and is an important driver of creating a healthier and more equitable 

McCreary County. 

And McCreary residents have learned to be creative with how they promote health. Churches play a big 

role here, encouraging congregants to participate in walking groups and become physically active to stay 

healthy and reduce chronic disease. They also use social media to convey local health information. 

The Adanta Regional Prevention Center is a great example of how organizations work across sectors. 

The center’s reach is the ten-county Lake Cumberland Area. In McCreary County, the program focuses 

Reverend Braxton King, director of the nonprofit community center Lord’s Gym. 

© Joyce Pinson 
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on suicide prevention and substance abuse prevention and provides clinical services and access to other 

regional resources. Adanta has worked with the McCreary County fiscal court on a countywide smokefree-air ordinance and other population health policies. It is also involved in the care and support of 

pregnant women through the Kids Now Plus Program, which offers classes to teach pregnant women how 

to improve their chances of having a successful birth. It provides incentives to encourage women to attend 

the classes and provides food and baby items to help children get a healthy start. Kids Now Plus also 

offers case management assistance, transportation to doctor visits, housing, and other health-related 

classes.

Adanta also works closely with schools, 

advocating for the implementation of 

evidence-based programs by teachers. Sherri 

Estes, program director for the McCreary 

County Clinic, which is where Adanta is 

situated, says relationships with local teachers 

are key to the program’s success. Teachers 

know the families and the impact that 

substance abuse is having on them, she says, 

adding that teachers see the struggles students 

are facing—they are unfocused in school, 

falling asleep in class because they didn’t get 

a full night’s sleep, or hungry. Estes says the 

teachers are aware of what kinds of things 

kids are going through and what can be 

done to help them. 

Adanta also works with a community-based coalition to achieve goals. This enables it to work with key 

stakeholders in the community and make sure everybody is working together on planning efforts around 

health. 

Resource Sharing 

The absence of a hospital or major health center forces McCreary County residents to pool resources and 

focus on social connectedness. The library, religious organizations, and organizations that deliver health 

care services appear strongly linked to each other and to the community at large. Clinics, a home health 

agency, a nursing home, and a mental health program are the main source of care options for McCreary

County residents. Outside the county, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department and a 25-bed 

critical access hospital in neighboring Wayne County provide primary, preventive, emergency, and 

surgical care. 

McCreary County is a close-knit community with a strong local volunteer culture and initiatives focused 

on addressing community health challenges like drug abuse, diabetes, and chronic disease. At one time, it 

had a formal interagency council that met monthly to share initiatives and resources, but the council has 

not met in five years, and a substance abuse coalition is trying to revive it. In the meantime, an informal 

council has developed to address substance abuse, while multiple community-based programs have 

organized to combat substance abuse and support behavioral health. Most involve nonprofits—such as 

Lord’s Gym, Christian Care Center, and the Adanta Regional Prevention Center—that rely on 

fundraising, volunteers, and/or government subsidies. 

© Joyce Pinson 

Adanta works closely with McCreary County schools to help families 

prevent substance abuse.
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Though most organizations appear to struggle with budget constraints, constant fundraising, and limited 

purchasing power, there is strong evidence of committed local leaders who derive satisfaction from 

helping people. For example, many residents here lack access to transportation to health care facilities. A 

regional transportation program, Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated, is a volunteer group that

provides on-demand transport services for residents in need. There also appears to be strong cooperation 

among organizations on critical issues like substance abuse and child development. 

According to Jimmy Barnett of the McCreary County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), grants from 

Assistance for Firefighters, Homeland Security, the South Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative 

Corporation, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development bolster health programs in the 

county. Barnett said the EMS program is working to build a stronger relationship with Somerset 

Community College in neighboring Pulaski County. He also says there is collaboration between county 

and state road crews to clear thoroughfares specifically to permit ambulance access.

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

As the sole source of emergency medical transport, the McCreary 

County EMS provides a much-needed service to the community. 

During the winter, a combination of weather and terrain make 

travel in the county hazardous. When conditions are too 

treacherous even for the four-wheel-drive ambulance, EMS calls 

on the fire department to provide more capable vehicles.

EMS is more than a transport provider, however. Coordinator 

Jimmy Barnett often visits high schools to teach students about

overall health, warning signs of disease, healthy eating habits, and 

the benefits of proper exercise. Barnett finds students are often 

very interested in this information and usually ask numerous 

questions regarding the health of their parents and grandparents. 

But while the county is known for its exceptional EMS training 

program, it doesn’t reap all of the benefits it could from it. Recruits 

often train here and then leave to work in an adjacent county that 

offers higher pay. There is a frustration that the program has 

become a virtual revolving door rather than a place to build a 

stable work staff that can support local needs. 

Tracy Aaron, health education director for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, manages 

all health educators in McCreary County as well as health education–related programs and initiatives. 

During her 22 years with the department, she has overseen a county health assessment, community health 

improvement plans, and nutrition and physical activity initiatives. She is also responsible for maintaining,

supporting, and facilitating coalition development in the county. Aaron is credited for spearheading many 

of the health initiatives in the county, including a focus on school-age children, providing them with 

education on reproductive health, tobacco use cessation, and risky behavior prevention. The district health 

department also employs a child care health consultant who provides education, technical assistance, and 

training for the county’s licensed child care providers and those certified to provide in-home care. And it

supports preventive initiatives like the farmers’ market and smoke-free restaurants.

© Joyce Pinson 

Jimmy Barnett, coordinator, McCreary 

County EMS
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Aaron summarized the health education efforts this way: 

There is a lot of education that goes on out there...and education is wonderful. But it’s 

taking that next step. It’s got to be an easy something that I’m going to do for me to be 

healthier. There [have been] changes made—McCreary has become a certified ‘trail town’

in the last two years. The farmers’ market has started in the past two years. We have 

encouraged and worked with restaurants that have voluntarily gone smoke free. Work sites 

have done that, too. So, we are making progress in the community when we think about the 

health of the communities.

Health department employees are eager to highlight McCreary County as 

embracing better health. Even elected Judge Executive Douglas 

Stephens— who compares his position to that of a mayor—enthusiastically 

touts the importance of Appalachian heirloom vegetables and the creation 

of a new food economy based around local agriculture. The fledgling 

farmers’ market here shows signs of growth. But with extension service 

programs stretched to the limit here, the local food movement will have to 

be championed by other organizations. 

Although Stephens laments that a wellness program offered to county 

employees was discontinued due to lack of participation, there is a push to 

get residents here to be more physically active. With nearly 22 percent of 

the population under 18, there is much concern about the health care of 

children. Street banners encourage residents to “Hike, Bike, Paddle, Get 

Outside Yourself” to take advantage of outdoor living. The McCreary 

County Cooperative Extension sponsors a walking/hiking club, and,

with more tourists visiting the county to hike, local residents are 

beginning to engage in outdoors activity as well. 

There are many organizations working on educating the community on the benefits of fresh and nutritious 

foods—evidenced by the growing farmers’ market and the many county residents who continue to garden 

and can their own fresh vegetables. Hunting and fishing for food is still a big part of the community. 

Kristina’s Kitchen, a health-food bakery and vegetarian café, sells nutritious food five days a week and 

offers free instruction on cooking meals. Programs like Grow Appalachia and Community Farm Alliance 

are strengthening the infrastructure to grow the farmers’ market and teach new ways to recruit farmers 

and increase production. 

© Joyce Pinson 

Street banners encourage residents 

to undertake outdoor activity.
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CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN MCCREARY COUNTY

People who live in McCreary County are committed to making it a good place to live, work, and 

visit. While poverty is high and jobs are scarce, the strong sense of community is what keeps people 

focused on improvement every day. They recognize that a creative use of limited resources, commitment, 

and collaboration are vital ingredients for success. They work together to create local dynamic networks 

and programs, and will partner with organizations outside the county when needed.

Residents share a sense of connection, faith, and 

resourcefulness that can take many forms, including 

community networking at the grocery store, the local 

church, club meetings, the library, or the Friday night 

football game. 

McCreary County is changing as it reinvents itself as a 

tourist spot for outdoor enthusiasts. But the county 

continues to focus on trying to create opportunities for 

better health by encouraging neighbors to work 

together on solutions and fostering strong social 

connections so residents feel supported.

By harnessing all of its strengths, from tapping into the 

potential of residents to engaging with and sustaining leaders to stretching limited resources in creative 

ways, McCreary County is finding new avenues to make sure health and well-being remain a top priority 

for everyone who lives there. 

© Joyce Pinson 

Lake Cumberland District Health Department health 

education director Tracy Aaron; nurse supervisor Jeanne 

Gaskin; and office manager Kim Tucker 
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Dewalt, Darren A, Nancy Berkman, Stacey Sheridan, Kathleen Lohr and Michael Pignone. 2004. 

“Literacy and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Journal of Internal Medicine 12 

(December 19): 1228-1239. Accessed July 2017.

Hamoudi, Amar, and Jennifer Beam Dowd. 2013. “Physical Health Effects of the Housing Boom: QuasiExperimental Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.” American Journal of Public Health 1039-

1045.

Hilbrand, Sonja, David A. Coall, Denis Gerstorf, and Ralph Hertwig. 2017. “Caregiving within and 

beyond the family is associated with lower mortality for the caregiver: A prospective study.” Evolution 

and Human Behavior 397-402.

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Kentucky Department of Travel. 2017. McCreary County Tourist Commission.

http://www.kentuckytourism.com/mccreary-county-tourist-commission/4177/

Lake Cumberland District Health Department. 2014. “2014 Community Health Assessment.” Lake 

Cumberland District Health Department. Accessed March 2017. 

https://www.lcdhd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LCDHD-McCREARY-2014-web.pdf

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission. 

U. S. Census. 2015. Single Parent Households with Children as a Percentage of Households with 

Children in McCreary County, KY. Retrieved from FRED. Accessed July 11, 2017. 

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/S1101SPHOUSE021147
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APPENDIX: MCCREARY COUNTY DATA

Table 8: McCreary County Characteristics 

Characteristic McCreary County United States

Population, 2010–2014 18,073 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -2.3% 4.1%

Median age, 2015 38.6 37.8

Percent population over age 65, 2015 14.1% 14.9%

Median household income, 2014 $ 24,265 $ 56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $ 10,880 $ 28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 10.6% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 47.0% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 91.2% 77.1%

Percent black alone, 2015 6.3% 13.3%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 40.11% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Somerset, KY – 32.9 mi. N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Distressed

Central Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics,

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 9: McCreary County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Rev. Braxton King Pine Knot Director Lord’s Gym 9/26/2016

Sue Singleton Whitley City Director Christian Care Center 9/26/2016

Douglas E. 

Stephens Whitley City County Judge

McCreary County Office of 

Economic and Community 

Development

9/26/2016

Jimmy Barnett Whitley City EMS Manager McCreary County EMS 9/26/2016

Brandy Rowe Whitley City

District Health 

Coordinator / 

School Nurse

McCreary County Board of 

Education 9/27/2016

Kay Morrow Whitley City Director McCreary County Public 

Library 9/27/2016

Tracy Aaron Whitley City Health Education 

Director

McCreary County Health 

Department / Lake 

Cumberland District Health 

Department

9/27/2016

Sherry Estes Whitley City Program Director 

Drug Prevention Program –

Adanta Regional Prevention 

Center 

9/27/2016
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Table 10: McCreary County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 53.75 89.15 -39.7%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 28.89 45.51 -36.5%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 30.80 46.95 -34.4%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 17.20% 21.11% -18.5%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 10,959 12,915 -15.1%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 7.30 8.47 -13.8%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 9.91 11.23 -11.8%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 238.78 270.15 -11.6%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 68.70 76.79 -10.5%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 259.94 278.04 -6.5%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 101.18 105.85 -4.4%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 10.30% 10.76% -4.3%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 34.2% 34.7% -1.4%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 1.057 1.061 -0.3%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 6.50 6.38 1.9%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 5.10 4.96 2.8%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 5.64 5.45 3.4%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 15.82 14.29 10.7%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 15.30% 12.43% 23.1%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 11: McCreary County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

McCreary

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.30

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 28.55

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 232.44

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 5.60

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 237.71

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.28

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.22

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226 $24,265

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 78.13

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 33.3%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 28.4%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 40.1%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 5.6%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 86.0%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 47.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 85.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 47.0%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 39.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 100.0%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.00%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 17.4%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 40.4%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 4.7%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 27.78 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

McCreary

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 3.34 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 5.53 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 16.50 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 83.48 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 20.85 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
61

Wayne County, Kentucky

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Wayne County: Community Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Wayne County

References

Appendix: Wayne County Data
62
Wayne County, Kentucky

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Our community is a very involved community. Everybody comes together 

from all these different agencies and organizations to do things for the good 

of the community.

—Melissa Jones, Team Leader, Adanta Group

 Behavioral Health Services, Wayne County

Originally carved from parts of adjacent Pulaski and Cumberland Counties, Wayne County lies at the 

south-central Kentucky crossroads of the Appalachian Coalfields, Bluegrass, and Pennyrile regions, with

its southernmost boundary nestled against Tennessee. The county keeps time in both the eastern and 

central time zones. While considered part of Appalachia, the terrain is less mountainous than many other 

parts of the Region. The gently rolling land lends itself to farming soybeans and corn and raising cattle. 

Lake Cumberland is Wayne County’s largest tourism draw, and at one time the area nurtured a vibrant 

luxury houseboat construction industry, until it collapsed during an economic downturn. 

The county is named for General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, a hero of the American Revolution and the 

Northwest Indian War. Monticello, the county seat, conveys its military history in monuments at the local 

courthouse; in the World War I “Doughboy” statue at the intersection of Main and Columbia Streets

dedicated to 23 Wayne residents who died in service to their country; and in the old Hotel Breeding, now 

a museum filled with curated Civil War military memorabilia.

© Joyce Pinson 

Vicky Albertson, diabetes educator for the Wayne County Health Department
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Monticello is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has strong architectural bones. The 

F&H Pharmacy, an old-fashioned store featuring a lunch counter, convenience items, and a pharmacy, is 

the heart of the downtown. The town is quiet, with few people on the tidy sidewalks. 

People here sometimes struggle for the necessities of life. In fact, more than 26 percent of residents live in 

poverty. Yet Wayne County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of nine counties

in Appalachian Kentucky—identified as a Bright Spot, performing better than expected across 16 of 19 

health outcome measures explored in this study. For example, Wayne County performed better than 

expected on the following measures:

 Poisoning mortality: 36 percent better than expected 

 Stroke mortality: 34 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalization: 30 percent better than expected

 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with depression: 26 percent better than expected

 Years of potential life lost: 25 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives that improve 

overall well-being. Field work shows that Wayne County’s strong community partnerships and social 

connections, integration of health services, and focus on healthy foods are likely contributing to the 

better-than-expected health outcomes.

Wayne County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on several health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all Wayne County residents enjoy excellent health. Wayne County still 

lags behind national rates on many health-related indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, 

Bright Spot counties face many challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Wayne County’s 

performance, however, indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate 

better-than-expected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit 

from adopting similar initiatives.1

 

1 See Table 14 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Wayne 

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 7: Map - Bright Spot Community Wayne County, Kentucky 

Wayne County represents a nonmetropolitan county in Central Appalachia. It is one

of nine Bright Spot counties in Appalachian Kentucky.

Attractive for its outdoor amenities and recreational opportunities, Wayne County is bordered by 

Tennessee and Lake Cumberland. Part of the chain of lakes in Kentucky and Tennessee created by the 

Tennessee Valley Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Cumberland makes the county a 

destination for recreation and tourism. Wayne promotes its strong military history and its well-maintained 

historic preservation sites to tourists as a complement to outdoor-recreation attractions. 

However, half of the workforce commutes outside the county to work, largely in lumber and 

manufacturing (Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, 2015). Schools and government are also 

major area employers. 

The population of almost 21,000 is spread across 13 communities. Wayne is racially homogeneous; 

roughly 96 percent of its population is white. Fewer than 36 percent of adults have at least some college 

education, compared with the national median of 63.3 percent. Classified by ARC as economically 

distressed in fiscal year 2017, Wayne County had an unemployment rate of 9.7 percent in 2014, compared 

Wayne County, KY

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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with the national unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. The county’s 2014 median household income was 

only $30,619, compared with the national median of $56,135.

2

Although Wayne is a “dry” county, concerns about opioid and other drug use run high, as they do 

throughout much of the state. Lack of public transportation is also a challenge, and is often a barrier to 

getting health care and other services. Rural Transit Enterprises Coordinated (RTEC) provides free 

transportation for Medicaid recipients, charging others $0.80 per mile. People who do not qualify for the 

RTEC subsidy and cannot afford its fee must rely on personal transportation to travel out of the county as 

there are no taxi or public bus services. 

But beyond these challenges is a commitment to community health that has engaged the energetic efforts 

of a network of government, private, and nonprofit groups in various sectors that share their limited 

resources to advance the common good. Together they have focused on expanding access to healthy 

foods, addressing mental and behavioral health needs, promoting healthy child development, making 

comprehensive health care available to more residents, and providing supportive services to those who 

need them most.

A DEEPER LOOK AT WAYNE COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

Residents of Wayne County have a long tradition of relying on each other and local resources to address 

challenges. They do this by partnering with other organizations—often across sectors—and sharing 

resources creatively. Their sense of community pride translates into a range of efforts to support 

community health. 

During the field work for this case study, several factors were identified that may have contributed to

better-than-expected results in Wayne County:

 Community partnerships and social connections: Sharing of resources to improve the health 

and condition of residents was evident across organizations in different sectors. Community 

organizations and religious groups routinely work together, strengthening the sense of community 

and the relationships between health care and other sectors. 

 Strengthening and integration of health services: Traditional health service providers improve 

access to and coordinate care, but their targeted support of at-risk groups, such as youth and 

people with mental and behavioral health issues, stands out. This targeted support helps to 

balance and integrate other services into the realm of health care delivery.

 A focus on healthy foods: The “Kentucky Proud” farming philosophy extends into official 

programs and supports the production and consumption of local fresh produce and products. This 

innate mindset contributes to a shared value of health.

 Social support programs: Local nonprofits help people rebuild lives and family structures.

As in the other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people here have worked to elevate 

physical, social, and economic health in several ways. Field work undertaken for this report identified

local practices in Wayne County that appear to be contributing to overall health, documented effective 

practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identified promising practices and strategies that 

 

2 Table 12 in the Wayne County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.
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should be explored further.3 Their approaches fall into four overarching categories observed in other 

Bright Spot counties: leadership, cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and local providers 

committed to public health.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

Wayne County benefits from strong leadership. Notably, the Wayne County Health Department, which is 

part of the Lake Cumberland District Health Department, and the University of Kentucky Wayne County 

Cooperative Extension Service have played critical roles in improving community health.

For example, the county health department has led the way in expanding access to healthy foods for 

seniors and recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children 

(WIC) by issuing vouchers redeemable at the weekly local farmers’ market. In fact, the farmers’ market 

redeems 59 percent of the department’s WIC vouchers. Part of this success is attributed to an emphasis on 

local food culture and encouraging residents to buy homegrown “Kentucky Proud” produce.

In addition, the health department has moved aggressively to combat the epidemic of diabetes affecting so 

many Wayne County residents. It offers a free diabetes prevention class, as well as other classes to 

educate people with diabetes and their families on the importance of maintaining healthy blood sugar 

levels and on how to better manage diabetes through healthy eating and cooking.

Another health department initiative, the HANDS Program, may contribute to better-than-expected rates 

of infant mortality and low-birth-weight births in Wayne County. HANDS is a volunteer home visitation 

program for new and expectant parents that provides education, connects families to services they may 

need, and promotes child safety and development.

The extension service promotes community health and well-being through a range of initiatives, including 

programs for better nutrition, weight loss, worksite wellness, career readiness, life skills, and women’s 

health, as well as health fairs and an afterschool walking club. A “Local Ingredients” program with the 

Future Farmers of America, 4-H, and the Master Gardeners club grows vegetables on four acres for public 

schools and saved the school system an estimated $24,000 in 2016 while increasing students’ 

consumption of fresh produce. A drug prevention program sponsored by the extension service not only 

deters young people from using drugs, but has also created new community partnerships among law 

enforcement, juvenile justice services, and the local women’s 

club. A recent campaign brought together nearly 200 

volunteers to educate school-age kids on drugs and alcohol.

Other groups mentioned as playing leadership roles include 

the Wayne County Health Coalition, whose members work 

together to address pressing health issues, and the Adanta 

Group Wayne County Mental Health Center, a private, 

nonprofit service provider addressing mental health, 

developmental and intellectual disabilities, and substance use 

disorders. Adanta’s programs for kids and adults range from 

 

3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 13 in the data appendix at the end of this case study. © Joyce Pinson 

Melissa Jones, team leader, Adanta Group 

Wayne County Mental Health Center
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case management to linking clients to social services, such as transportation or housing support for the 

homeless.

Jody Paver, University of Kentucky Extension Service agent for family and consumer sciences, is seen as 

a primary influencer of health and wellness initiatives in the county, as are Vicky Albertson, a nurse for 

the health department, and Melissa Jones, of Adanta. These three women play leadership roles in various 

health initiatives and in ensuring that residents get education and services necessary for maintaining and 

improving their health. They expressed optimism for Wayne County’s future, citing stepped-up efforts to 

ensure access to comprehensive and continuous care, the success of the farmers’ market, increased 

opportunities for physical activity like new sidewalks and hiking trails, and a recent public vote to 

maintain the county’s “dry” status as signs of progress.

Cross-Sector Collaboration and Resource Sharing

In Wayne County, researchers found a pattern of cooperation and willingness to share resources among 

government, private, and nonprofit groups. Working together, these groups leverage their strengths to 

achieve their common goal of improving health and well-being for county residents.

These efforts are exemplified by the 

connection between the Cooperative Extension 

Service and various nonprofit groups. For 

example, the extension service works closely 

with the Hope Center, a nonprofit operated by

the Wayne County Association of Ministers 

and Churches since 1987 that serves homeless

people, the elderly, single mothers, victims of 

domestic abuse, and other people in need, to 

promote healthy eating. People seeking 

assistance at the Hope Center are required to 

complete six educational classes before they 

can access the food bank. The Hope Center is a 

certified partner of Feeding America–

Kentucky’s Heartland, which distributes 

donated food and groceries to people in 42 

Kentucky counties. Support for the Hope Center from local churches and the extension service shows a 

strong link between faith-based and government groups. In addition, the health department partners with 

the extension service, along with religious organizations, on diabetes education. Aware of the drug-related 

issues plaguing the area, county and local officials are active in youth development.

Wayne County Hospital partners with city officials, economic development organizations, the 

Cooperative Extension Service, and the school system to provide insight on the health needs of the 

community. These partnerships supplement the delivery of health care services by informing health needs 

assessments.

The Wayne County school district also plays a key role in health promotion and illness prevention. The 

schools partner with the health department to provide certain primary care services. Adanta mental health 

services are available in the schools, offering opportunities to improve mental and behavioral health for 

the school-age population.

© Joyce Pinson 

Sally Sumner, director of the Hope Center
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Wayne County has a small network of religious nonprofits and government agencies that maximize 

limited resources to provide for those in need. They are a safety net for many residents. These groups not 

only take care of less fortunate residents, but they also reinforce positive self-help behaviors through 

religion and outreach. 

Organizations like the Hope Center and the House of Blessings, a soup kitchen and shelter funded by a 

network of 20 local churches, use donations and volunteers to provide food, clothing, and necessities for 

economically disadvantaged residents of Wayne County. Both centers work with the health department 

and extension service to teach skills fostering self-reliance. Each program thus serves as a stepping stone 

to independence.

The Wayne County Health Council (the main branch of the Wayne County health coalition) is a group of 

women working together in what appears to be a seamless collaboration. Members meet to develop their 

individual yearly work plans, working to reduce 

duplication of services and find synergies to strengthen 

health initiatives. The group is focused and business-like, 

adhering to clearly-defined meeting schedules. 

Local churches are involved with philanthropic

organizations within the county, and they provide support 

for community members through the ministerial 

association. A local Catholic nun, Sister Ann Kernan, 

started a support group for women called Mountain 

Moms. The group has served as a resource for Wayne 

County women for more than two decades and 

coordinates closely with the extension service, sometimes 

even providing transportation for residents who need it.

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

Wayne County’s health care network consists of the health department and its related services, as well as 

several doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and Wayne County Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. In 

addition to a full complement of laboratory and imaging services, the hospital has a rural health clinic and 

a physical therapy/rehabilitation department. Coordinated activities between the health department and 

the hospital work to balance illness prevention and education with acute care delivery. These partnerships

have produced nutrition fairs, health education and awareness classes, health promotion, and screenings.

Adanta and Intrust Healthcare, both part of larger networks outside Wayne County, offer mental and 

behavioral health services, such as counseling, case management, and substance abuse treatment. They 

also offer supportive services, including housing, and coordinate their efforts with the school and court 

systems.

Medicaid largely funds both organizations. Referrals come from family physicians, social services, courts,

and schools, with the occasional walk-in. The referral network and closeness of the community allow 

both organizations to reach their target populations, but lack of transportation is a barrier to services for 

many residents. Given the challenges these organizations face, collaboration and pooling resources, along 

with creative outreach, are necessary. 

School-based health centers also serve as primary centers for preventive and clinical care and are staffed 

with either a nurse or a nurse practitioner who works to keep students healthy and learning. As © Joyce Pinson 

Sister Ann Kernan, leader of the Mountain Moms

support group
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mentioned, mental and behavioral health services from Adanta are available in schools, and some school 

nurses provide preventive dental services (such as sealant placement) for school-age children.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN WAYNE COUNTY

Despite the challenges it faces, Wayne County has strong champions for community health from local 

government agencies, nonprofit service providers, health care organizations, and faith-based groups.

These leaders are working together in creative, resourceful ways to improve quality of life for all 

residents. They have identified pressing health issues, such as diabetes and opioid use, as well as 

vulnerable groups, including youth and people with mental and behavioral health issues, in need of 

targeted support. Sharing of limited resources is an important and effective strategy for advancing health

in Wayne County.

Community connectedness here is strong; people believe in helping each other, as reflected in residents’ 

participation in volunteer activities and in the presence of social support groups. This sense of community 

also manifests in local pride in “eating local”—and healthfully. 

By pooling their efforts for the good of the community, people in Wayne County have created a whole 

that is greater than the sum of its parts.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Commonwealth of Kentucky. 2017. Wayne County Welcome.

http://waynecounty.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. 2015. Wayne County Community Profile. July 10. 

Accessed July 11, 2017. 

http://www.thinkkentucky.com/cmnty/BusInd.aspx?cw=076

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Appalachian Regional 

Commission. 
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APPENDIX: WAYNE COUNTY DATA

Table 12: Wayne County Characteristics

Characteristic Wayne County United States

Population, 2010–2014 20,728 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -1.7% 4.1%

Median age, 2015 41.7 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 18.4% 14.9%

Median household income, 2014 $30,619 $ 56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $15,475 $ 28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 9.7% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 26.2% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 96.0% 77.1%

Percent black alone, 2015 2.0% 13.3%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 35.7% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Somerset, KY – 32.5 mi. N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Distressed

Central Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 13: Wayne County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Lashel Hodges Monticello Case Manager / 

Counselor Intrust Healthcare 09/28/2016

Melissa Jones Monticello Team Leader Adanta Group Wayne County 

Mental Health Center 09/28/2016

Jody Paver Monticello

Family and 

Consumer Sciences 

Extension Agent

University of Kentucky 

Cooperative Extension 

Service – Wayne County

09/28/2016

Vicky Albertson, RN Monticello Diabetes Educator Wayne County Health 

Department 09/29/2016

Sister Ann Kernan Monticello Leader of Mountain 

Moms St. Peter Catholic Church 09/29/2016

Sally Sumner Monticello Director The Hope Center 09/29/2016
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Table 14: Wayne County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 20.73 32.30 -35.8%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 35.20 53.66 -34.4%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 47.50 67.64 -29.8%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 13.90% 18.73% -25.8%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 8,981 11,904 -24.6%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 61.07 78.99 -22.7%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007-2013 7.82 9.72 -19.6%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 229.71 261.81 -12.3%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 7.21 8.14 -11.4%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 16.53 18.35 -9.9%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.93 1.03 -9.8%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 74.83 81.49 -8.2%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 10.40% 11.22% -7.3%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 13.00% 13.91% -6.5%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 204.48 215.92 -5.3%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.60 4.70 -2.2%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 35.1% 34.2% 2.6%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 5.40 5.25 2.8%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 8.12 6.82 19.1%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 15: Wayne County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National

Median

Wayne 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.40 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 21.32 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 201.69 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 29.33 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 185.31 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.38 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.19 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $30,619.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 68.49 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 25.0%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 35.3%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 35.7%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 4.8%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 84.7%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 42.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 85.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 26.2%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 52.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 28.2%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.01%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 15.2%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 30.2%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 13.2%

 

4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National

Median

Wayne 

County

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 67.57 

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 7.25 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 4.82 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 16.84 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 74.12 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 19.97 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
77

Noxubee County, Mississippi

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Noxubee County: Community 

Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Noxubee County

References

Appendix: Noxubee County Data
78
Noxubee County, Mississippi

CASE STUDIES

79

I think the camaraderie and care for another is probably our greatest asset. 

—Dr. Velma Jenkins, Mayor of Shuqualak, Mississippi

Located near the southernmost point of the Appalachian Region, Noxubee County is quiet and sparsely 

populated, with 100 churches and no stoplights. Of the 565 farms in the county, one in five is 500 acres or 

larger. There is a strong emphasis on farming that carries over to individual homeowners. Many families 

grow vegetable gardens, and there are a variety of roadside farm stands where local farmers sell fruits and 

vegetables from the back of their pickup trucks. 

 

Noxubee County has few chain restaurants. Residents turn instead to local places such as the Wagon 

Wheel—a classic Southern “meat-and-three” (a daily selection of meat and choices of side dishes)

restaurant that’s also the cafeteria for Trail Boss Trailers, a local business. But despite an emphasis on 

growing and consuming local food, it is not readily available to all. The county has at least six centers that 

provide summer and after-school meals to children who qualify for free school lunches. In some schools, 

that includes most of the students. 

The vast majority of the county is rural—farms, commercial forests, or undeveloped land. Yet, only 13 

percent of the jobs here are farm jobs. Timbering, logging, catfish farming, and trucking are the main 

economic activities. The big employers are the hospital and the school system, as well as local businesses 

such as the Shuqualak Lumber Company, one of the South’s largest privately owned independent 

producers of southern yellow pine lumber. The company produces over 100 million board feet of lumber 

annually. Still, many workers must commute 60 to 80 miles (round trip) to jobs in another county.

Shuqualak, Mississippi, is one of three sizable communities in Noxubee County.

© Kim Cross 
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Noxubee County is a place of dichotomies where basic utilities may not reach outside city limits, yet 

residents have access to a network of clinics and around-the-clock emergency care. Despite severe 

funding challenges, Noxubee has three health clinics and a robust hospital system with a wound care 

clinic and an infusion clinic. At the same time, many county roads are still unpaved, and some homes lack 

running water and, in the poorest districts, sewage treatment of any kind.

Yet, community leaders and residents are engaged in making Noxubee County a good place to live.

Noxubee County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of four counties in

Appalachian Mississippi—identified as a Bright Spot, performing better than expected across 16 of 19 

health outcome measures. Most notably, Noxubee County performed better than expected on the 

following five measures:

 COPD mortality: 56 percent better than expected 

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 44 percent better than expected

 Poisoning mortality: 38 percent better than expected

 Opioid prescriptions as a percentage of Medicare Part D claims: 37 percent better than expected

 Injury mortality: 32 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives in the county 

that aim to improve overall well-being. For example, field research indicates that local leaders are coming 

together to address some of the key drivers of health, such as having affordable housing and places to 

play and exercise. Additionally, hospitals, schools and the faith community play a critical role in health 

education and promotion. 

Noxubee County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better 

than expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, 

the socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. In fact, the county still lags 

behind the rest of the nation on many health indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Noxubee County’s performance, 

however, indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-thanexpected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting 

similar initiatives.

1

 

 1 See Table 18 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Noxubee

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 8: Map - Bright Spot Community Noxubee County, Mississippi 

Noxubee County represents a nonmetropolitan county in Southern Appalachia. It is 

one of four Bright Spot counties in Appalachian Mississippi. 

Noxubee has three sizable communities—Macon, Brooksville and Shuqualak—and each has a distinct 

personality. Macon is the county seat and the location of the hospital. Brooksville has a strong Mennonite 

presence, and Shuqualak is a center of lumber production. Eleven unincorporated communities also dot 

the rural landscape. 

Of Noxubee’s 11,240 residents, 71.4 percent are black, and 27.2 percent are white. Nearly 44 percent of 

adults have at least some college education, compared with 63.3 percent nationally. The median 2014 

household income was $28,730, half the national median of $56,135. Unemployment in 2014 was 12.4 

percent, compared with 6.5 percent regionally and 6.2 percent nationally. Just over 30 percent of residents 

live in poverty, compared with 15.6 percent nationally.2

 

 

2

 Table 16 in the Noxubee County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of 

county characteristics. 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Noxubee County, MS

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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A DEEPER LOOK AT NOXUBEE COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

As in the other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people in Noxubee County are making 

the most of available resources and harnessing their collective power to create better-than-expected health 

outcomes. 

Field work helped identify local practices that appear to be contributing to overall health, document 

effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and 

strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these features in Noxubee 

County:

 Community engagement and collaboration: Informal groups—including local leaders, schools, 

and faith groups—collaborate to address nutrition, physical activity, and housing issues. 

 Integration of health services and systems: The medical complex, mental health clinic, and 

general hospital—including its branch clinics—work together to provide vulnerable residents the 

opportunity to access a continuum of preventive and curative care.

 Making health a shared value: Relationships among and between individuals and organizations 

develop and strengthen community values and actions related to good health. Local coalitions and 

religious groups are notable for influencing community culture. Intergenerational discussions 

about good health are common. 

 Resourcefulness: Leaders, churches, and volunteers in this county work hard to continually 

improve the quality of life in Noxubee with a view towards making Noxubee County a good 

place to call home.

Like other Bright Spot counties, Noxubee County has programs and activities in place that fall into four 

overarching categories: leadership, resource sharing, local providers committed to public health, and an 

active faith community.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

In Noxubee County, leaders come from all walks of life, from 

elected officials to faith leaders, and they are both paid and 

volunteer. These important community figures are influencers 

who care deeply about their community. Their propensity for 

resourcefulness enables a community with severely limited 

resources to do a lot with a little. Strong community bonds and 

generosity fill gaps in social services. 

Local leaders focus on the core determinants of health. For 

example, the Noxubee County supervisor and the county’s three

town mayors are collaborating to attract jobs. They are vigilant in 

pursuit of grants. The mayors want to see people buy homes, but 

the lack of resources to build infrastructure and provide 

municipal services limits the supply of good housing. All three 

towns enforce smoke-free ordinances. 

 3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 17 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.

© Kim Cross 

Bob Boykin, mayor of Macon, Mississippi 
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County Supervisor Bo Oliver values educating people about healthy behaviors and exercise. Macon 

Mayor Bob Boykin responded to a community request for a sports complex by developing one that the 

high school shares. Boykin is also actively engaged in efforts to increase participation in the county-run 

farmers’ market. 

Shuqualak Mayor Velma Jenkins is committed to increasing access to affordable housing and housing 

with complete plumbing facilities. Her efforts have resulted in the construction of approximately nine 

brick homes secured through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s HOME 

Investment Partnership Program. 

Noxubee County also benefits from other leadership. The county’s 

extension office is relatively new, but one of its first initiatives is 

working to improve obesity rates. Mississippi Homemaker 

Volunteers (MHV) is an all-women’s program of the Noxubee 

County (Mississippi State University) Extension Service with a 

mission “to strengthen families through education and community 

involvement.” MVH clubs have 10–20 members who participate in 

leadership training before volunteering in their local communities. 

They learn about nutrition, diet, exercise, health care, food safety, 

and other health issues, and share this knowledge with their local 

communities. They also sew pillowcases for children with cancer 

and quilts for the Children’s Hospital of Mississippi. Similarly, the 

4H Club puts on programs to raise well-rounded individuals. An 

Alzheimer’s group supports caretakers. A statewide health 

department diabetes collaborative benefits from the insights of a 

leader who has lived in the community all her life. The diabetes coalition, led by Katherine Mickens and 

other key players, works with the extension office to engage the community in discussions on health, 

reaching out through social media, community projects, and health fairs. 

Noxubee County’s black fraternities and sororities also have strong commitments to community 

improvement. For example, Black Ice is a group of men who provide books, supplies, and healthy snacks 

at school. Members also visit classes to discuss the importance of not smoking and of exercising 

regularly.

Resource Sharing 

Noxubee County has a core group of people who are deeply committed to the community. They use and 

combine available resources to share funding, launch local health initiatives, and disseminate information 

about health widely. 

Mayors, schools, small businesses, churches, and food programs tackle the problem of basic nutrition 

together. Mayors pursue and maintain community walking paths, clean water, and affordable housing. 

Schools collaborate with churches to distribute information about health and health programs. The 

hospital also collaborates with churches and schools to sponsor monthly health fairs. The fairs, which 

provide free health screenings for residents, are reportedly popular and well attended. But, as noted in 

other case studies, the fairs do something more critical than providing preventive screenings and health 

information: They convey the message that health is important. When multiple organizational actors 

cooperate to put on a health fair, they nurture the idea that health is something that everyone should value.

Noxubee County middle schools and high schools took advantage of a grant program to develop a 

curriculum that focuses on healthy living. Woven into the regular school day activities, the curriculum

© Kim Cross 

Katherine Mickens, social worker for 

Noxubee General Hospital
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conveyed messages about healthy behaviors and covered topics from eating and physical activity to 

sexually transmitted diseases and the impact of substance use on physical performance. Focus group 

feedback suggested that, while the grant lasted, the program was effective. Unfortunately, after five years, 

local budget cuts meant Noxubee County schools could not sustain the program. 

Resource sharing is particularly evident among the county’s churches and its female leaders. Their

resourcefulness enables a community with severely limited resources to do a lot with a little. Strong 

community bonds and generosity often fill vast gaps in social services. 

Information is another community resource that is shared broadly, including across generations. Children 

share with older generations the information about good health habits they learn in school, and elders 

teach children with both words and examples about living healthfully so as to prevent chronic disease. 

Local Providers Committed to Public Health 

The local health department provides a range of services, including preventive care for low-income 

residents, communicable disease control, and diabetes education. Additionally, the Mississippi 

Department of Health sponsors multiple community initiatives to promote and improve health.

With a staff of 170 full-time and part-time employees, the Noxubee Medical Complex has a strong 

community presence, providing services across five facilities: Noxubee General (a critical access 

hospital); a nursing home located adjacent to the hospital; a primary care clinic also adjacent to the 

hospital; and two other clinics in the county. 

Because the hospital also owns the adjacent health clinic, emergency room (ER) staff can redirect noncritical ER patients there, reducing costs for both the patients and the hospital. Patients pay according to a 

sliding fee scale. And for those who can’t pay, it is less costly to provide care through the clinic than the 

ER.

On days that aren’t busy, hospital administrator Danny McKay 

sends hospital staff to a public place such as the grocery store to 

offer free blood pressure checks for the community. “It helps 

them, and it helps us, too,” he said. The hospital’s next focus is 

on chronic care management.

According to McKay, health behaviors are largely reactive—

conversations and actions are usually in response to an illness or 

ailment. Interviews also showed that, in Noxubee, family values 

and strong intergenerational ties play a major role in determining 

what happens around health decisions. Some rely on the head of 

the household to make decisions, while others turn to female 

family members, and others said they hold a family council to 

make decisions. For the most part, preventive care comes in the 

form of health screenings, which are well attended, and often 

provided free of charge.

The Noxubee Medical Complex describes itself as a “comprehensive health care system” that strives to 

provide diversified services, including primary care, some specialty services (radiology, speech therapy, 

occupational therapy), and skilled nursing for short-term rehabilitation. Physician rotations through 

Noxubee General Hospital provide opportunities for patients to consult specialists in cardiology and 

podiatry. 

© Kim Cross 

Danny McKay, administrator of Noxubee 

General Hospital
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As McKay put it, “The basic rule is, if there is anything that goes on in this community in regard to health 

care, and we are not involved, then we are missing the boat; we try to be very engaged and involved in 

anything that has to do with health care.” 

Another noteworthy feature of the hospital is its local reputation as a homegrown institution. Beverly 

Clark, the hospital’s director of nurses and a Noxubee native, spoke of the connection between the 

hospital and the community: “I was born in this hospital and raised 15 miles from here . . . when I walk 

into this place, it is like walking into my house. This hospital is home.” 

The county has three primary care medical clinics associated with the hospital, one in Brooksville and 

two in Macon. The clinics associated with the hospital provide urgent care, even on holidays. When 

inpatient care is slow, the hospital diverts inpatient staff to the clinics for preventive care.

What blew my mind is that [the clinics] are actually open on holidays. That would give a 

person access to health care seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Again, I’m not a health 

care expert. I didn’t think we needed a new clinic . . . little did I know that health clinic has 

been the salvation and the savior for our hospital. – Macon Mayor Bob Boykin

The state’s decision not to expand Medicaid limits what the hospital can do. It strains to stay financially 

strong while serving many working poor who need but cannot afford services. During field research, key 

interviewees spoke highly of the hospital and the clinics, hoping to see them grow. 

Reaching beyond inpatient, outpatient, and 

emergency care, Noxubee General Hospital has an 

infusion center and a wound center. The hospital 

does not offer obstetrical care because it cannot 

meet the requirements to cover 24/7 calls. It 

supports an Alzheimer’s group and a nutrition 

clinic. The Noxubee Medical Complex self-funds 

employee health insurance and charges higher 

premiums to smokers. When the hospital 

encouraged a walk-a-thon, the whole community in 

Macon was out walking. Still, the hospital finds 

preventive care challenging. Its diabetes prevention 

class struggles; while 50 to 60 people may sign up,

only about five graduate.

Clark also notes that she spends so much time taking care of people who are sick that there is little time to 

think about or plan preventive programs to keep people healthy:

You want to keep people healthy . . . but then you spend so much time taking care of them 

that it is hard to reach out into the community and do prevention. I think now we are taking 

a lot of steps to try to keep people healthy—calling the patients and reminding them of 

appointments and making sure they get their health screenings and making sure they went 

and picked up their medicines at the pharmacy. Staying healthy is the main thing.

–Beverly Clark, director of nurses, Noxubee General Hospital

Noxubee County’s better-than-expected Medicare depression rates may be, in part, attributable to 

Noxubee General’s therapeutic daycare programs for senior adults, the county’s senior centers, and the 

high proportion of seniors who are active in local civic organizations. It may also reflect what appears to 

be a high degree of intergenerational extended families in Noxubee. Further, Noxubee’s mental health 

© Kim Cross 

The Noxubee County courthouse
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program, Region 7 Community Counseling Services, has been around for more than 25 years and 

provides counseling for residents of all ages, from young children to seniors. Many interviewees had high 

praise for its counseling service work with the schools. Headquarters for the services, the Region 7 

Community Mental Health Center, are state funded and located outside Noxubee County in West Point. 

During field work for this report, similarly strong ties were observed between nonprofit hospitals and 

local communities in other Bright Spot counties, including Madison, Wirt, Grant, Potter, and Hale. In 

each case, the hospital was strongly identified with the community. From the hospital side, this meant 

prioritizing local health needs over the economic interests of distant shareholders. From the patient side, it 

meant patients have feelings of trust and familiarity, which can reduce barriers to seeking care. This sense 

of identification with a major care provider, and the trust it engenders, are elements of a culture of health 

that warrant deeper exploration in future research.

Although the qualitative field work conducted for this report makes causal inferences impossible, 

Noxubee’s better-than-expected poisoning and injury mortality rates may be associated with the 24/7/365 

availability of emergency medical services provided by Noxubee General Hospital. First-response help is 

also available at Noxubee’s Brooksville clinic, at the Greater Meridian Health Clinic in nearby 

Lauderdale County, and, until recently, at the Shuqualak-Noxubee Health Center, a Federally Qualified 

Health Center that benefits from annual federal operating grants and offers a sliding fee scale for 

medications.

Active Faith Community

Well, it’s a lot of faith-based, a lot of church-based, organizations. Because everybody

knows everybody . . . and so it is sort of like the family ties. Even though it’s not family, it’s 

still like one huge family. – Macon Mayor Bob Boykin

Churches are among the county’s most important organizations. They serve not only as places of worship, 

but also as civic centers; sources of financial, social, and emotional support; political mobilizers; and 

disseminators of information. Most of Noxubee County’s 100 churches are small, but they pitch in when 

a situation requires pooled resources. Churches attract significant regular attendance, and they band 

together, organize, and take action through an interfaith organization in which pastors collaborate to work 

on community issues. Because they are hubs of social engagement and connectedness, they are also a 

means of communication for community initiatives.

I think that most people look to their church for information and guidance. Some churches 

have newsletters; some churches have clerks. But most of it is word of mouth from 

announcing clerks—a person in the congregation who is responsible for getting all of those 

announcements together and to the church. – Josephine Tate, state extension agent

Noxubee County has at least half a dozen locations, at churches and community centers in the three large 

towns and in rural communities, where low-income children can find a nutritious meal. The churches 

provide after-school food programs, and there are in-home food services for families with more than six 

children. Churches also provide support for seniors.

Noxubee County is also very volunteer-minded, a culture that is shared and exemplified by the area’s 

Mennonites. Mississippi has the third-largest Mennonite population in the nation, and there are about 600 

Mennonite households in the greater Macon, Brooksville, and nearby Geiger (Alabama) area. 
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Mennonites were attracted to the rich farmland in the 1950s. They are community minded, bring 

a strong work ethic, and engage in economic development, including the catfish farm, tomato

house, and farmers’ market. Mennonites now represent thousands in the population. 

–Danny McKay, administrator, Noxubee General Hospital

As a matter of religious teaching, Mennonites generally abstain from smoking and drinking. They 

cultivate an agriculture-based lifestyle that emphasizes physical work and consumption of a natural diet. 

The church also embraces the belief that caring for the health of others, especially the most vulnerable, is 

a shared responsibility. The Mennonites have a distinct culture of health of their own. Given their 

considerable presence in Noxubee County, they may be affecting health outcome measures at the 

population level.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN NOXUBEE COUNTY 

Noxubee County’s actions indicate that county leaders and residents place a high value on health, as 

reflected in the wide range of health education programs available and the appreciation for health 

education and health care services shown by county residents. Elected officials and a strong network of 

faith leaders, in particular, seek to share information about and encourage good health practices. 

Strong leadership has helped Noxubee focus on the core determinants of health. For example, public 

officials are collaborating to attract jobs and promote homeownership, despite a lack of resources. 

Noxubee County has a core group of people who work with the range of available resources to improve 

health countywide. Participation in community life stems from strong individual relationships and social 

connections that people form with one another; these connections lead people to participate in 

volunteering, collaborating, and coalition building.

This persistent struggle toward a better life is a defining trait in Noxubee County. It harnesses its 

collective strengths, from the resilience and spirit of its residents to the dedication and engagement of its 

leaders, to ensure that limited resources are stretched as far as they can go, that creative solutions are 

found when resources run out, and that a focus on health and well-being remains a priority for all.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schawlbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis. 

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission. 

Noxubee County Economic and Community Development Alliance. 2017. Noxubee County History.

February 14. Accessed 2017. 

http://noxubeealliance.com/ 
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APPENDIX: NOXUBEE COUNTY DATA

Table 16: Noxubee County Characteristics 

Characteristic Noxubee County United States

Population, 2010–2014 11,240 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -4.3% 4.1%

Median age, 2015 36.6 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 16.0% 14.9%

Median household income, 2014 $28,730 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months, (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $14,450 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 12.4% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 31.3% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 27.2% 77.1%

Percent black alone, 2015 71.4% 13.3%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 43.79% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Columbus – 27.3 miles N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Distressed

Southern Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 17: Noxubee County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Bob Boykin Mayor’s Office, 

Macon Mayor of Macon Town of Macon 9/15/16

Velma Jenkins Courthouse Macon Mayor of Shuqualak Town of Shuqualak 9/19/16

Bo Oliver Supervisor’s Office County Supervisor Noxubee County 9/19/16

Josephine Tate Office

State Extension 

Agent, Health 

Education

USDA Extension 9/19/16

Beverly Clark Noxubee General 

Hospital Director of Nurses Noxubee General Hospital 9/20/16

Danny McKay Noxubee General 

Hospital Administrator Noxubee General Hospital 9/20/16

Katherine Mickens Noxubee General 

Hospital Social Worker Noxubee General Hospital 9/20/16

Reecy Dixon Mississippi State 

Extension Office

Former State 

Legislator Retired 9/15/16

Les Decker Mississippi State 

Extension Office

Organic Farmer, 

Baker Self Employed 9/15/16

Walden Peasler Mississippi State 

Extension Office Aquaculture Self Employed 9/15/16

Dordil Stuart Mississippi State 

Extension Office Principal Noxubee County High School 9/15/16
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Table 18: Noxubee County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 26.70 60.40 -55.8%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 28.50 51.00 -44.1%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 8.69 14.05 -38.1%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 3.97 6.31 -37.1%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 43.11 63.53 -32.1%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 9.70% 13.42% -27.7%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 10.91 14.02 -22.2%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 10,274 12,284 -16.4%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 11.96 13.18 -9.3%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 206.84 224.57 -7.9%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.905 0.979 -7.6%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 52.86 56.29 -6.1%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 5.00 5.22 -4.3%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 10.68 11.14 -4.1%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.60 4.66 -1.4%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 296.45 292.61 1.3%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 10.20% 9.98% 2.2%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 41.8% 37.4% 11.7%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 19.00% 16.73% 13.6%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 19: Noxubee County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Noxubee 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 12.63 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 27.21 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 891.42 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 17.99 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 201.84 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.09 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.36 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $28,730.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 126.58 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 24.4%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 39.7%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 43.8%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 5.1%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 92.9%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 77.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 72.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 31.3%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 53.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 35.7%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% --

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 14.7%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 41.2%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 15.9%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 9.02 

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 13.53 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Noxubee 

County

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 8.90 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 --

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 71.55 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 23.99 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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95

Tioga County, New York

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Tioga County: Community Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Tioga County

References

Appendix: Tioga County Data
96
Tioga County, New York

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97

It’s the combination of programs that exist and work together. There aren’t 

enough resources...so we work really hard at working together and filling 

gaps in creative ways. —Jackie Spencer, Association Community Educator, 

 Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County

Anchored in the north by New York’s Finger Lakes and divided in the south by the broad, meandering 

Susquehanna River, Tioga County is home to green rolling hills, hardwood forests, fertile farmland, and 

wide-open spaces.

The county seat, Owego, has a long history as a river and rail trade center. Today, it is a sleepy, quiet area 

with all the natural charms of a rural locale.

Life can be challenging here. Many families live in or at the margins of poverty. Twenty-one percent of 

youth are food-insecure. Nearly 32 percent of the county’s housing was built before 1939, and a large 

number of residents live in older, minimally insulated homes ill-equipped to withstand the area’s 

punishing winters. Basic services are located far from where many people live, making them difficult to 

access.

Douglas Camin / GNU License 1.2

Owego, New York, is the county seat of Tioga County.
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Yet good things are happening in Tioga County. Collaboration and resource sharing among regional and 

local nonprofit and government agencies are strong, and large private and public employers are investing 

in the community’s health. A culture of volunteerism and resilience contributes to local solutions for 

challenges like food insecurity and transportation.

All these factors may help explain why Tioga County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—

and one of two counties in Appalachian New York—identified as a Bright Spot, performing better than 

expected across 14 of 19 health outcome measures. For example, Tioga County performed better than 

expected on the following measures:

 Stroke mortality: 23 percent better than expected

 Infant mortality: 21 percent better than expected

 Heart disease mortality: 19 percent better than expected

 Suicide mortality: 17 percent better than expected

 Injury mortality: 17 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local characteristics and strategies that 

improve overall well-being. The field work for this case study showed that Tioga County residents 

collaborate to improve care and well-being outside of core medical facilities. For example, residents have 

pooled resources to improve access to dental care for children. Many county initiatives depend on 

volunteerism. Volunteerism is valued on both the giving and receiving ends, and is a critical element of 

the community health network, especially in helping provide transportation to medical services and 

prescription pickup.

Tioga County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. In fact, the county still lags 

behind the rest of the nation on many health indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Tioga County’s performance, however, 

indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-than-expected 

outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting similar 

initiatives. 1

 1 See Table 22 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Tioga

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW

Figure 9: Map - Bright Spot Community Tioga County, New York

Tioga County represents a metropolitan county in Northern Appalachia.

It is one of two Bright Spot counties in Appalachian New York. 

Tioga County is located west of Binghamton in southwest New York State, in the “Southern Tier” of 

counties lining the Pennsylvania border. The county’s name comes from an Iroquois word describing a 

meeting place “at the fork.” 

The population, currently about 50,000, fell more than three percent between 2000 and 2015. Ninetyseven percent of residents are white, and residents’ median age, 43.5, is higher than the national median, 

37.8. The population is also relatively well educated: nearly 62 percent of adults in Tioga have some 

college education, compared with just over 63 percent nationally. 

Employment is diversified, but higher salaries at Lockheed Martin and Crown Holdings, two national 

manufacturing and technology companies, affect county income averages. Tioga’s 2014 unemployment 

rate, 6.1 percent, fell just below the national rate of 6.2 percent. Classified by the Appalachian Regional 

Commission as a transitional county in fiscal year 2017, Tioga County’s median annual household 

income was $52,195 in 2014, compared with the national median of $56,135. 2

 

 2 Table 20 in the Tioga County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.
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As part of the Binghamton metropolitan area, Tioga County enjoys the advantages of neighboring 

counties’ educational, cultural, and economic development resources. Cornell University is 25 miles from 

the county center. 

Although Tioga does not have a hospital, level-one and level-two trauma centers are within a half-hour 

drive of any location within the county. This compares favorably with many large cities, where traffic 

congestion can mean longer response and transportation times, even over shorter distances. It may also 

help explain why Tioga performs better than expected on mortality rates from poisoning, stroke, and 

injury, which are affected by the speed with which emergency treatment is provided.

People in Tioga County consider themselves resilient—able both to get by with the resources at hand and 

to pull together to recover from adversity. This community self-identification is rooted in a shared history 

of disaster and recovery. 

Because of its location and geography, 

Tioga County is vulnerable to 

catastrophic floods. Mountain peaks 

5,000 feet high trap clouds and channel 

rain into narrow river valleys. Just in 

the past two decades, the county 

experienced major floods five times: in 

1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2011. The

2011 flood was the worst in modern 

times, putting 90 percent of Owego 

under water. Other parts of the region 

and state are also vulnerable, so 

resources for recovery are often spread 

thin, and local communities must work 

together to recover and rebuild. Tioga

County’s communities have been 

through this cycle a number of times. 

Resilience is not just a buzzword here—it is attached to a real history of self-reliant recovery that includes

resource sharing and creativity. This history also helps explain the strong culture of volunteerism in 

Tioga. There’s a sense here that neighbors helping neighbors makes life in Tioga County possible for 

many people. 

A DEEPER LOOK AT TIOGA COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

In many ways, Tioga County exemplifies the word “community.” It is a place where people recognize the 

need to work together—and are more than willing to do so—for the common good, even when it comes to 

sharing limited resources and giving up a degree of local or organizational control. 

Field work helped identify local practices in Tioga County that appear to be contributing to overall health, 

document effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices 

and strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, these factors were identified in Tioga County 

that may have contributed to better-than-expected results:

 3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this case study, see Table 21 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.

Photo credit: Mary Beth Jones

©2017

Mary Beth Jones

A 2011 flood had a severe impact on Tioga County, including the village of 

Owego.
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 Regional and local cross-sector collaboration and resource sharing: Within the county and 

across the Southern Tier region, cooperation and resource sharing among nonprofit and public 

agencies produce local solutions to shared challenges, such as access to transportation and food 

insecurity. 

 Volunteers meeting community needs: Volunteerism is part of Tioga County’s culture. Small 

and large volunteer organizations are skilled at identifying and resolving issues, setting priorities, 

and committing resources to address local challenges. Volunteers often step up to fill gaps in 

government-funded services. 

 Employers that support health as a shared value: Large private and public local employers 

provide a range of health benefits, including personal wellness services. Over the years, large 

national companies have established themselves as active community members who view good 

health as vital.

As in the other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people in Tioga County have worked to 

elevate physical, social, and economic health in a number of ways. Their approaches fall into three

general overarching categories of leadership, cross-sector collaboration, and resource sharing.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

In Tioga County, leadership is a platform for the collaboration necessary to make the best use of limited 

resources and ensure services and supports for everyone. This is critical given that Tioga County has no 

hospital, no pediatric specialists, and only one part-time dentist who accepts Medicaid.

Regionally, the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, a nonprofit organization based in 

adjacent Broome County, spearheads this type of coordination. The network brings together health care 

and social service leaders in its three focal counties—Tioga, Broome, and Delaware—and supports 

regional projects that involve other Southern Tier counties. These projects educate local citizens about 

wellness practices and healthy lifestyle options; build infrastructure that supports physical activity, such 

as biking and hiking trails; and improve access to health care services. 

The nonprofit community also plays a strong leadership role. The Tioga County Non-Profit Network

meets quarterly to exchange ideas and information to serve residents’ needs. Representatives from 

approximately 20 groups attend these meetings, which are facilitated by the head of the Tioga County 

(Cornell University) Cooperative Extension Service. These discussions often lead to collaborative 

approaches to local challenges.

Opioid abuse is one area where nonprofit leadership has been essential. Tioga County Allies in 

Substance Abuse Prevention holds quarterly panel discussions with parents, law enforcement personnel, 

and mental health counselors on this issue, and operates a coalition of volunteer representatives from local 

school districts, nonprofits, and the general community, including parents. 

In addition, several large employers actively invest in community health, which they view as vital to 

maintaining their workforces. These public and private organizations offer a range of health benefits, 

health education, and other opportunities to help Tioga residents pursue personal health improvement. 

Lockheed Martin is one of the largest and oldest employers of Tioga County residents, with health 

benefits that include not only comprehensive health coverage but also a robust employee health program 
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that offers free flu shots, free onsite health screenings, and access to walking paths and weight 

management groups. These benefits are available to employees and their family members. 

Crown Holdings, Inc., which manufactures metal packaging products, is another large employer with an 

employee health care package that covers medical, dental, and vision care, and prescription drugs; a 

tuition assistance program for employees who wish to return to school; and disability coverage under an 

accident and health plan.

One of the largest public employers in the county, the Owego Apalachin Central School District, is 

unionized and offers its employees excellent health benefits. Another large employer, Tioga Downs 

Casino, is also unionized and offers health benefits.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

In Tioga County, researchers found a pattern of cooperation among health care providers, planners, 

educators, and other decision makers. Leaders here see collaboration as critical to ensuring that their 

communities thrive. Collaboration is pervasive across sectors, organizations, and programs within the 

county, and with other counties in the region.

As mentioned, the Rural Health Network of South Central New York serves as a forum for sharing ideas 

and information, coordinating grant-seeking activities, and reducing funding competition for area health 

initiatives. This high level of cooperation across counties helps ensure that everyone gets the services they 

need, especially in lean times. 

There is also significant collaboration among nonprofits, government agencies, and health and advocacy 

groups. For example, Family Health Services for Tioga Opportunities, Inc., a nonprofit safety net 

service provider, collaborates with the county health department on testing services; with the extension 

service on breastfeeding support groups; and with Lourdes Hospital on pregnancy education for young 

women. Another project with nearby primary care practices helps community members get transportation 

for their medical appointments.

In addition, CASA-Trinity, an alcohol and substance abuse prevention center, pools the efforts of 

professionals and citizens, and the Tioga Health Coalition promotes health throughout the county. Again, 

these efforts reflect an orientation toward sharing resources of time and expertise in ways that address 

local problems in the absence of financial resources and outside support.

Collaboration has made dental care available in the county. Although dental care for children of lowincome families is a critical need in Tioga County, the state does not provide funding for it. The local 

response was to create a mobile dental services program that employs a van equipped to provide basic 

dental services to schoolchildren around the county. The dental division of Tioga County Public Health

worked with school administrators to get the program up and running. Adults can also get dental services 

through the van before and after school and during school vacations. Tioga County Public Health 

similarly supports a mobile program that provides mammograms to low-income women in outlying parts 

of the county.

Resource Sharing

Because Tioga County has so few health care providers, regional sharing of health care resources is 

crucial. Residents have access to high-quality health care from providers in neighboring counties, 

including level-one and level-two trauma centers, as well as satellite outpatient clinics that operate in and 
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near Tioga County. Traveling outside the community for health care is typical, but, for most people, not 

onerous.

Within the county, researchers found a strong pattern of resource sharing among social services and 

health providers. For example, the newly renovated Tioga County Health and Human Services building is 

perceived as the area’s most valuable safety net resource, housing agencies providing services related to 

health care, mental health, employment, food stamps, and other assistance. Because these services are all 

located in one building, it is much easier and more convenient for residents to get the assistance they 

need. What’s more, that assistance is better coordinated among the various service providers. 

Volunteerism is another form of resource sharing that plays a key role in Tioga County. Residents here 

take pride in helping each other through extensive volunteer networks. In fact, people interviewed during 

the field work consistently cited volunteer-led grassroots initiatives for solving local challenges—such as

lack of access to transportation, food insecurity, and substance abuse—undertaken because of limited 

resources and outside assistance. Services such as conflict mediation, arbitration, court assistance, fire and 

safety support, emergency response, and youth leadership are frequently provided by volunteers instead 

of through tax dollars. Nonprofit groups, schools, and employers all actively encourage and support 

community volunteering. 

Nonprofits in Tioga County value their volunteers; many organizations provide support and training, 

while some provide insurance coverage. They are also mindful of the need to maintain an influx of 

younger volunteers to keep their organizations going. And county policy makers recognize that funding is 

essential to support volunteer programs so they can operate effectively.

Volunteerism has been crucial to meeting public transportation 

needs. In 2014, the Tioga County government ended the public 

transit van service on which many residents relied, leaving them 

with no way to get to medical appointments or pick up 

prescriptions. (New York State had reduced its transportation 

subsidy, making the service unsustainable.) In response, citizen 

groups sprung up across the county to replace the van service. 

These all-volunteer groups, including the Community Care 

Network of Nichols and Neighbors Helping Neighbors in 

Richford, provide transportation to people who need it. Others are 

stepping in and sharing resources like vehicles and fuel.

Food insecurity and nutritional risk are also challenges for lowincome families in parts of the county. Other than one or two wellrun mom-and-pop food stores in each of the county’s six villages, 

two supermarkets on either side of Owego serve Tioga’s residents. 

Over the past 15 years, these markets have changed ownership a 

few times, with each change resulting in a reduced variety of foods 

available for residents. Local farms and community gardens offer fresh produce at outdoor farmers’

markets during the growing season, and many of these markets accept food stamps. 

Similar to the response that the public transportation crisis elicited, several organizations stepped up to 

provide nutrition assistance, including the Open Door Mission, Tioga County Rural Ministry, the AntiHunger Task Force, and Meals on Wheels. These organizations are largely dependent on volunteers. In 

addition, Tioga County citizens have organized backpack and lunchbox food programs for low-income 

schoolchildren.

Mary Beth Jones

Dot Richter, executive director of the 

Community Care Network of Nichols
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Local citizens and social service professionals have started a range of service organizations that depend 

largely on volunteer and in-county support. These groups include the Finger Lakes Parents Network, for 

parents with developmentally disabled children; the New Hope Center, a resource center for victims of 

domestic violence; a Healthy Neighborhoods program that provides free in-home safety assessments; the 

Bridge, a network of churches that helps educate congregation members on community issues; and 

Reality Check, a youth tobacco-control project. 

Throughout Tioga County, concern for the health and well-being of children and youth is evident. Two 

family resource centers in Tioga County offer parenting education and host parent-child activities. 

Resource center staff are also available for home visits to provide further support for low-income parents. 

In addition, use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is on par with the national 

average (76 percent and 78 percent, respectively). Services include nutrition education for low-income 

women who are pregnant or already have children. These supports may contribute to Tioga County’s 

better-than-expected rates of infant mortality and low-birth-weight births. Concern for youth safety and 

well-being is also apparent in the countywide push for tobacco-free establishments and spaces such as 

parks and community fairs.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN TIOGA COUNTY

Tioga County may be lacking in financial resources and other advantages, but it is rich in other critical 

health-promoting assets: a culture of collaboration and volunteerism, resilience and resourcefulness in the 

face of adversity, an ability to respond quickly to new challenges, and a strong sense of community pride 

and altruism. The region’s history of pulling together to recover from natural disasters may have helped 

strengthen social cohesion. Partnership and pooling of resources are evident both within Tioga County 

and across the Southern Tier region, where communities work together to address issues such as food 

insecurity and transportation.

Particularly noteworthy in Tioga County is the tradition of volunteerism, which seems to be part of the 

way of life here. Volunteers often fill significant gaps in government-funded services addressing issues 

ranging from transportation to emergency response and safety to youth leadership to food insecurity. 

Nonprofits, schools, and employers all support volunteer programs and activities.

Employers support community health by providing a range of health benefits, including personal wellness 

services. This is particularly important given that Tioga has no hospital of its own and a shortage of care 

providers. With good health benefits, residents are better able to get the health care services they need 

from providers outside the county.

These assets, though difficult to measure, make for a community where people feel connected to each 

other, look out for each other, and help each other. They also contribute to a community where health, in 

many ways, is better than expected—and has the potential to become even better.
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REFERENCES

American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2011–2015, Selected Housing Characteristics.

Chandra, A, J.D. Acosta, K.G. Carman, T. Dubowitz, L. Leviton, L.T. Martin, C. Miller, et al. 2016. 

“Building a National Culture of Health.”

https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1100/RR1199/RAND_RR1199.pdf

DATA USA. 2017. Economy. October 3. 

https://datausa.io/profile/geo/tioga-county-ny/#economy

Ellison, Ayla. 2016. Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable to closure.

February 09. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. US DHHS. 2017. Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Tioga Opportunities, Inc. Child Food Insecurity, 2018. 

https://tiogaopp.org/tioga-opportunities-inc-news/community-services-news/item/66-2017-tioga-countychild-food-insecurity.html
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APPENDIX: TIOGA COUNTY DATA

Table 20: Tioga County Characteristics

Characteristic Tioga County United States

Population, 2010–2014 50,464 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -3.30% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 43.5 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 18.30% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $52,195 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $29,427 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 6.1% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 11.4% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 96.70% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 1.00% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 61.67% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Ithaca, NY – 28.4 mi. N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Transitional

Northern Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 21: Tioga County Key Informants 

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Elaine D. Jardine Owego Planning Director

Tioga County Economic 

Development and 

Planning Office 

1/30/2017

Mary Maruscak Owego Population Health 

Coordinator

Rural Health Network of 

South Central New York 1/30/2017

Jackie Spencer Owego Family Development 

Program Leader

Family Resource Center –

Cornell Cooperative 

Extension

1/30/2017

Susan Medina Owego Director of Dental Services Public Health Department 1/30/2017

Shawn Yetter Owego Commissioner Social Services 

Department 1/31/2017

Cara Zampi Owego

Community Educator –

Tobacco Free Tioga and

Reality Check Programs

Cornell Cooperative 

Extension 1/31/2017

Sara Begeal Owego Clinical Director Tioga County Community 

Services Board 1/31/2017

Nancy Glasgow Owego Director, Family Health 

Services Tioga Opportunities, Inc. 1/31/2017

John Holton Jr. Owego Director Veterans’ Service Agency 2/1/2017
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Table 22: Tioga County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 31.24 40.78 -23.4%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 5.36 6.80 -21.1%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 165.12 203.77 -19.0%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 10.56 12.77 -17.4%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 36.63 44.06 -16.9%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 41.17 47.80 -13.9%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 10.10% 11.31% -10.7%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 2013 4.38 4.65 -5.8%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 2012 13.80% 14.96% -7.7%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500 g) per 1,000 births, 2007–2013 7.39 7.94 -6.8%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 165.90 177.10 -6.3%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 6,637 6,927 -4.2%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 18.70% 19.67% -4.9%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.97 0.99 -2.5%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 14.00 13.95 0.3%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.10 3.03 2.2%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.40 3.33 2.0%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 31.5% 30.7% 2.6%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 60.10 54.60 10.1%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 23: Tioga County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Tioga

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 11.92 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 23.68 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 231.78 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 18.05 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 92.29 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.81 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.20 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $52,195.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 129.87 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 14.2%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 26.6%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 61.7%

Income inequality ratio,

4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 4.5%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 86.4%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 92.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 76.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 11.4%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 63.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 70.8%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.01%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 5.8%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 27.2%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 14.8%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 29.85 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Tioga

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 13.73 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 37.65 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 12.76 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 29.98 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 9.37 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
111

Madison County, North Carolina

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Madison County: Community 

Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Madison County

References

Appendix: Madison County Data
112
Madison County, North Carolina

CASE STUDIES

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We’re self-sufficient...instead of just saying we can’t do that. It’s a nevergive-up kind of culture.

—Lisa Gahagan, Director of Curriculum, Madison 

 County Schools

Madison County, North Carolina, sits just 20 minutes away from the eclectic arts community and thriving 

tourist destination of Asheville, North Carolina. Like its well-known neighbor, Madison County is nestled 

in the Blue Ridge Mountains, offers stunning scenery, miles of hiking trails, and a rooted music 

community. It is a popular destination for those seeking a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, for 

hobby farmers, and for retirees attracted to the hometown feel and mountain culture. But even with all of 

the opportunity the land promises, longtime Madison County residents have struggled with limited 

resources and numerous challenges impacting their health and well-being.

Like many other Bright Spot communities, Madison County is a rural community defined by rugged 

terrain, deep woods, and narrow country roads. Its population of approximately 21,000 is spread across 

vast distances, in small towns hemmed in by mountains. The unemployment rate hovers around 6 percent, 

but half the workforce is employed outside of the county, with many commuting to Asheville for jobs (as 

well as for community services). The poverty rate of 19.9 percent is higher than the national average of 

15.6 percent.

Despite these factors, the people of Madison County have a strong sense of place and intense community 

pride. Residents value independence and self-sufficiency and hold on to aspects of their Appalachian 

cultural heritage. Madison County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of three 

Rural Madison County, North Carolina, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Steve Tweed
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counties in Appalachian North Carolina—identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on 

13 out of 19 health outcome measures. Most notably, the county performed better than expected on the 

following measures:

 Years of potential life lost: 25 percent better than expected

 Percentage of adults with obesity (>30 BMI): 18 percent better than expected

 Percentage of adults with diabetes: 12 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 12 percent better than expected

 Cancer mortality: 12 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives that improve 

overall health and well-being. The field work for this study showed that Madison County residents are 

committed to ensuring access to primary care services, including taking services to where residents live. 

Strong social networks connect communities in different parts of the county, reinforcing the importance 

of health.

Madison County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better 

than expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, 

the socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all Madison County residents enjoy excellent health. In fact, Madison 

County lags behind the rest of the nation on many health outcome measures. Like other counties with 

limited resources, Bright Spot counties face many challenges to attaining good health outcomes. But 

Madison County’s performance does indicate that certain county conditions or programs may be helping 

generate better-than-expected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may 

benefit from adopting similar initiatives.1

 1 See Table 26 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Madison 

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis. 
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COUNTY OVERVIEW

Figure 10: Map - Bright Spot Community Madison County, North Carolina

Madison County represents a metropolitan county in South Central Appalachia. 

It is one of three Bright Spot counties in Appalachian North Carolina.

Madison County is located in South Central Appalachia, adjacent to the eastern border of Tennessee. 

Portions of the Pisgah National Forest cover much of the northwestern part of the county, accounting for 

16 percent of the county’s land area. Its residents live in three towns—Hot Springs, Mars Hill, and 

Marshall—and in more sparsely populated rural townships.

Across the county, the median household income is $38,445, compared with the national median of 

$56,135. Madison is racially homogeneous—roughly 96 percent of the population is white. Just over 50 

percent of adults have at least some college education, compared with the national median of 63.3 

percent. Classified by the Appalachian Regional Commission as at-risk in fiscal year 2017, 

unemployment in Madison County matched the national rate of 6.2 percent. The most commonly held 

jobs are in health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing. The major in-county 

employers are Madison County Schools, Mars Hill University, Madison County government, and 

Printpack, Inc., a packaging company.

2

 2 Table 24 in the Madison County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of 

county characteristics.
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A DEEPER LOOK AT MADISON COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

Like people in other Bright Spot counties described in this report, Madison County stakeholders have a 

long tradition of relying on each other and local resources to address challenges. They do this by 

partnering with other organizations, often across sectors, and sharing resources creatively. 

Field work helped identify local practices in Madison County that appear to be contributing to overall 

health, document effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising 

strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these characteristics and 

strategies in Madison County:

 A strong focus on primary care: The county is actively committed to ensuring residents have 

access to primary care services. The Hot Springs Health Program (HSHP), which operates four 

clinics in the county, plays a significant role in keeping primary care front and center.

 Cross-sector collaboration: Regional partnerships and resource sharing occur across multiple 

sectors and with players both inside and outside of the county. 

 Commitment to outreach: Many programs take their services to where rural residents live, 

especially in unincorporated areas of the county. 

 Promoting health as a shared value: Madison County cultivates strong social networks to 

connect communities in different parts of the county and reinforce the importance of health. 

Many of Madison County’s initiatives fall into four overarching categories echoed in other Bright Spot 

counties: local providers committed to public health, cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and an 

active faith community. Leadership was also present, but less so in terms of specific leaders than in 

organizations taking the lead to improve health county-wide. What follows is a more in-depth description 

of the programs and activities that fall under these overarching categories.

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

Providing primary care, social services, and structured ways for people to connect are all part of the 

county’s overall approach to health. The Hot Springs Health Program (HSHP) is at the center of much 

of this work, providing a full range of primary and preventive medical services as well as treatment for 

acute and chronic conditions. There are three significant reasons why HSHP plays such a major role: it 

offers a broad range of services, it is easily accessible from all parts of the county, and it is “homegrown.” 

People here view HSHP as an institution that not only serves but also belongs to Madison County and its 

residents.

In 1971, community leaders came up with the vision for HSHP—a stable, accessible health care delivery 

system. Recruiting doctors to serve its poor, rural population had been a constant battle. With no hospital 

and only a few doctors, residents had to travel long distances over bad roads to get health care. The 

community’s access to medical care was tenuous—always on the brink of disruption if even a single 

doctor retired or moved on. Rather than rely on doctors to move in and establish a private practice, the 

community created its own nonprofit health care network, built its own clinics, and hired its own 

providers.

 3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 25 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
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Over the years, HSHP has expanded its operations to include four medical centers with 19 care providers 

and 140 employees, many of whom are long-term staff and integrated into the life of the community. In 

addition to a range of primary and acute care services, the centers offer home care, hospice care, and 

physical therapy. No resident has to travel more than 30 minutes to get care. 

HSHP’s range of services is unusual in a rural 

county of Madison’s size and economic status. 

When it is necessary to refer patients for 

specialized care, HSHP physicians coordinate 

with nearby Asheville hospitals. HSHP also 

extends operating hours into evenings and 

weekends. It essentially offers one-stop access 

to health care. 

Several stakeholders noted that HSHP’s 

integrated primary care model likely 

contributes to Madison County’s identification 

as a Bright Spot. Years of potential life lost—a 

measure of premature death—is 25 percent 

better than predicted, which is indicative of 

earlier detection, preventive medicine, chronic 

disease management, and follow-through on 

specialist treatment. Cancer mortality rates are also better than expected, signaling earlier detection and 

more diligent follow-up treatment. 

HSHP clinics provide access to health care close to home for traditionally underserved populations. 

Instead of presenting care as something out of reach or warranted only when things get dire, HSHP 

appears to be fostering in residents pride, trust, and a willingness to seek services regularly. 

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Madison County works to increase health and wellness by creating an extensive array of collaborative 

efforts to help residents get what they need. This includes health services, funding and assistance 

programs, and social and human services. 

One of the oldest collaborations is the Madison Community Health Consortium (MCHC), which grew 

out of an effort funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to unite citizens, health care providers, local 

agencies, volunteers, and local leaders to identify health problems and barriers to health care. More than 

20 years after its formation, the MCHC remains an ongoing democratic forum where approximately 60 

people come together to assess and determine how to meet community health priorities. The health 

department works closely with the consortium during the federally mandated community health needs 

assessment every three years. 

The MCHC has expanded its reach by growing subcommittees or project groups into spin-off 

organizations to tackle specific health problems. MCHC provides a model for other local organizations 

that likewise want to take a collaborative approach to problem solving. 

In 2014, the Madison Substance Awareness Coalition (MSAC) launched with grant funding from the 

Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the North Carolina Coalition Initiative. The project 

brought together people from law enforcement, schools, public health, local medical centers, social 

The Hot Springs Health Program gives Madison County residents

one‐stop access to health care services.

Becky Johnson 
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service organizations, pharmacies, and churches to identify ways to reduce substance abuse and misuse of 

prescription medications. The MSAC continues to coordinate efforts to combat the abuse of 

methamphetamines, alcohol, and opioid analgesics. 

Madison County’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is one of many supported by the North 

Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. Madison’s SHAC consists of 

health and education professionals who help guide health programming efforts in the schools. Many of 

these programming efforts are aimed explicitly at improving the health status of students and, by 

extension, their families. For example, the SHAC group launched a food truck program that provides free 

fruits and vegetables to county residents. 

Local government is a critical piece of the collaboration puzzle. At county department head meetings, 

health literature is regularly distributed to staff to carry back to their respective county workforces. At a 

department head meeting in April 2017, the floor was turned over to a local representative from the 

American Cancer Society to talk about cancer prevention and treatment resources. It fell outside the 

normal business of a county department head meeting, but it was indicative of a culture of health where 

any avenue to advance community well-being is used.

Literature about wellness initiatives, upcoming screenings, and health resources is regularly distributed to 

Meals on Wheels clients and through eight senior meal sites. Local churches and nonprofits disseminate 

literature about their own social aid programs, offering services from supplying food care boxes to 

providing housing assistance.

Another regional collaborative program, WNC Health Impact, brings together leaders from county 

health departments, hospitals, and other agencies in western North Carolina to share information and 

ideas, identify problems and priorities, formulate plans, and coordinate action. WNC Health Impact has 

helped Madison County public health leaders identify priority health targets (for 2015 to 2018): obesity 

prevention, mental health screening and treatment access, and substance abuse prevention. 

Resource Sharing

Access to care, food, and transportation are issues that Madison County organizations, agencies, churches, 

and volunteers work to ameliorate by pooling resources across the county and regionally. Madison 

County residents bring a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality toward meeting community 

needs, an ingrained sense of responsibility toward the less fortunate, and strong collaboration among 

agencies.

For instance, Madison County has no hospital of its own but is within a 20-minute drive of Mission 

Hospital, western North Carolina’s major medical center located in adjacent Buncombe County. 

The level-two trauma center offers a wide range of standard and specialized services, including a weight 

management center and a diabetes and health education center. The Madison County Health Department 

works with Mission Hospital to provide diabetes education and conduct its community health needs 

assessment, and the department also contracts with the hospital for ambulance and emergency services. 

North Carolina’s Office of Rural Health (ORH) funds HSHP to subsidize care for indigent patients. 

ORH’s mission includes expanding health care access for at-risk rural populations. Many of Madison 

County’s residents do not have high-speed Internet, so they cannot pay bills online from home, research 

medical symptoms, look up doctors, learn about social assistance programs, or find a phone number for a 

specialist. To resolve this need, Madison County Schools and U.S. Cellular are looking at a project to 

retrofit school buses to operate as mobile Wi-Fi hotspots to give community members Internet access. 
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Madison County’s Smart Start program works with community volunteers and social work students at 

Mars Hill University to make literacy education available at childcare centers throughout the county. The 

childcare centers also screen for learning disabilities and help parents and school personnel respond 

appropriately. Smart Start is described as going out to places in the county where its services are needed

most.

To help the many residents of unincorporated areas that are difficult to reach, Madison County has several 

efforts that take health-related resources to these rural locations. The Community Health Advisor 

Program (CHA), started in 2011, is one example. Operated by the American Cancer Society, this 

program trains volunteers to educate their neighbors about the importance of preventive screening, 

especially for colon, breast, and cervical cancers. The Madison County program is one of only a few pilot 

programs of this kind. Madison County was chosen as a pilot site precisely because of historically low 

levels of preventive screening, higher levels of poverty and cancer mortality, and few local clinical 

resources. 

Food

Several communities in Madison County may well be considered a food desert, with many residents 

having to travel long distances to get to the nearest grocery store. Meals on Wheels serves a number of 

residents across this challenging landscape. 

In 2011, the Mars Hill Baptist Church launched the Lord’s Harvest, a nonprofit targeting the nearly 30 

percent of children living in Madison County who are food insecure. With grants from other 

congregations in North Carolina and Florida, and donations from members of the church and the 

community, the nonprofit puts 100 percent of funding toward feeding the hungry in Madison County and 

neighboring counties. The Lord’s Harvest provides 1,790 families each month with a total of 4,100 

pounds of potatoes, 1,000 pounds of cornmeal, and 1,000 pounds of pinto beans. 

Mars Hill Baptist Church Pastor Tommy Justus pieced together supplies from the regional food bank, 

human capital from the faith-based community, and a packing site in his church basement, but he lacked a 

way to get the food to the schools that serve as the three distribution sites across Madison County. So the 

sheriff volunteered his deputies to courier the food to the schools.

The Food Connections program is an innovative collaboration between the Madison County 

Cooperative Extension, the Beacon of Hope Food Bank, and the University of North Carolina (UNC) at 

Asheville. The program takes leftover food prepared for the cafeteria lines at UNC Asheville, repackages 

it, refrigerates it, and distributes it—through the food bank or through the community center in Spring 

Creek—to low-income families in Madison County. 

Similarly, a food truck program operated jointly by the Madison County Health Department and the 

YMCA delivers free fruits and vegetables to low-income residents around the county. A food hub 

program operated by the county extension office helps small-scale local farmers bring their products to 

market, and also provides a place where low-income families can obtain high-quality organic produce at 

low prices. The same program delivers fruits and vegetables to senior centers around the county. 

Madison County’s Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) team operates out of the county health 

department and works with other groups to promote positive health behaviors. The HEAL team has 

collaborated with social work students at Mars Hill University to conduct a study of Madison County

residents to learn about barriers to physical activity and good nutrition. HEAL also helped initiate a 
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project with the YMCA—the Healthy Living Mobile Market—to bring fruits and vegetables, along with 

nutrition education, to more remote parts of Madison County. 

Programs to impart healthier lifestyle choices among youth have shown promise in changing eating 

habits. At the Hot Springs Community Learning Center, children’s packed lunches may not include 

sugary drinks or desserts or other low-nutrition foods. The childcare center also partners with local 

farmers who provide free produce for daily snacks and as a supplement to lunches brought from home. 

Additionally, the center grows food in its own garden, provides free produce to parents gleaned from the 

regional food bank, and exposes children to produce through art projects and science experiments. Parents 

are reporting that their children are trying vegetables and limiting soft drinks.

Transportation

The isolation of Madison County’s distant communities separated by narrow, twisting roads is acute, 

making a lack of transportation a considerable barrier to resources enabling good health. Many elderly 

residents either can’t drive or don’t have a vehicle; others can’t afford the gas to get to medical 

appointments. The remote community of Spill Corn, located 45 minutes from the closest grocery store, is 

home to 23 individuals who either can’t drive or don’t have a car. 

Volunteers and others use a daisy-chain system to overcome this hurdle. Volunteer couriers carry food 

from a central location to a middleman site—often churches but also community centers, volunteer fire 

departments, and a subsidized housing development. Volunteers from individual communities then 

deliver the food to the doorsteps of those who are housebound or lack transportation. 

In addition, the county operates eight senior meal sites and sends county vans to pick up seniors who 

don’t have transportation. Stakeholders noted that if it weren’t for this transportation, many residents 

would not be able to get to the meal sites. They also noted that many residents come to the sites for 

interaction as well as the meal; in Madison County, food provides not only nourishment but also

community connectedness.

Active Faith Community

The faith-based community in the county plays an important role in promoting health and helping provide 

resources and opportunities for residents to pursue a healthy lifestyle. 

A network known as AMOM, Assisting Ministries of Madison, holds roundtable meetings every month 

to bring together representatives of faith-based groups, community outreach programs, and government 

social services agencies. They share information on their respective initiatives and assess pressing needs. 

Everything from food pantry assistance and Thanksgiving turkey drives to heating assistance and free 

firewood programs are coordinated through AMOM. Pastors actively share information on new programs 

and services that their congregations can support by volunteering time and resources. 

Troubled by the plight of impoverished elderly living in rundown homes, Mars Hill Baptist Church Pastor 

Tommy Justus called on volunteers in the faith community to install bathroom grab bars and building 

ramps, and fix roof leaks. That call has since turned into a full-fledged nonprofit, the Community 

Housing Coalition. Madison County is flush with these sorts of homegrown social assistance initiatives, 

and the faith community is actively serving a role in stewarding many of them.
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CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN MADISON COUNTY

Madison County clearly places a high value on health, and the commitment to doing so is evident on the 

part of numerous players: health officials, volunteers, educators, local employers, and the faith-based 

community. Likewise, the emphasis on outreach and getting services to people where they are affirms 

that health matters to this community. 

Madison County has a lower obesity rate, lower prevalence of diabetes, and fewer heart disease

hospitalizations than were predicted for the county, given its characteristics and resources. Those 

interviewed for this case study credit that success in part to minimal numbers of fast-food restaurants in 

the area and Appalachians’ long tradition of growing and raising their own food.

Organizations and institutions across Madison County are growing a new culture around health and wellbeing—transforming diets and enabling access to fresh produce, and connecting people to health services 

with transportation supports and strong employer-provided health insurance. 
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REFERENCES

Ellison, Ayla. 2016. Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable to closure.

February 09. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Lord’s Harvest for the Hungry. 2018. “February 2018 Newsletter.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://www.lordsharvestforthehungry.org/

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. US DHHS. 2017. Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Southeastern University Consortium on Hunger, Poverty, and Nutrition. Hunger Research, Understanding 

Food Insecurity in Your Community, Madison, North Carolina, 2013. 

http://hunger-research.sog.unc.edu/content/2013-madison-county-nc
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APPENDIX: MADISON COUNTY DATA

Table 24: Madison County Characteristics

Characteristic Madison County United States

Population, 2010–2014 20,951 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 1.80% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 43.7 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 20.40% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $38,445 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $21,076 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 6.2% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 19.9% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 95.80% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 1.80% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 51.15% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Asheville, NC (21.5 mi) N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 At-Risk

South Central Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 25: Madison County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Marianna Daly Marshall Physician and Medical 

Director

Hot Springs Health Program 

and Madison County Health 

Department

4/4/2017

Lisa Gahagan Marshall Director of Curriculum Madison County Schools 4/4/2017

Ross Young Marshall Director North Carolina Cooperative 

Extension 4/4/2017

Deana Stephens Marshall Community Health 

Director, RN

Madison County Health 

Department 4/4/2017

Teresa Strom Marshall CEO Hot Springs Health Program 4/4/2017

Molly Campbell Mars Hill Executive Director, 

Program Coordinator

North Carolina Early 

Education Initiative 4/4/2017

Lynda Bowles Mars Hill Specialist for 

Community Health American Cancer Society 4/5/2017

Thomas Fields Marshall Coordinator Gear-Up Grant 4/5/2017

O’Neal Shelton Mars Hill President Madison County Chamber of 

Commerce 4/6/2017
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Table 26: Madison County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 6,129 8,138 -24.7%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 24.8% 30.1% -17.7%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 10.40% 11.86% -12.3%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 49.40 56.14 -12.0%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 159.40 180.77 -11.8%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 6.77 7.51 -9.9%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 7.73 8.48 -8.9%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 51.92 56.14 -7.5%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 15.8% 17.0% -6.8%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 182.60 194.47 -6.1%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.91 0.96 -5.9%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.70 3.92 -5.5%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.80 3.87 -1.7%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 15.60% 15.51% 0.6%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 16.15 15.71 2.8%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 5.91 5.57 6.2%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 19.35 18.04 7.3%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 48.54 43.76 10.9%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 59.40 53.23 11.6%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 27: Madison County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Madison 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.14 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 28.19 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 221.77 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 23.64 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 132.79 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.43 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.10 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226 $38,445 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 156.25 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 18.9%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 27.8%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 51.2%

Income inequality ratio,

4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 4.8%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 92.4%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 71.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 78.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 19.9%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 61.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 39.9%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% --

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 8.5%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 30.1%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 10.0%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 47.62 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Madison 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 10.94 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 --

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 13.54 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 30.89 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 17.69 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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129

Potter County, Pennsylvania

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Potter County: Community Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Potter County

References

Appendix: Potter County Data
130
Potter County, Pennsylvania

CASE STUDIES

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Know everybody, help your neighbor...if we have a need, we don’t wait for 

other people to take care of it. [We are] very self-sufficient...very much 

family-oriented.

—Joy E. Glassmire, Director, Potter County Children 

 and Youth Services

Surrounded by mountains and forestland, Potter County, Pennsylvania, is described in tourism materials 

as “God’s Country.” This rural community with an estimated population of just over 17,000 is tucked into 

the northern Appalachian Mountains. Of the county’s 692,000-plus acres, more than 60 percent is either 

owned by the state and maintained as state parks, forestland, or game lands, or protected under the state’s 

farm and forest preservation program.

Three major watersheds meet in Potter County: those of the Chesapeake Bay, the St. Lawrence River, 

and the Mississippi River. In addition, the headwaters of the Allegheny River have their source in the 

county.

Outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, hunting, and fishing are popular here, enjoyed by 

residents and tourists alike. Although tourism and farming are big business, Potter County’s economy is 

Doug Kerr / Creative Commons 2.0 Generic

Coudersport, Pennsylvania, is the county seat of Potter County. 
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more diverse than that of many other counties highlighted in this report and includes telecommunications, 

health care, education, construction, and government.

Potter County also has its challenges: limited public revenue, lack of transportation, and increasing 

concern about opioid abuse. But it is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties— and one of two 

counties in Appalachian Pennsylvania—identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on

14 out of 19 health outcome measures, most notably on the following:

 Infant mortality: 37 percent better than expected

 Poisoning mortality: 33 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 31 percent better than expected

 Stroke mortality: 26 percent better than expected

 Years of potential life lost: 24 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives that improve 

overall well-being. For example, field research suggests that committed local health care providers and 

strong regional and local collaboration have played a major role in the county’s health. In Potter County, 

a community culture of volunteering and involvement may also contribute to a health-promoting sense of 

social cohesion.

Potter County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all residents here enjoy excellent health. In fact, the county still lags 

behind the rest of the nation on many health indicators. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Potter County’s performance, however, 

indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-than-expected 

outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting similar 

initiatives.1

 1 See Table 30 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Potter

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 11: Map - Bright Spot Community Potter County, Pennsylvania 

Potter County represents a nonmetropolitan county in Northern Appalachia. 

It is one of two Bright Spot counties in Appalachian Pennsylvania.

Located in north-central Pennsylvania, Potter is one of the state’s less populous counties (63rd in 

population out of 67 counties). Eighty-three percent of Potter County’s 17,451 residents live in five small 

towns. Coudersport, with a population of 2,546, is the county seat. One state road links Coudersport to 

Williamsport, which is about 90 miles to the southeast. 

The population is racially homogeneous, approximately 98 percent white. Nearly half (48.8 percent) of 

adults have at least some college education, compared with 63.3 percent nationally. The median 2014 

household income was $40,323, significantly lower than the national median of $56,135. Unemployment 

in 2014 was 7.4 percent, compared with 6.5 percent regionally and 6.2 percent nationally. Just over 14 

percent of residents live in poverty, compared with 15.6 percent nationally.2

 

2

 Table 28 in the Potter County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Potter County, PA

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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Revenue is a challenge in Potter County because the state owns so much of the land. In lieu of property 

taxes, the county receives payment from the state on those lands, which until recently was only $3.60 per 

acre, and that revenue has to be divided among the county, the municipalities, and the school district. As 

of 2017, the state will pay the county $6.00 per acre—a 67 percent increase in revenue on those lands 

(Swift 2016).

Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport is the hub of health care and wellness for a six-county rural 

region and is a magnet that draws resources from larger health care centers in Pennsylvania and New 

York. Through Cole Memorial’s extensive network, most Potter County residents can readily access 

primary and specialty care services, first-response emergency care, and fitness opportunities.

A DEEPER LOOK AT POTTER COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

Like the residents of other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, people in Potter County have 

worked to elevate physical, social, and economic health in several ways. There’s a strong sense of health 

as a shared resource here, and a sense that everyone in the community plays a role in promoting it—

whether through volunteering, looking out for one’s neighbors, or working to protect the environment.

Field work helped identify local practices that appear to be contributing to overall health, document 

effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and 

strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these characteristics and 

strategies in Potter County:

 3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 29 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.

Amanda Jones

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum, in Ulysses, is one of Potter County’s tourist attractions.
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 Community-oriented health services: Cole Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit critical access 

hospital that has been part of the community for over a century; its extensive network of health 

clinics and wellness centers offers routine as well as specialty services. The hospital 

incorporates community participation and feedback to provide efficiently tailored services.

 Strategic collaboration: A regional partnership strategically pools resources to improve health 

outcomes for people at risk; local collaboration is facilitated by the location of all social 

services in one building.

 Resident involvement: Volunteering is part of the community culture, and residents consider 

themselves active stewards of their environment.

 Employer support for health and wellness: Local employers provide good health benefits and 

encourage participation in wellness programs.

Like other Bright Spot communities, Potter County has programs in place that fall into several 

overarching categories: leadership, cross-sector collaboration and resource sharing, and local providers 

committed to public health.

Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

It is difficult to overstate the importance of Cole Memorial Hospital’s leadership to Potter County. It is 

the anchor institution here, with roots dating back to 1917, when it opened as Coudersport Hospital. In 

2007, Cole Memorial was designated a critical access hospital, and today it operates as a charitable 

nonprofit health care organization serving 55,000 residents in an area that includes Pennsylvania’s Potter, 

Cameron, McKean, and Tioga Counties.

According to its 2017 annual report, Cole Memorial had 65,300 outpatient visits; 23,650 home health 

visits; 9,000 emergency visits; and 4,000 express care visits that year. It logged 6,300 inpatient days; 

performed 5,600 surgeries; and delivered 200 babies. Cole Memorial is also a major employer, with 824 

employees, 610 of whom are full-time.

In addition to the hospital in Coudersport, Cole operates a network of 10 health clinics that serve residents 

in north-central Pennsylvania and south-central New York. Satellite clinics opened in the towns of 

Emporium, Ulysses, and Shinglehouse in 1979; additional offices opened in the towns of Eldred, 

Smethport, Westfield, and adjoining counties in the 1990s. The Cole system also includes specialty units 

that provide home and hospice care, psychiatric care for seniors, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, 

emergency medicine, cardiac rehabilitation, and radiation oncology. Other specialty practices include 

cardiology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, pain management, general surgery, podiatry, telepsychiatry, telerheumatology, and gastroenterology.

Viewed as a homegrown, nonprofit institution, Cole Memorial is an organization that most residents feel 

comfortable getting care from. The location of satellite clinics in the area’s small towns further enhances 

access to care. The hospital’s sponsorship of health fairs and senior expos, its offerings of subsidized 

health screenings and involvement with workplace wellness services, and its new initiative to help 

patients better navigate the health care system all reinforce its image as a critical community pillar.

The county also offers veterans’ health care: several years ago county officials succeeded in bringing a 

branch of the Bath (New York) VA Medical Center to Coudersport. Prior to the clinic’s opening, veterans 
CREATING A CULTURE OF 

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had to drive nearly two hours each way to get to their medical appointments. Now, they can get care in 

the community.

Employers also play an influential role in supporting community health. Potter County has more than 50 

sizeable employers, and nine of the ten largest employers offer health insurance benefits. Six of the top 50 

employers are school districts, government agencies, or employers associated with the Cole health care 

system. All of these employers offer health benefits. Cole Memorial Hospital also offers its employees an 

extensive wellness program, one that constitutes a model for other employers in the region. 

Commitment to health is also evident in the Potter County public school system. Public schools contract 

with Dickinson Center, Inc., a nonprofit provider of rural behavioral health care, for acute crisis services

when students are in distress. The schools also collaborate with Cole Memorial to offer health and dental 

screenings to students. Project Rapport offers special education for pregnant and parenting teens. The Too 

Good for Drugs program educates students about the dangers of drug use. A program called A Way Out 

deals with domestic violence and sexual abuse and promotes healthy relationships. Another program, 

Parents Helping Parents, provides support for parents struggling to cope with their children’s behavior. 

The schools have also worked with the Potter County Suicide Prevention Task Force to bring in the 

national Rachel’s Challenge program, which works to reduce harassment, bullying, and violence in 

schools. 

In addition, criminal justice leaders recognize the links 

between public safety, health, and quality of life. A pre-trial 

diversion program offers treatment to offenders with mental 

health or substance abuse issues, instead of putting them in 

jail. The county has developed specialty courts, and 

discussions are in the works to develop similar court programs

handling veterans and those with mental health issues.

Through these programs, recidivism has dropped, saving the 

county money and helping people get their lives on track.

In-jail programs and a residential recovery center help people 

address issues that are keeping them from leading productive 

lives. The CLEAN protocol—Concerned Law Enforcement 

Against Narcotics—gives drug users an opportunity to seek 

treatment without being criminally charged. 

Transportation is an issue for many defendants involved in drug courts who need to get to appointments 

in different parts of the county. When a judge floated the idea of providing bicycles, the county drug and 

alcohol services division secured a grant to purchase 15 bikes for defendants to use. 

Cross-Sector Collaboration and Resource Sharing

Cole Memorial Hospital is a key agent in orchestrating local cooperation and regional collaboration. The 

hospital has long served as a link between patients and specialty care providers in the region and 

throughout the state. In recent years, the hospital has formed collaborative relationships with the Guthrie 

Clinic in Sayre, Pennsylvania, to provide care in otolaryngology; with Geisinger Health in Danville, 

Pennsylvania, to provide psychiatric care, and with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot to 

provide heart and vascular care. More than 20 years ago, the hospital joined with Lock Haven University 

of Pennsylvania to create a training program for physician assistants seeking to work in medically 

County Commissioner Paul Heimel

Amanda Jones
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underserved parts of the state. In this way, Cole has connected its patients and its primary care staff to the 

medical resources of a much wider area.

Locally, the hospital has facilitated cooperation 

through its Community Health Council and 

Community Benefit Advisor program. A 

more recent regional initiative, the Northern 

Tier Community Health Collaborative, pools

resources and coordinates physical, behavioral 

health, and drug and alcohol services for 

vulnerable populations in rural areas. A

strategic focus for the collaborative is 

promoting “health literacy” to help patients 

understand their basic health needs and how to 

get those needs met. 

Another example of cooperation in Potter County is the consolidation of human services under one roof, 

similar to what officials in Tioga County, New York, did. This hub arrangement facilitates information

sharing, networking, and coordination—and makes it easier for residents to get needed services.

There is a strong sense of small-town connectedness throughout Potter County. People here feel 

responsible for each other and help their neighbors when they are in need. In this way, they share 

important personal resources—time, energy, expertise, and goodwill—that advance community health. 

Volunteerism is part of life here. Volunteers coach youth sports and work at the Potter County Fair, the 

God’s Country Marathon, and the Austin Dam Memorial Park. They monitor water quality, protect 

animals, and mark hiking trails.

People here are also particularly mindful of the needs of elderly community members. Senior centers in 

Potter County are not just for socializing—they offer classes on medication management, how to avoid

scams, and how to deal with wildlife encounters; organize bus trips and walking groups; assist with 

Meals on Wheels; complete community service projects; and provide a social support safety net for area 

seniors.

Meals on Wheels is an important program, providing food and wellness checks for seniors, some of 

whom are shut-ins living in remote areas. During a particularly tough winter when many back roads were 

impassable by car, volunteers drove snowmobiles to deliver meals to needy seniors.

Residents view themselves as stewards of their environment. They are particularly proud—and 

protective—of their water resources. Several groups have formed to monitor these resources—public, 

private, and surface. 

People also band together to protect other important community assets. In Coudersport, residents raised

hundreds of thousands of dollars to save the community pool, the county’s only public swimming facility. 

When the borough council considered a proposal to sell part of Coudersport’s arboretum, a source of 

history and pride to the community, 850 Coudersport residents signed a petition opposing the move. Their 

impassioned pleas during a council meeting on the proposal helped stop the sale.

Recently, a well-loved ski resort at Denton Hill State Park, the only one of its type in the region, was 

closed. Community members immediately joined forces to create the “Save Ski Denton” movement, 

Cole Memorial Dentistry in Coudersport

Amanda Jones
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which gained traction online and eventually caught the attention of state lawmakers. The state is now 

working to turn the park into a year-round destination. 

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

Cole Memorial has demonstrated remarkable support for community health—in some cases, magnifying 

the effects of health-promoting activities in other sectors. For example, employer support for health is 

bolstered by the hospital’s Center for Workplace Wellness, which provides preventive health care and 

screenings to local industries and organizations. As an outgrowth of its 2016 Community Health Needs 

Assessment, Cole is developing a multi-year workplace wellness program to help employers improve the 

health of their employees. Four more local employers have recently committed to becoming wellness 

partners next year. Here, again, Cole Memorial is playing a major role in bringing health care services to 

the Potter County community.

The hospital also operates four wellness centers in the region, including one in Coudersport. Open 24 

hours every day, these centers offer exercise and strength-training equipment, locker rooms, steam rooms, 

whirlpools, and outdoor walking trails, as well as exercise and other health-related classes. In addition, 

the region hosts other privately operated fitness facilities, and public school gyms are open to residents. 

No other Bright Spot county offered this range of exercise and wellness resources.

Cole Memorial’s community orientation is evident in other ways. One of the governing board’s four 

subcommittees, the Community Health Council, guides the hospital’s efforts to improve public health in 

its service region. The health council also maintains an associated Community Benefit Advisor

program that brings together approximately 100 representatives from local institutions and community 

groups to discuss emerging health issues and how the hospital can best respond. This group meets four 

times a year and recently helped Cole conduct a community health needs assessment.

The hospital is also active with the county’s four senior centers and has organized a dental health 

collaborative. In addition, the hospital teams up with local civic organizations (e.g., Rotary clubs) and 

libraries to host five comprehensive blood analysis events every year, serving more than 800 community 

residents. These events are held on Saturdays at various locations in the county. Cole Memorial also 

provides free mammograms and cancer screenings every month. Low-cost comprehensive blood panel 

workups are also available at screening events. 

The hospital’s ob-gyn and cardiac rehabilitation services may play a role in lowering rates of infant 

mortality and heart disease mortality. Health fairs, where residents can get free or low-cost screenings for 

high blood pressure and cholesterol, may help lower heart disease and stroke mortality. Health benefit 

plans that cover prenatal care may also contribute to lowering infant mortality and low-birth-weight

births. Psychological barriers to care-seeking may be lowered because Cole is a locally rooted institution

with a local identity.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN POTTER COUNTY

Strong leadership and collaboration have helped Potter County overcome many of the health challenges 

faced by resource-strained rural areas that lack public transportation. Over the years, Cole Memorial 

Hospital has developed an extensive service network—including outpatient clinics, specialty services, 

wellness centers, and screening programs—that is the backbone for health care in the county. Community 

participation and feedback play an important role in shaping the hospital’s approach to serving the 

population, including the services and programs it offers. 
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Strategic collaboration has also strengthened regional and local capacity for meeting health needs in 

Potter County. Cole Memorial has forged partnerships with other providers, such as the Guthrie Clinic, 

Geisinger Health, and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot, to provide services that residents 

need. And a more recent regional initiative, the Northern Tier Community Health Collaborative, pools 

resources and coordinates health services for people living in rural areas.

With limited government funding, community members have nurtured a culture of volunteerism and 

activism that helps to fill gaps in services and preserve shared resources. They contribute to protecting the 

health of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, and to safeguarding health-supporting community 

assets.

Finally, many local employers recognize the importance of community health. They offer good health 

benefits and encourage employees to participate in wellness programs.

Together, these factors help keep Potter County a health-promoting community while ensuring the 

welfare of its residents.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report." Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Chandra, Anita, Joie Acosta, Katherine Carman, Tamara Dubowitz, Laura Leviton, Laurie Martin, 

Carolyn Miller, et al. 2016. Building a National Culture of Health.

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1100/RR1199/RAND_RR1199.pdf

Cole Memorial. 2017. “2017 Annual Summary.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.netreturns.biz/Client_Files/cole/CM/System/FY17%20ColeAnnualReport-Doc.pdf

Egede, Leonard E. 2006. “Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Disparities in Health Care.” Journal of General 

Internal Medicine 21 (6): 667-669. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.0512.x

Ellison, Ayla. 2016. Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable to closure.

February 09. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Institute of Medicine (U.S.) Committee. 1990. Medicare: A Strategy for Quality Assurance. Edited by KN 

Lohr. Vol. 1. Washington (D.C.): National Academies Press (U.S.). 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235460/

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. U.S. DHHS. 2017. Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Potter County Planning Deparment. 2000. “Potter County Comprehensive Plan - Preserving and 

Enhancing the Quality of Life for Current and Future Residents of Potter County.” 2017. Welcome to 

Potter County. 

http://www.visitpottercounty.com/

Swift, Robert. 2016. “Payments for state-owned forests, parks increasing.” The Times Tribune, December 

18, 2016. 

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/payments-for-state-owned-forests-parks-increasing-1.2131552

World Health Organization. 2017. The determinants of health. 

http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
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APPENDIX: POTTER COUNTY DATA

Table 28: Potter County Characteristics

Characteristic Potter County United States

Population, 2010–2014 17,451 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -2.10% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 45.5 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 22.30% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $40,323 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $22,318 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 7.4% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 14.3% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 97.80% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 0.50% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 48.77% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center

Williamsport, PA 

(73.4 mi.) N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 Transitional

Northern Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 29: Potter County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Joy Glassmire Roulette

Director of Potter County 

Children and Youth 

Services

Potter County Human 

Services 5/16/2017

Kari Kurtz Coudersport Director of Community 

and Employer Relations Cole Memorial Hospital 5/15/2017

Joe Lazurek Coudersport Senior Pastor Coudersport Alliance 

Church 5/15/2017

John Leete Coudersport Senior Judge Potter County Courthouse 5/15/2017

Donald Tanner Coudersport District 3 Director PennState Extension –

Potter County 5/16/2017

Monica 

Williams Shinglehouse Case Manager / Home 

and School Visitor

Oswayo Valley School 

District 5/16/2017
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Table 30: Potter County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 4.28 6.85 -37.4%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 11.60 17.29 -32.9%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 152.84 221.74 -31.1%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 40.60 58.63 -30.8%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 34.43 46.68 -26.2%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 6,630 8,769 -24.4%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 13.83 17.22 -19.7%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500 g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 7.04 7.77 -9.4%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 53.34 57.21 -6.8%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 50.45 53.72 -6.1%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 11.6% 12.3% -5.9%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.95 1.01 -5.8%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 16.2% 16.6% -2.5%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 3.90 3.97 -1.8%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.10 4.08 0.5%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 190.74 188.74 1.1%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 32.4% 31.1% 4.3%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 16.2% 15.3% 5.7%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 6.55 5.44 20.3%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) - 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 31: Potter County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Potter 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 12.79 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 21.99 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 176.37 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 29.07 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 117.22 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.80 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.40 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $40,323.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 40.65 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 19.7%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 30.2%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 48.8%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 4.2%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 85.4%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 55.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 84.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 14.3%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 62.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 41.9%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.00%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 6.9%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 27.6%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 18.8%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 51.55 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Potter 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 19.43 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 57.30 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 12.47 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 40.46 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 13.98 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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147

Sequatchie County, Tennessee

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Sequatchie County: Community 

Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Sequatchie County

References

Appendix: Sequatchie County Data
148
Sequatchie County, Tennessee

CASE STUDIES

149

Everybody feels like they’re in it together, and there’s a lot of collaboration 

and helping each other.

 —Beth Delaney, Community Development Director, Southeast

 Regional Health Office

Referred to as the “Hang Gliding Capital of the East,” Sequatchie County, Tennessee, draws operators of 

the unpowered aircraft from around the world with its favorable flying conditions and aerial views. 

Located in the Sequatchie Valley—which is known for its beautiful landscape and moderate climate—the 

county is home to a growing number of affluent retirees and urbanites from other states who are attracted 

to the area’s natural amenities and proximity to Chattanooga. As a result, the county of 14,431 people has 

grown rapidly, its population rising 28.3 percent from 1990 to 2000 and 24.1 percent from 2000 to 2010.

The county’s many faith-based communities have a strong presence and take an active role in promoting 

health. Of note is the large Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) community, whose members are encouraged to 

eat a mainly vegetarian diet, get regular exercise, avoid tobacco and alcohol, get adequate rest, seek 

Kiri Hughes is a farmer and owner of Hughes Produce in Sequatchie County, a Bright Spot community in which nutrition has been

identified as a health value shared among groups. 

© Nancy Henderson
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preventive medical care, and make efforts to help preserve the environment. Health is also promoted in 

the county through school programs, civic groups, and health care services. 

Sequatchie County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of seven counties in

Appalachian Tennessee—identified as a Bright Spot, performing better than expected across 14 of 19 

health outcome measures. Most notably, Sequatchie County performed better than expected on the 

following five measures:

 Poisoning mortality: 35 percent better than expected

 Injury mortality: 20 percent better than expected

 Stroke mortality: 20 percent better than expected

 Heart disease mortality: 17 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 15 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives created by the 

county to improve overall well-being. Field research indicates that retirees, faith leaders, and health care 

organizations are playing a critical role in improving both the health and economic well-being of the 

county. 

Sequatchie County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better 

than expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, 

the socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that residents here enjoy excellent health. In fact, the county still lags behind 

national performance on a number of health outcomes. Like other counties with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face challenges to attaining good health outcomes. Sequatchie County’s performance, 

however, indicates that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-thanexpected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting 

similar initiatives.1

 1 See Table 34 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for 

Sequatchie County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files

accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 12: Map - Bright Spot Community Sequatchie County, Tennessee 

Sequatchie County represents a metropolitan county in South Central Appalachia. 

It is one of seven Bright Spot communities in Appalachian Tennessee. 

Sequatchie County sits in the Sequatchie Valley, just west of the Cumberland Plateau, about 45 minutes 

from Chattanooga and near the southern Tennessee border. 

Once known for coal mining and large agricultural businesses, this 250-square-mile county is rapidly 

changing. Half of its workforce commutes to jobs outside of the county, and its residents live in five main 

communities: Dunlap, the county seat; Lone Oak; Brush Creek; Cagle; and Lewis Chapel. Household 

income in 2014 was $44,111, compared with $56,135 nationally. 

Twenty percent of county residents are age 65 or older, compared with 15 percent of the U.S. population. 

In fact, in Sequatchie retirees are called “half-backers” because many retired from northern states to 

Florida and then returned halfway back to settle in the county. 

Of Sequatchie’s residents, 97 percent are white; less than one percent are black. About 47 percent of 

adults in the county have at least some college education, compared with 63.3 percent nationally. The 

unemployment rate in 2014 was 7.4 percent, compared with 6.5 percent regionally and 6.2 percent 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Sequatchie County, TN

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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nationally. And in 2014, just over 18 percent of county residents had incomes below the federal poverty 

level, compared with 15.6 percent of the U.S. population.

2

 

Major highways run through Sequatchie County, giving a large portion of its population ready access to 

health care services in Pikeville (Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital), Jasper (Parkridge Hospital, formerly 

Grandview Medical), and Chattanooga (Erlanger, Parkridge East, Kindred, and Memorial Hospitals). Like 

some other Bright Spot communities—such as Tioga County, New York; Madison County, North 

Carolina; and Wirt County, West Virginia—Sequatchie has limited medical facilities of its own, but it has 

access to medical services in adjacent counties that are a short driving distance away.

A DEEPER LOOK AT SEQUATCHIE COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

As in other Bright Spot communities, faith leaders, health care organizations, and social service agencies 

in Sequatchie County are collaborating and sharing resources to provide a range of health care, public 

health, and social services. These collaborative efforts emphasize the importance of healthy food and 

provide opportunities to help residents pursue healthy behaviors. Additionally, two groups have a 

significant impact on how residents view and value health: a steadily growing retiree community whose 

members have higher income levels, and a very active faith community. 

Field work helped identify local practices in Sequatchie County that appear to be contributing to overall 

health, document effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising 

practices and strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research found these 

characteristics and strategies in Sequatchie County:

 Shared health values among groups: The larger community reflects the shared health priorities 

of smaller groups. Faith-based groups, most notably, but also the school system and civic groups,

are active and invested in the health outcomes of their members. Good nutrition, for example, is a 

shared health value.

 Collaboration and sharing of resources: A nearly-30-year-old health council includes members 

from every sector and meets monthly to discuss and address issues impacting the community. 

Sequatchie’s single regional school campus also promotes a countywide sense of community.

 Access to health services: The efforts of a regional hospital and larger district health department 

improve access to preventive and acute care. The area’s mental and behavioral health programs 

work not only to deliver health services in a community setting, but they also serve to integrate 

social services. Additionally, area employers demonstrate strong support for the health of their 

employees through wellness and healthy living incentive programs.

 Volunteer engagement: A theme of engagement is noted in many sectors and is made possible 

in part with the help of a strong retirement community.

Like other Bright Spots communities, Sequatchie County has initiatives and efforts that fall into several 

overarching categories: leadership, cross-sector collaboration, local providers committed to public health, 

and an active faith community.

 2 Table 32 in the Sequatchie County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of 

county characteristics.

3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 33 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
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Community Leaders Engaged in Health Initiatives

The field research found strong evidence in Sequatchie County of leaders from all walks of life working 

to promote health. 

For example, the efforts of county officials and residents to get the Erlanger Health System to establish 

a medical facility in Dunlap reflects the value they place on health. In its first year of operation, Erlanger 

Sequatchie Valley served 9,000 patients, nearly double the expected number. In 2016, it served 24,000 

patients. This level of service suggests not only a need for, but also a strong desire to seek, care and to use 

local health care resources. The success of the Sequatchie facility prompted local leaders to approach 

Erlanger again about establishing a larger, regional hospital in Dunlap. Erlanger agreed, and plans are 

now moving forward. In December 2016, Dunlap city commissioners contributed $10,000 for preliminary 

work for the new facility.

There are also strong local leaders at the grassroots level who are committed to addressing substance 

abuse. Churches, schools, and law enforcement are working to provide rehabilitation assistance to 

residents in need and to reduce risky behaviors in the community.

The local school board has shown strong leadership by endorsing the Coordinated School Health (CSH) 

program, which was created by the state legislature in 2000 and fully implemented statewide in 2007. It 

mandates school-based activities in eight areas: health education; health services; nutrition; physical 

education; healthy school environment; school counseling, psychological, and social services; student, 

family, and community involvement; and school staff wellness. 

CSH’s health-promotion efforts include providing annual student health screenings to identify issues 

related to obesity, vision, hearing, blood pressure, and dentition; employing educational programs to 

combat tobacco addiction, bullying, and drunk driving; holding bicycle safety courses; and offering 

exercise and stress-reduction classes for school employees. It also helps educators get health information 

into parents’ hands and out into the community. CSH pursues the goal of educating parents by publishing 

a quarterly newsletter that is sent home to them, and regularly distributing flyers about health-related 

issues and events in the community. The program also collaborates with the University of Tennessee 

Extension Service and Step Up Sequatchie to improve exercise facilities and physical education offerings 

in the schools.

The CSH program is popular with students, parents, and church groups, and its events are well attended.

Notably, the Sequatchie County Board of Education has officially expressed support for the statemandated program. 

In influx of affluent retirees into the community in recent decades may also contribute to the number of 

community leaders who show a shared value for health. These relative newcomers have gotten involved

in local business, politics, and civic affairs, bringing their ideas and skills; many have higher levels of 

education, and perhaps more health-conscious lifestyles. This “in-migration” of a more affluent 

population also seems to have created new markets for fitness and health care facilities that have 

benefited, and will continue to benefit, all of Sequatchie County’s residents.

Finally, in Sequatchie County there is strong employer support for employee health. The county’s major 

employers are the public school system, the Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency (SETHRA), 

Walmart, Mann+Hummel, NHC Healthcare, Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative, and the Sequatchie Valley 

Electric Cooperative. These employers all provide some level of health insurance or other wellness 

benefits for their full-time employees. Additionally, the Bledsoe Telephone Cooperative offers weight-
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loss programs, free flu shots, and 100 percent coverage for preventive care. The Sequatchie Valley 

Electric Cooperative sponsors an annual senior expo where people age 55 and older can get free health 

information and free screenings for high blood pressure and cholesterol. SETHRA offers employees a 

“teledoc” option that allows them to consult with physicians online on a 24/7 basis. The Sequatchie CSH 

program provides teachers and other school staff with exercise and relaxation classes. 

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Cross-sector change agents in the Sequatchie community come from across the county and include 

residents, public officials, employers, schools, faith-based organizations, members of the health care 

sector, community-based organizations, and others. 

One example is the Sequatchie Health Council, a 40-member group established 28 years ago that 

includes representatives of local businesses, social service agencies, the county health department, the 

county commission, schools, local media, medical offices, and the Tennessee Department of Health. 

Council members meet monthly to identify local health issues and find ways to address them. Past 

projects have focused on tobacco control, obesity, substance abuse, suicide prevention, and nutrition 

education. In addition, the group has sponsored many health fairs and health screening events over the 

years. One of the health council’s recent projects, Step Up Sequatchie: Improve Your Health One Step 

at a Time, has brought together volunteers who organize events that help people quit smoking, promote 

healthier eating, and encourage physical activity. The formation and ongoing efforts of the health council

and of Step Up Sequatchie are indicators that Sequatchie residents place a high value on health.

The Sequatchie school system and its partners are another valuable health promotion resource. A 

significant part of this value lies in the work done through the CSH program, which serves the student 

population, school employees, and, by extension, family members. It may also be a beneficial factor that 

Sequatchie County’s public schools—elementary, middle, and high—are housed in one location, an 

arrangement that aids coordination of health promotion efforts within the school system. The centralized 

schools, as one interviewee suggested, function as a kind of hub for distribution of public health 

information.

The Sequatchie County schools also attend to the nutritional needs of students by providing free breakfast 

and lunch, regardless of family income level. In addition, the schools partner with a local food bank to 

provide free fruits and vegetables that students can take home to their families. 

In this small community, the school system serves as a hub for promoting health through preventive 

screening, physical activity, classroom and public education, and nutrition. 

Local Providers Committed to Public Health

In 2014, at the urging of county officials and residents, Erlanger Health System, based in Chattanooga 

and affiliated with the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, opened a satellite facility—Erlanger 

Sequatchie Valley—in Dunlap. This facility provides 24/7 emergency services, primary care, and weekly 

clinics for cardiology, orthopedics, and women’s health. As noted previously, in 2016 Erlanger 

Sequatchie Valley treated more than 24,000 patients. Given that apparent level of need, the Erlanger 

system sought regulatory approval to build a regional hospital in Dunlap. Sequatchie County has since 

issued bonds to finance construction of the new $32.6 million hospital, which will include 25 beds, and a 

new 3.0 Tesla MRI to provide magnetic resonance imaging services.
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Erlanger is also replacing Erlanger Bledsoe, a small “community and safety net” hospital it has operated

in Pikeville (Bledsoe County), 20 miles north of Dunlap, since July 2014. The planned $4.3 million 

Emergency Center will create better access to care for a medically underserved population in the entire 

Sequatchie Valley, including Bledsoe, Sequatchie, and Grundy Counties. The project is being financed 

with tax-exempt bonds issued by Bledsoe County, and Erlanger will lease and operate the new facility to

repay the bonds.

In the past, the area benefited from care provided by an emergency room in Dunlap associated with

the Grandview Medical Center in Jasper (Marion County), and from the Bledsoe facility, which dates 

to 1971. When Grandview closed the Dunlap emergency room in 2010, Sequatchie residents 

successfully lobbied Erlanger to establish the Sequatchie Valley facility, a reflection of strong local

concern for health.

Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, one of the largest public hospitals in the United States, also plays an

important role in supporting the community’s health. It provides comprehensive hospital services,

including a level-one trauma center, a nationally renowned stroke center, and a shock-trauma intensive 

care unit. Sequatchie County residents in need of emergency care can get to the facility in 35 minutes by

ambulance. The LIFE FORCE Air Medical emergency helicopter service—established by Erlanger in

1988 and now operated under contract by Med-Trans Corp.—has a helipad in Dunlap and can get patients 

to Chattanooga in minutes. Sequatchie also contracts with Puckett EMS, based in Austell, Georgia, to

provide countywide emergency services. These local and regional emergency response resources, in

providing access to expedited treatment, may contribute to Sequatchie County’s better-than-expected 

performance for poisoning mortality, injury mortality, and stroke mortality. 

Active Faith Community

Sequatchie County’s faith-based communities take an active role in promoting health. Since 2008, the 

Sequatchie Ministerial Association, a consortium of 19 local churches, has been providing supplemental 

social services to the county’s low-income residents. The association helps people pay utility bills, 

provides a jail ministry, and operates a food bank. For a time, the United Methodist Church in Chapel 

Hill, Tennessee, provided a physician-staffed free clinic. The United Methodist Church in Dunlap offers 

yoga and relaxation classes. The Dunlap Seventh-Day Adventist Church hosts the monthly “Dinner with a 

Doctor” program, which brings medical expertise and advice to the general public. 

Local resident and SDA leader Charles Cleveland founded the nonprofit Health Education Resources, which promotes preventive 

health care.

© Nancy Henderson
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Sequatchie County’s churches also raise funds for people who need help with medical bills or postdisaster recovery (such as when a tornado struck in November 2016). Several churches operate volunteer 

programs that provide free transportation to medical appointments. 

The school-based CSH program works with church groups to distribute health information (e.g., about 

health fairs, preventive screenings, exercise programs, and nutrition) to county residents. Sending flyers 

to congregations is a locally effective way to get the word out.

In particular, the large Seventh-Day Adventist community plays a significant role. There are two SDA 

churches in Dunlap, and two in surrounding counties. The church also runs a K–12 school in Dunlap that 

is open to the public. According to estimates, SDA members may account for up to 10 percent of the 

county population. This is significant not just because of the local health-related activities the SDA 

church members support—potluck meals for low-income people, Dinner with a Doctor, participation in 

health fairs—but also because of the health practices promoted by SDA teachings.

Based on the principle that “the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,” the SDA church advocates the 

importance of a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding the use of tobacco and alcohol. These prohealth practices are associated with the exceptional longevity of SDA members. But the church not only 

has a strong internal culture of health; it also embraces the mission of extending this culture into society at 

large. Locally, resident and SDA leader Charles Cleveland founded Health Education Resources, a 

nonprofit organization that promotes preventive medicine worldwide.

Another example of the power of faith-based communities to promote health is the Tennessee governor’s 

recent initiative to partner with churches to support the work of Project Lifeline, a state-sponsored, multicounty addiction recovery program. Project Lifeline was established to reduce stigma related to the 

disease of addiction and increase community support for policies that provide for treatment and recovery 

services. It has also been designed to serve as a vital resource in an area overwhelmed by the country’s 

opioid epidemic.

Taken together, the efforts of faith groups in Sequatchie County affirm the importance of community 

health and, through practical actions, bolster it.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN SEQUATCHIE COUNTY

Sequatchie County is changing rapidly as both its demographics and its economy shift. A renewed 

cultural focus on health and well-being is part of that shift, as a broad range of players work to promote 

the value of maintaining health. This can be seen in the faith-based communities advocating for healthy 

behaviors, including undertaking physical activity and working toward better nutrition; local 

organizations addressing substance abuse; and schools offering parents, teachers, and students 

opportunities to learn about and practice healthy behaviors.

Important evidence of the value Sequatchie County residents place on health is the strong endorsement of 

the school board for the work of the CSH program in schools. While a state-mandated health promotion 

effort could have met with local resistance, just the opposite has occurred in Sequatchie. Those 

interviewed as part of this case study’s field work described the CSH program as popular with students, 

parents, and church groups.

Like many other employers in the county, the schools provide teachers and other employees with 

important health benefits in addition to insurance coverage. These benefits included access to wellness 

programs and opportunities for physical activity. And beyond urging their congregants to live healthier 
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lives, the county’s faith community provide essential health-related supports to individuals and families

who need them, including free meals and health care services as well as help with utility bills. 

The civic engagement among newly arrived retirees is also benefiting, and will continue to benefit, all of 

Sequatchie County’s residents. Many of the retirees are active across the county—taking an interest in 

local issues, joining local churches, and pursuing volunteer opportunities. 

The changes that residents of Sequatchie County are likely noticing may be helping to create some betterthan-expected health outcomes, and reinforcing the value that the people who live here place on health. 
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2011). Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report. Retrieved from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: 

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Chandra, A., J. Acosta, K. Carman, T. Dubowitz, L. Leviton, L. Martin, A. Plough, et al. (2016). Building 

a National Culture of Health. Retrieved from rand.org: 

http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1100/RR1199/RAND_RR1199.pdf

Egede, L. E. (2006, June). Race, Ethnicity, Culture, and Disparities in Health Care. Journal of General 

Internal Medicine, 21(6), 667-669. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.0512.x

Ellison, A. (2016, February 09). Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable 

to closure. Retrieved July 27, 2017, from: 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Fessner, Dave. "Erlanger Gets Approval to Build Hospital in Dunlap, Tenn." Times Free Press, December 

13, 2017.

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schwalbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee. (1990). Medicare: A Strategy for Quality Assurance (Vol. 1). (K. 

Lohr, Ed.) Washington (D.C.): National Academies Press (US). Retrieved from 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235460/

Loma Linda University School of Public Health. (2017, September 1). Findings for AHS-2. Retrieved 

from Adventist Health Studies 

https://publichealth.llu.edu/adventist-health-studies/findings/findings-ahs-2

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. US DHHS. (2017). Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Retrieved July 27, 2017, from Healthy People. gov: 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Willet, W. (2003). Lessons from dietary studies in Adventists and questions for the future. American 

Journal Clinical Nutrition, 539S–543S.

World Health Organization. (2017). The determinants of health. Retrieved from World Health 

Organization: Health Impact Assessment: 

http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
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APPENDIX: SEQUATCHIE COUNTY DATA

Table 32: Sequatchie County Characteristics

Characteristic Sequatchie County United States

Population, 2010–2014 14,431 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 4.90% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 41.7 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 19.80% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $44,111 $56,135

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $21,818 $28,930

Unemployment rate, 2014 7.4% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 18.70% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 97.00% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 0.80% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 47.29% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center

Chattanooga, TN- 26.4 

miles N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017

Transitional

South Central 

Appalachia

N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 33: Sequatchie County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Donna Condra Dunlap Field Management 

Director

Department of Health 

and Human Services 4/24/2014

Stephanie Boynton Dunlap Chief Executive Officer

Erlanger Sequatchie 

Valley Emergency 

Department

4/24/2017

Rolanda Green Dunlap Coordinator School 

Health

Sequatchie Board of 

Education 4/24/2017

Karen Shepherd, 

MD Dunlap County Coroner Sequatchie County 4/25/2017

Jan Frechette Dunlap Director Sequatchie Health 

Council 4/25/2017

Beth Delaney Dunlap Community 

Development Director

Sequatchie Health 

Council 4/26/2017

Dave Hodges Dunlap

Project LifeLine 

Coordinator, Region 3 

South

Franklin Prevention 

Coalition 4/26/2017
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Table 34: Sequatchie County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 18.61 28.74 -35.3%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 65.05 81.41 -20.1%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 40.50 50.68 -20.1%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 192.95 232.14 -16.9%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 56.40 66.31 -14.9%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 14.09 16.55 -14.9%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 4.97 5.59 -11.1%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 30.0% 33.2% -9.7%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 9,977 10,992 -9.2%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 71.13 76.56 -7.1%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.80 5.03 -4.6%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 18.10% 18.72% -3.3%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 13.30% 13.47% -1.2%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.70 4.73 -0.6%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 1.02 1.01 1.0%

Low-birth-weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 10.62 10.39 2.2%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 230.91 222.67 3.7%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 11.3% 10.8% 4.5%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 7.60 7.14 6.4%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 35: Sequatchie County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Sequatchie 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.63 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–

2014 Yes 22.82 32.69 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 214.93 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 20.41 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 122.84 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.35 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 --

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $44,111.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 

2015 No 80.00 20.41 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 23.2%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 35.6%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 47.3%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 5.4%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 82.8%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 86.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 92.0%

Percentage of households with income below 

poverty, 2014 Yes 15.8% 18.7%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 52.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 43.1%

Percentage of total population in social assistant 

jobs, 2013 N/A 0.01% --

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 9.7%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 29.7%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 0.1%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 

2013 No 48.54 20.45 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Sequatchie 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 5.45 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 

2013 No 25.93 --

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 16.03 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 60.42 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 16.10 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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165

Grant County, West Virginia

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Grant County: Community Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Grant County

References

Appendix: Grant County Data
166
Grant County, West Virginia

CASE STUDIES

Grant County, West Virginia

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No one has the resources to take care of everything all the time, so we’re 

sharing and helping—and that has been good here. 

—Peggy Bobo-Alt, Grant County Director of Emergency Services

Filled with opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and countless other outdoor-recreation activities, 

Grant County is described in tourism materials as the “Heartbeat of the Potomac Highlands.” Many longtime residents of this mountainous Appalachian county would agree that the land exudes a sense of health 

and vitality. 

But they would also say that life in the county can be hard, with significant barriers keeping residents 

from pursuing optimal health and well-being. That is the dichotomy of Grant County: a place rich in 

natural resources and nationally recognized wilderness areas, yet lacking in some of the basic elements 

known to contribute to good health, such as reliable access to transportation and healthy food, and steady 

employment. 

In this county spanning 480 square miles, the poverty rate is higher, and the median income lower, than in 

the nation; a greater percentage of residents live with a disability; and the population skews more toward 

older adults. Despite the resplendent landscape that beckons folks to explore the great outdoors, 

maintaining good health is a challenge for residents.

Raeky / Creative Commons 3.0 Unported

Grant County, in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, is known for its natural assets, including Bear Rocks Preserve.
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Grant County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of the eight counties in West 

Virginia—identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on 12 out of 19 health outcome 

measures. Most notably, the county performed better than expected on the following measures:

 Stroke mortality: 40 percent better than expected

 Heart disease hospitalizations: 40 percent better than expected

 Injury mortality: 36 percent better than expected

 Cancer mortality: 29 percent better than expected

 Years of potential life lost: 23 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives created by the 

county to improve overall well-being. For instance, field research indicates that committed local health 

providers and sustained cross-sector collaboration may have played a major role in the county’s health. 

Grant County residents have also pooled resources to target specific issue areas such as care and social 

service supports for seniors, and creating transportation networks to overcome the isolation and rugged 

terrain that can be barriers to health. 

Grant County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its characteristics and resources—that is, the 

socioeconomics, demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health 

outcomes. It does not mean that all Grant County residents enjoy excellent health. Like other counties 

with limited resources, Bright Spot counties face many challenges to attaining good health outcomes. But 

Grant County’s performance does indicate that certain county conditions or programs may be helping 

generate better-than-expected outcomes—and that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may 

benefit from adopting similar initiatives.1

 1 See Table 38 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Grant 

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW 

Figure 13: Map - Bright Spot Community Grant County, West Virginia 

Grant County represents a nonmetropolitan county in North Central Appalachia. It is one 

of a cluster of Bright Spot counties in northeastern West Virginia and one of the eight 

identified in the state as a whole. 

Grant County’s abundant natural assets provide a rich array of outdoor-recreation attractions, from 

spectacular mountain vistas to exceptional trout fishing. The county is home to several nationally 

recognized attractions, including the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Smoke Hole Caverns, and the North 

Fork Mountain Trail. Located in the western end of West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, Grant was 

designated by the Appalachian Regional Commission as a transitional county in fiscal year 2017. The 

county was created at the time of the Civil War from neighboring Hardy County and named for General 

Ulysses S. Grant. The area is rich in history, hosting a variety of historical structures, including Fort 

Mulligan, one of the few remaining Civil War earthen forts. 

Grant County is one of eight North Central Appalachian counties identified as a Bright Spot. Located 

within an eight-county region called the Potomac Highlands, it has just two incorporated municipalities: 

Petersburg, the county seat, and Bayard, a former coal mining community. There are nearly three dozen 

other outlying communities. 

GEORGIA

SOUTH 

CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA

ALABAMA

MISSISSIPPI

TENNESSEE

KENTUCKY

OHIO PENNSYLVANIA

MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NEW YORK

WEST

VIRGINIA

Grant County, WV

Northern

Southern

Central

South Central

North Central

0 100 50

Miles
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The county has maintained a relatively stable population of about 11,800 people. Approximately 98 

percent of Grant County residents are white, and 81.9 percent have at least graduated from high school. 

The estimated median household income in 2014 was $41,039, compared with $56,135 nationally. About 

8 percent of county residents receive disability benefits, compared with 5.4 percent nationally; and 17 

percent live in poverty, compared with 15.6 percent nationally.2

The county’s top employers are in health care (Grant Memorial Hospital, Grant County Nursing Home,

and Potomac Highlands Guild), natural resources (Allegheny Wood Products, Inc., Grant County Mulch, 

Dominion Resources’ Mount Storm Power Station), or the government (the Grant County Board of 

Education). A significant number of residents continue to farm (fruit, tobacco, and grain) and breed 

livestock. 

A DEEPER LOOK AT GRANT COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

As in other Bright Spot communities, leaders, organizations, and residents in Grant County are using 

collaboration and resource sharing to provide a range of health care, public health, and social services. 

This includes a commitment to supporting low-income residents and sustaining a task force to discuss 

local challenges and solutions. Strong leadership has helped guide many of the county’s initiatives.

Field work helped identify local practices in Grant County that appear to be contributing to overall health, 

document effective practices that could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices 

and strategies that should be explored further.3 Specifically, the research found these characteristics and 

strategies in Grant County:

 Cross-sector collaboration: Government agencies and emergency services as well as nonprofit 

organizations work as a unit to benefit the community in several ways. These collaborations are 

committed to supporting low-income residents. Many of these organizations’ employees pledge 

their time to support and develop county-based services and events. People serve across several 

of the groups in collaboration, thereby increasing the flow of information between them.

 Resource sharing: Several initiatives pool resources to provide services targeted to particular 

population groups, both within the county and adjacent to it. Key areas dependent on resource 

sharing include: support for youth, support for seniors, transportation access, and substance abuse 

and prevention education. 

 Local providers committed to public health: A network of local providers, spanning acute care, 

mental health care, and long-term care, work cohesively to provide county residents with 

comprehensive access to health care. There is a concerted effort to provide these services to all 

residents, including low-income and medically underserved groups, through thoughtful planning, 

volunteer work, and donations. Many of these providers are long-term residents who are familiar 

with, and dedicated to, local health issues.

 Initiatives to combat substance abuse: Recognizing the need to address the threat of substance 

abuse in the community, Grant County is mobilizing its resources through coalitions and trainings 

to prevent drug abuse and overdose, as well as engage in harm reduction.

 2 Table 36 in the Grant County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.

3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 37 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
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Many of Grant County’s programs fall under four categories: collaboration, resource sharing, local 

providers committed to public health, and initiatives to combat substance abuse.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Cross-sector collaboration is part of the county’s DNA and addresses many issues, ranging from the 

creation of food pantries to address hunger, to the coordination of health fairs to screen for physical health 

needs. Perhaps the most notable example of this is in the work of the Family Issues Task Force (FITF),

established under emergency conditions to deal with the devastating aftermath of the 1985 Election Day 

floods. Most of the 47 people killed when the Potomac River crested at 22.6 feet were from Grant and 

Pendleton Counties. Since that time, FITF’s purpose has evolved from guiding post-disaster recovery to 

coordinating efforts to identify, assess, and respond to local health issues. The FITF brings together 

leaders from diverse organizations, including the county health department, Community Action, the 

library board, the arts council, United Methodist Family Services, Community Education Outreach 

Services, local schools, the Commission on Aging, the Potomac Highlands Guild, and Grant Memorial 

Hospital. 

The oldest and most extensive collaboration is Community 

Education Outreach Services (CEOS), which has five separate 

clubs in the county. According to the West Virginia University 

Extension Service website, the members of CEOS have helped 

“strengthen individuals, families, and communities across the 

state of West Virginia since 1914.” In collaboration with the 

extension service, CEOS develops programs centered on service, 

continuing education, and leadership development. In Grant 

County, CEOS members coordinate the health fair offered to 

county residents and collaborate with the county courthouse to 

hold a breast cancer awareness event. 

There are considerable cross-sector collaboration efforts that aim 

to support youth. Grant County schools work with the extension 

service to hold the Energy Express program and teach a 

nutritional science course. The schools also collaborate with 

Grant Memorial Hospital to offer a course on careers in health. 

(To benefit residents of all ages, Grant Memorial also 

collaborates with a local, privately owned pharmacy to provide 

blood tests in support of its diabetes prevention program, which is sponsored by the federal Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).)

The Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, Anti-Stigma, and Recovery (PITAR) coalition is a fairly 

new cross-sector collaboration organized to address behavioral and mental health issues. The coalition 

brings together people from the criminal justice system, treatment organizations, and patient advocacy 

groups. According to Dr. Raj Masih, regional health promotion and wellness coordinator for the Potomac 

Highlands Guild, the group focuses on solutions and actions to help people in various stages of need.

Resource Sharing

Grant County uses collaboration and resource sharing in almost all of its efforts to improve the health of 

residents and the larger community. The county funnels pooled resources into support for its youth and 

elderly populations, transportation support, and meal distribution. Eric Schena / Creative Commons 3.0 Unported

The Grant County Courthouse, in 

Petersburg, West Virginia
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Recently, the Grant County Commission donated land, funding, and services worth about $125,000 for

construction of a new multipurpose center for the county’s elderly population. The top two outcome 

measures on which Grant County does better than expected are stroke mortality and heart disease 

hospitalization. These outcomes may be related, in part, to the extra support the county provides to its 

senior population.

Grant County has also partnered with the 4-H national youth development and mentoring program for 

decades, with about 200 youth formally enrolled in multiple 4-H programs. Young people involved in 4-

H typically study agriculture and related environmental issues in ways that incorporate an element of 

physical activity.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Action Agency partners with Warm the Children, serving as a 

social service referral center for more than 800 economically distressed families in the county, providing 

children with winter coats, gloves, and boots. It reflects a local commitment to supporting the well-being 

of residents in the most vulnerable segments of the county’s population.

Transportation

Transportation is a real challenge for some Grant County residents. Steep, unpaved roads make parts of 

the county hard to reach when the weather is bad. Reaching residents of Mt. Storm during a medical 

emergency can be especially difficult. Although there is a helipad at Grant Memorial and emergency 

helicopter services are available, it can still be a challenge to access the more remote areas of the county. 

Reaching these areas as fast as possible is the goal of the county’s strategic ambulance location plan and 

its “grassroots mapping system.” By stationing ambulances at strategic locations around the county and 

incorporating local knowledge about roads and geography (often provided by hunters and fishermen) into 

its mapping system, Grant County has been able to steadily improve its emergency response times. 

The health department also subsidizes transportation for women who need to travel to a neighboring 

county for cancer treatment, using a Susan G. Komen grant to help cover the costs of transportation, 

lodging, and incidentals. Church group volunteers often provide transportation for medical appointments 

and pharmacy visits. 

The county still faces serious health-related transportation challenges, yet coordinated grassroots efforts 

use local resources to address these challenges as effectively as possible. 

Food

For 28 years, the Commission on Aging Family Services has offered comprehensive support for seniors 

throughout the county. Major services include a nutrition program that offers meals at locations in 

Petersburg, Mt. Storm, Maysville, and Dorcas, and as well as transportation to the four meal locations.

The commission also provides in-home services to assist with food preparation, personal care, and light 

housekeeping, and transportation assistance for medical appointments, shopping, and banking. 

Approximately 47 people now receive in-home services, and approximately 142 receive meals at the four 

nutrition sites each month.
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Local Providers Committed to Public Health

Grant County has a network of local providers offering comprehensive health care services. These 

providers include Grant Memorial Hospital, a county health department, a behavioral health facility (the 

Potomac Highlands Guild), a 110-bed nursing home, an outpatient Veterans Health Administration clinic, 

and private physicians. While their primary focus is on health care services, these providers are 

committed to using resources to addressing burgeoning health issues, such as obesity and opioid abuse. 

Grant Memorial Hospital is a countyowned critical access hospital established in 

1958. With more than 350 employees and a 

professional medical staff of approximately 

15, it provides 25 acute-care beds and 20 

long-term and/or skilled-nursing beds, and 

offers a variety of services, such as ob-gyn;

pediatrics; general surgery; general 

orthopedics; internal, family, and emergency 

medicine; imaging services; and temporary 

coverage in ophthalmology and urology. The 

hospital also conducts a community health 

needs assessment to guide and support 

needed population health initiatives identified 

by residents. 

“We recognized several years ago that we 

had to go beyond the four walls of the hospital,” says Grant Memorial CEO Mary Beth Barr. She adds 

that the hospital’s mission is to serve the entire community, even if the preventive services provided are 

not always reimbursed. One example of this commitment to community health is Grant Memorial’s 

monthly “Healthy Saturdays” health fair, at which staff and volunteers perform, on average, 300 blood 

panel workups at a nominal cost of about $35 each. Every Healthy Saturday event features both general 

health information and information on a specific topic (e.g., diabetes, obesity, and congestive heart

failure). 

Grant Memorial also offers a diabetes prevention program certified by the CDC. One of only four such 

programs in the state, it provides free counseling and support to prediabetic patients to help keep them

from becoming diabetic. A local pharmacy provides hemoglobin A1C tests. The program lasts one year, 

after which participants “graduate” and receive another year of follow-up support. 

Over the years, the hospital has also offered physician and other care provider rotations. The hospital’s 

openness to teaching has enabled it to offer a wide range of specialty care services.

Providers with the Grant County Health Department and the Potomac Highlands Guild actively focus on 

meeting residents’ needs outside of the hospital. The health department offers a wide range of clinical, 

educational, environmental, and emergency preparedness services. It is sometimes the sole provider for 

low-income residents of the county. 

The Potomac Highlands Guild is one of 13 comprehensive behavioral health providers in the state. It 

operates satellite offices in five Eastern Panhandle counties, including Grant County. Many credit it with 

being an innovator in addressing the issues of methamphetamine and opioid addiction. 

Grant Memorial Hospital

Grant Memorial Hospital
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Grant County’s public and private health care providers are committed to making a difference in people’s 

lives. 

Initiatives to Combat Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is a public health issue that the local community is vigilant about— with good reason. 

West Virginia’s overdose mortality rate, double the national rate, is the highest in the country. The crisis 

in the county seat of Petersburg is so acute that it is the subject of a documentary film, “Petersburg,” 

which chronicles how drugs took hold in this small city of 2,500 people (Allott and Allott 2017).

Grant County has launched several initiatives to try to get ahead of this public health battle. The county 

and local organizations are collaborating to form coalitions; considering needle exchange programs; and 

offering training in the administration of naloxone, which can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. The 

Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, Anti-Stigma, and Recovery (PITAR) coalition4 is helping 

coordinate an effort that spans all aspects of addressing addiction, from education to mental health 

counseling to treatment and recovery services. PITAR comprises upwards of two dozen participating 

organizations, including the Potomac Highlands Guild, the Russ Hedrick Recovery Resource Center, the 

Grant County Health Department, and local media organizations. Here is greater detail on some of the 

organizations and their initiatives:

The Potomac Highlands Guild is the regional agency providing intensive outpatient treatment for 

substance use disorder. With offices in Petersburg, Moorefield, Romney, Franklin, and Keyser, the guild

provides counseling (individual and group) for people with addiction and substance use disorders. It

facilitates placement in detox and inpatient rehabilitation programs, and in long-term treatment facilities. 

Staff are on call 24/7, 365 days a year, to respond to the emergency room for any crisis related to 

substance use disorders. The guild runs the regional DUI education and treatment program for the DMV, 

and has an after-hours crisis line to help with issues related to substance use disorders. 

Additionally, the guild provides mental health counseling and treatment for people with mental health 

issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Providing assistance in this way can help people deal with mental health issues effectively and avoid

using drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. 

The Russ Hedrick Recovery Resource Center is a nucleus for recovery activities in the area. The center 

serves as a drop-in site to help people with substance use disorders get into treatment, begin recovery, and 

find the resources they need to re-establish their lives. Center coordinator Wade Rohrbaugh and five other 

certified peer recovery coaches are available to help individuals navigate the pathway through recovery 

and also serve as a resource for families and loved ones of individuals dealing with addiction issues. The 

center facilitates 12-step recovery meetings almost daily. Additionally, it provides training in 

administering naloxone to reverse opioid overdose to the general public and to first responders through 

the West Virginia Office of Emergency Management Services. To date, more than 2,800 people have 

used the center’s services, and more than 200 people have been trained in naloxone administration.

The Grant/Hardy Recovery Group is a driving force behind the recovery movement in Grant County. 

The group conducts 56 recovery meetings a month in Petersburg, Moorefield, and Franklin. The meeting

groups include Narcotics Anonymous, Nar-Anon, Smart Recovery, and Dual-Recovery Anonymous.

 4 A list of organizations participating in the coalition is available at http://potomachighlandsguild.com/pitarinfo.html
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The Grant County Health Department has also approved a harm reduction program and is considering 

providing training in administering naloxone for overdoses.

Grant County schools are actively engaged in promoting healthy behaviors and preventing substance 

abuse among students. Two effective programs include Too Good for Drugs and Students Against

Destructive Decisions (SADD). Too Good for Drugs seeks to educate students from elementary school 

through high school about the dangers of drugs, the risks of addiction, and the long-term consequences of 

substance abuse. SADD is a student-led effort to discourage behaviors such as smoking, abusing drugs 

and alcohol, and having unprotected sex. The school system also offers a class on healthy eating, as well 

as a health-careers club. 

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN GRANT COUNTY

Grant County’s actions—whether they’ve evolved organically through a volunteer effort or been 

established through the work of a coalition or health care system—indicate that county leaders and 

residents place a high value on health. This is reflected in the range of assistive transportation services 

offered county-wide, including the emergency medical transport subsidized at a cost of $200,000 per 

year. The level of investment of money and time in holding county-wide health events, as well as in 

providing prompt emergency response and transport, conveys that health is important and that protecting 

it is a shared responsibility.

This message is reinforced by the sustained focus on support for youth, seniors, and those battling 

addiction. Grant County is putting resources into educating its young people about healthy behaviors and 

giving them opportunities to practice those behaviors. Seniors are provided with fitness opportunities and, 

when needed, communal and in-home meals, counseling on Medicare plans, and subsidized assistance 

with transportation. This support for seniors may contribute to Grant’s better-than-expected rates of stroke 

mortality and heart disease mortality.

Grant County has put together a wide range of services that address the health of both body and mind, and 

community leaders continue to develop innovative ways to help residents live healthy lives. 
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REFERENCES

Allott, Daniel and Jordan Allott. 2017. “The Race to 2020: The people and places that will define a 

presidency.” Washington Examiner. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://2020.washingtonexaminer.com/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. 2017. Drug Overdose 

Deaths in the United States, 1999–2016. 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db294.htm

Charleston Gazette-Mail. 2015. “Video: Gazette-Mail reporters, photographers reflect on covering 1985 

flood.” Charleston Gazette-Mail, November 4, 2015. Accessed May 15, 2018. 

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/video-gazette-mail-reporters-photographers-reflect-on-coveringflood/article_6eb2e9bc-3a87-572a-8771-9a0ba4c285bf.html

Grant County Commission on Aging Family Services. 2014. “Our History.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://www.gcscwv.org/history.html

Grant County West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau. 2016. “Grant County: The Heart Beat of 

the Potomac Highlands.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://www.grantcountywva.com/ 

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schawlbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis. 

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.
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APPENDIX: GRANT COUNTY DATA

Table 36: Grant County Characteristics

Characteristic Grant County United States

Population, 2010–2014 11,829 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 -1.40% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 44.9 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 23.00% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $41,039 $56,135 

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $20,052 $28,930 

Unemployment rate, 2014 7.7% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 17.0% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 97.70% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 1.00% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 33.74% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Fairmont, WV – 84.8 mi. N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017

Transitional

North Central 

Appalachia

N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 37: Grant County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Barb Carr Public Library Librarian Grant County Public 

Library 5/8/2017

Dr. Raj Masih

Russ Hedrick 

Recovery Resource 

Center

Regional Health 

Promotion and Wellness 

Coordinator

Potomac Highlands 

Guild, Inc. 5/8/2017

Gina Hinkle Public Library Office Coordinator WIC Nutrition Program 5/8/2017

Aimee Cardot Community Action

Grant County 

Community 

Development Director

Eastern WV Community 

Action Agency 5/8/2017

Rick Smith Community Action Executive Director Eastern WV Community 

Action Agency 5/8/2017

Sandy Glasscock Health Department. Nurse 

Director/Administrator

Grant County Health 

Department 5/9/2017

Peggy Bobo-Alt 911 Center Director 911 / Office of 

Emergency Services 5/9/2017

Alex Coffman Extension Office 4-H / Extension Agent WVU Extension Service 5/9/2017

Teresa Nazelrodt Extension Office Secretary WVU Extension Service 5/9/2017

Rich Cardot Presbyterian 

Church Petersburg President Grant County Ministerial 

Association 5/10/2017

Mary Beth Barr Grant Memorial CEO Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Charlotte Reel Grant Memorial Dietary Manager Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Gayann Veach Grant Memorial Chief Quality Officer Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Paula Combs Grant Memorial Director, Social Services Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Teresa Snyder Grant Memorial Director, Imaging 

Services Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Julie Kesner Grant Memorial Community Resources 

Coordinator Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017

Malinda Turner Grant Memorial Compliance and Privacy Grant Memorial Hospital 5/10/2017
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Table 38: Grant County Health Outcomes – Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 28.45 47.73 -40.4%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 36.00 60.34 -40.3%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 37.42 58.87 -36.4%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 130.53 184.16 -29.1%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 7,387 9,550 -22.6%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 4.28 5.52 -22.5%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 10.5% 12.7% -17.3%

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 14.65 17.67 -17.1%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 13.95 16.38 -14.8%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 48.11 56.18 -14.4%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.87 0.99 -12.0%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 15.20% 16.08% -5.5%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 36.90% 36.74% 0.4%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.60 4.56 0.8%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 7.76 7.63 1.6%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 226.11 216.66 4.4%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.70 4.48 4.9%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 16.1% 14.6% 10.2%

Low birth weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 9.40 8.49 10.7%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 39: Grant County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Grant 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.14 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 25.75 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 169.26 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 42.74 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 126.71 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.68 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.25 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $41,039.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 68.49 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 22.1%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 38.4%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 33.7%

Income inequality ratio,

5 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 3.9%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 78.6%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 40.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 83.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 17.0%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 65.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 51.3%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% 0.02%

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 7.9%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 18.7%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 18.9%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 51.02 

 5 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Grant 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 15.31 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 25.36 

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 --

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 50.32 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 19.09 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis. 
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183

Wirt County, West Virginia

County Overview

A Deeper Look at Wirt County: Community Strengths

Creating a Culture of Health in Wirt County

References

Appendix: Wirt County Data
184
Wirt County, West Virginia

CASE STUDIES

185

We all partner. It’s a survival technique, and you learn it well...our goal is 

really meeting the needs of the families. 

—Kathy Mason, Director, Wirt County Family 

 Resource Network

When residents of Wirt County, West Virginia, say they know everyone living nearby, they are not 

exaggerating. It takes 30 minutes to drive across the county, and there are no stoplights anywhere. At 235 

square miles, Wirt is the eighth-smallest county in the state and roughly the same size as the city of 

Chicago—albeit much more sparsely populated. 

What Wirt County lacks in size and resources, it makes up for with a way of life centered on community 

giving and collaboration. Most health-related programs or services are the result of either local crosssector collaboration or partnership with organizations from other counties. 

County residents paint a picture of a place that has not strayed far from its roots. They rally around each 

other much like early settlers must have in the late 1790s, when William Beauchamp established the 

county’s first farm (which eventually became the town of Elizabeth, still the only municipality in the 

county today). Residents place a high value on pulling together to help neighbors in need and on doing 

what they can to improve their health and well-being.

Wirt County is among the ten percent of Appalachian counties—and one of the eight counties in West 

Virginia—identified as a Bright Spot. It performed better than expected on 14 out of 19 health outcome 

measures. Most notably, the county performed better than expected on the following measures:

 Poisoning mortality: 44 percent better than expected

 Injury mortality: 34 percent better than expected

Wirt County, WV

Wirt County is the least-populous county in West Virginia but has a relatively stable population of approximately 5,800. Much of the 

county is farmland.
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 Opioid prescriptions as a percentage of Medicare Part D claims: 26 percent better than 

expected

 Low-birth-weight births (<2,500 g): 23 percent better than expected

 Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries with depression: 17 percent better than expected

These better-than-expected results are likely influenced by local conditions and initiatives created to 

improve overall health and well-being. For instance, field research indicates residents’ shared sense of 

duty to take care of each other may play a role in the county’s health. Wirt County residents have also

focused on expanding access to healthy foods, addressing mental and behavioral health needs, promoting 

healthy child development, making comprehensive health care available to more residents, and providing 

supportive services to those who need them most. 

Wirt County’s classification as a Bright Spot means that, on average, the county performed better than 

expected on a number of health outcome measures, given its resources—that is, the socioeconomics, 

demographics, behaviors, health care facilities, and other factors that influence health outcomes. It does 

not mean that all Wirt County residents enjoy excellent health. In fact, Wirt County lags behind the rest of 

the nation on many health outcome indicators. Like other communities with limited resources, Bright 

Spot counties face many challenges to attaining good health outcomes. But Wirt’s performance indicates

that certain county conditions or programs may be helping generate better-than-expected outcomes—and 

that other resource-challenged Appalachian counties may benefit from adopting similar initiatives.

1

 1 See Table 42 in the data appendix at the end of this case study for a full list of actual health outcomes for Wirt 

County compared with predicted outcomes. For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying 

the report Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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COUNTY OVERVIEW

Figure 14: Map - Bright Spot Community Wirt County, West Virginia

Wirt County represents a metropolitan county in North Central Appalachia. It is one of 

a cluster of Bright Spot counties in north-central West Virginia and one of the eight 

Bright Spot counties in the state as a whole. 

Home to a portion of the Hughes River Wildlife Management Area, part of Wirt County is covered in 

mature oak-hickory hardwood forests. The majority of the county is farmland, especially along the Little 

Kanawha and Hughes Rivers. It is part of the Parkersburg-Vienna metro area, with Elizabeth serving as

the main hub of commercial and government activity. Wirt County has three commissioners who serve in 

part-time positions for 6-year terms.

Wirt is the least-populous county in West Virginia, maintaining a relatively stable population of 

approximately 5,800 residents. It is racially homogeneous—98 percent of the population is white.

Classified by ARC as economically at-risk in fiscal year 2017, the county had an unemployment rate of

9.7 percent in 2014, compared with the national unemployment rate of 6.2 percent. The estimated median 

household income was $38,600, compared with $56,135 nationally, and 20.3 percent of Wirt County 
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residents lived in poverty in 2014, compared with 15.6 percent nationally. The major employment sectors 

in the county are education, health care, and social services.2

In Wirt County, concerns about opioid and other drug use run high, as they do throughout much of the 

state. West Virginia’s drug overdose mortality rate is the highest in the nation and more than double the 

national rate. Lack of public transportation is also a challenge, and often a barrier to accessing health care 

and other services.

A DEEPER LOOK AT WIRT COUNTY: COMMUNITY STRENGTHS

In Wirt County, as in other Bright Spot communities explored in this report, stakeholders have 

collaborated to offer a variety of services to address the physical, social, and economic health of residents. 

These services include sponsoring health fairs and conducting oral health screenings; providing needed 

transportation to health or social services, especially for the elderly; and offering health-related education 

to students. 

Wirt County is creating its own unique initiatives to improve health. Field work helped identify local 

practices in the county that appear to be contributing to overall health, document effective practices that 

could be replicated in other counties, and identify promising practices and strategies that should be 

explored further.3 Specifically, the research identified these characteristics and strategies in Wirt County:

 Connecting residents to social services to improve their health: Community leaders are 

leveraging limited resources to provide support for residents in a number of ways, including 

through health fairs and other family-oriented events. Local groups also use programs and 

services at the local Coplin Clinic and the Wirt County Senior Citizens Center to manage, 

identify, and coordinate follow-up on health-related issues. 

 Initiatives targeted to specific challenges: Recognizing that resources are limited, Wirt County 

pursues regional assistance to address specific challenges related to substance use prevention, 

transportation needs, and combating hunger.

 Support for seniors: The Wirt County Senior Citizens Center serves as a support-services hub,

providing a broad range of assistive services to the elderly. These include daily meal delivery, a 

daily group meal on site, an adult daycare program that provides both on-site and in-home 

assistance, and help with monitoring health issues. 

 Targeted support for youth: It is clear that the county sees its role as vital to the growth and 

development of local youth. Stakeholders view the local school system as one of the county’s 

most valuable assets and willingly open it to student residents of adjacent counties. The Wirt 

County (West Virginia University) Extension Service works closely with the school system to 

extend services beyond the school day.

 Grants and public funds: The county knits together funds from state, federal, foundation, and 

local grants and from donations to maintain essential social support networks. For example, it 

uses grants awarded by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation for substance abuse and

 2 Table 40 in the Wirt County data appendix at the end of this case study provides a quantitative profile of county 

characteristics.

3 For a full explanation of the methodology, see Appendix B: Research Approach. For a list of key informants 

interviewed for this county, see Table 41 in the data appendix at the end of this case study.
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addiction prevention efforts, while the local schools leverage public funding to tackle the same 

concern. 

Many of Wirt County’s efforts mirror those of other Bright Spot communities in three overarching 

categories: cross-sector collaboration, resource sharing, and an active faith community.

Cross-Sector Collaboration 

Almost any health-focused initiative in Wirt County is a result of two or more groups collaborating to 

meet residents’ needs. Many of the collaborations offer health services, health education, and social 

services to address factors that can impact health. 

The Wirt County Health Department, which is a regional extension of the Mid-Ohio Valley (MOV) 

Health Department, works with local groups to organize family-friendly events that double as resource 

fairs, connecting residents with organizations that offer social support services. This includes an annual 

countywide baby shower at which area hospitals host booths to inform expectant mothers of their 

program offerings, and provide information on topics such as the risks of smoking during pregnancy.

The health department also coordinates biannual county

health fairs that are open to all county residents. They 

are staffed by AmeriCorps members and practitioners 

from Wirt County Family Care, which is referred to by 

locals as the Coplin Clinic (after its founder, Robert 

Coplin). These health fairs provide free bloodwork, 

dental screenings, and vital-signs checks. 

Residents who learn at the fair of a health issue 

affecting them are given a referral to either the Coplin 

Clinic or a provider in a neighboring county. This 

service includes referrals to one of 22 dentists in 

Parkersburg who serve six area counties and provide 

extractions or fill cavities for a minimal fee. As a result 

of each fair, approximately 300 to 400 people receive

dental care that might otherwise be out of financial

reach. 

A number of cross-sector and cross-county networks and coalitions have formed to address a range of 

factors that impact health. The Family Resource Network Alliance, formed almost two decades ago, 

includes representatives from more than 25 local churches, social service agencies, prevention groups, 

and businesses, who meet weekly to identify and address service gaps and needs in local communities in 

order to improve conditions for children and families.

Established in 2016, the Wirt County Prevention Coalition brings together 12 local and regional 

organizations to coordinate health-promotion efforts. And 14 health and social services organizations, 

including local hospitals, the West Virginia Primary Care Association, and other agencies, collaborate as

the MOV Rural Health Alliance. The MOV alliance focuses on improving community health through 

disease prevention, expanded access to health care services, and creation of an electronic health 

information system to ensure seamless care across providers. In Wirt County, the alliance has partnered 

with the Coplin Clinic to improve patient follow-up, and with the Minnie Hamilton Health Care System 

Wirt health officials implemented a “Tobacco Prevention 

Barn” health-messaging campaign to promote smoking 

cessation to residents.

© Jon Rodgers
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to expand access to medical testing. It has also provided services to county residents on a sliding-fee 

schedule to reduce cost barriers to access.

Resource Sharing

Recognizing that resources are limited, Wirt County citizens pursue regional assistance to help provide 

health care and other health supports to residents. Many care agencies are affiliated with regional groups 

outside of the county. 

The majority of health care services are 

regionally oriented to maximize resources, 

efficiency, and access. The Mid-Ohio Valley 

(MOV) Health Department rotates its 

clinicians to Wirt County and the service 

region’s six other counties to meet need. In 

addition, if Wirt residents can’t meet a 

clinician in the county, they can travel to a 

neighboring county to obtain services. 

Pooling resources and being willing to work 

together as a region is a necessity to improve 

the health and well-being of the county.

As part of the MOV Health Department, the 

Wirt County Health Department consistently 

devotes funds and resources to health-related 

initiatives. The department uses state and 

federal preventive-care funds to support

chronic-disease and diabetes selfmanagement. AmeriCorps members assist with follow-up for health department patients and health fair 

attendees who are referred for additional services. These services sometimes qualify for third-party 

reimbursement.

The county’s only primary-care facility, the Coplin Clinic, rotates medical staff through multiple counties 

to maximize efficiency and resources. The clinic is part of Coplin Health Systems, which operates 

facilities in Wirt, Wood, and Jackson Counties in West Virginia and in Meigs County, Ohio.

Community Resources, Inc. (CRI), is another regionally oriented agency. It focuses its services on 

addressing social factors that can impact health, such as housing and income. CRI provides education for 

first-time homebuyers, home weatherization programs, financial guidance for low-income families, and a 

child-care food program. The agency also sponsors FaithLink, a program that connects volunteers with 

people over age 60 who need help because of physical disabilities or chronic illness. Although based in 

Parkersburg (in Wood County), CRI serves Jackson, Roane, Ritchie, Calhoun, Wood, Pleasants, Gilmer, 

Doddridge, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wirt Counties.

Each of the organizations described above subscribes to principles of regionalism. In practice, this takes 

the form of sharing ideas, information, and other resources across multiple counties. It also takes the form 

of coordinating health care services across multiple counties, so that if comprehensive services are not 

available in a particular location, the most important services are accessible somewhere nearby.

A walking trail around the county’s middle school was enhanced with 

fitness stations and playground equipment to give residents exercise 

and outdoor-recreation opportunities.

© Jon Rodgers
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Collaborations like these also take place outside of the health care system. A partnership between the 

health department and the local school system provides resources for several nutrition and physical 

education programs. Through a Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant, the health department 

was able to purchase bicycles for the middle school physical education program. 

Wirt County has a walking trail around the middle school that was made possible when the school and 

several community partners pooled resources to build it. Fitness stations and playground equipment were 

installed around it to give residents opportunities to engage in physical exercise and outdoor recreation.

Transportation

Metro areas close to Wirt County offer higher levels of health services than the county itself (such as in

neighboring Parkersburg, which has the Camden-Clark Medical Center), but some residents can’t easily 

get to them. The Wirt County Senior Citizens Center strives to solve this challenge by providing 

transportation at little or no cost to anyone in the county over age 60 to get to medical appointments, 

pharmacies, grocery stores, and other locations. Funding from the Area Agency on Aging and other grants 

make this possible.

Food

Recognizing that nutrition is critical to health, the Wirt Ministerial Alliance—a group of local churches 

from throughout the county that work together on projects serving the community—sponsors a food 

pantry through its Hope Shop in the town of Elizabeth. Established 20 years ago, the Hope Shop provides 

nonperishable food items, produce, and frozen meat to approximately 60 families per month. Shop 

volunteers collect donations from the community and buy food from regional food banks to distribute to 

those in need. The Hope Shop also operates as a thrift store, reselling donated clothes and other items at 

affordable prices. 

For seniors in the community, the Wirt 

County Senior Citizens Center provides a

meal delivery service for those unable to leave 

their homes, and offers a daily lunch at the 

center itself. The group meal setting creates an 

opportunity for the center’s staff and volunteers 

to talk with seniors about health-related 

matters, including the importance of taking 

medications on time and making healthy food 

choices. It also allows the 26-member staff to 

provide near-daily monitoring of health issues 

or concerns.

For youth, the county extension service offers health-related and youth education programming. This 

includes healthy eating classes and a summer “feeding-and-reading” program for schools with a high 

percentage of students from low-income families. The latter program brings in AmeriCorps volunteers to 

work with students and help bolster their reading skills. Students who participate in the program receive

two nourishing meals a day and a book each week.

The Wirt County schools’ version of this program, called Energy Express, reaches out to children in 

lower-income parts of the county. To meet those students’ needs, the school system purchased and 

The Wirt County Senior Citizens Center provides a daily group 

meal as well as a meal delivery service for seniors.

© Jon Rodgers
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renovated a used bus to include a kitchen and a reading room, and equipped it to serve as a wi-fi hotspot. 

Kids can eat, read, and access the Internet on the bus, which moves from place to place around the 

county. 

Active Faith Community

Another element that contributes to the overall health and well-being of the residents in Wirt County is its 

active faith community. Reverend Lee Williams, pastor at Elizabeth United Methodist Church and the 

chair of the Wirt Ministerial Alliance, remembers a time years ago when the Hope Shop needed money to 

pay its bills. The community rallied to raise more than $1,000 in one day, demonstrating the 

organization’s value to residents. The Hope Shop is also a point of community pride as one of the longestrunning local organizations. Today, community donations and grants help with the nonprofit’s finances. 

The Wirt County Missional Group is another faith-based organization that offers resources, focusing on

Spring Valley, an area described by members as one of the poorest in the county. The group offers a food 

pantry twice a week, as well as help with minor home repairs, such as installing new flooring and water

lines. These home repairs help decrease the health risks associated with unsafe or dilapidated living 

conditions. Local health organizations laud this work and try to collaborate with the group whenever 

possible. Donations made to the group also support other outreach efforts, such as providing Sunday 

meals for children after Bible study and hosting an annual “Kids’ Day at the Park” event. The group’s

members see expenses as an investment in their faith and a way to connect with the community.

CREATING A CULTURE OF HEALTH IN WIRT COUNTY

It is evident that community members across Wirt County are working to make health a shared value.

Residents lend a helping hand to others in times of need and are willing to dedicate time, money, and 

other resources to make ends meet and provide support to improve the health of all. Cross-sector 

collaboration, and a recognition of the need to collaborate across counties to make the best use of 

available resources, are critical to community health efforts. Out of necessity, Wirt County has learned to 

use regional resources to support health.

County residents have demonstrated the high value they place on health in several ways. In 1996, the 

community stepped up to keep the Coplin Clinic from closing, and, along with the Coplin Clinic board,

raised money to keep it operating. Today, the Coplin Clinic is thriving as part of Coplin Health Systems, 

which provides primary care, pharmacy, and wellness services in multiple locations. These services are 

available to all Wirt residents, regardless of income.

Wirt County performed better than expected in the area of 

poisoning mortality, a seven-year measure reflecting

unintentional deaths caused primarily by medication and other 

drug overdoses. Wirt’s success may be attributable in part to 

West Virginia’s prescription-drug monitoring program. The 

county’s single local pharmacy, which makes special efforts to 

ensure appropriate use and disposal of drugs, may have played a 

critical role as well; and Wirt also provides a secure, monitored, 

in-ground bunker for the disposal of outdated and surplus drugs.

The better-than-expected poisoning mortality rates may also be 

due in part to Wirt’s proximity to high-quality hospital services at 

the Camden-Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg.

n Rodgers© 2017

Efforts to support appropriate use 

and disposal of prescription drugs 

include a drug take-back program.

© Jon Rodgers
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Wirt County also scores better than expected on injury mortality, a measure that incorporates poisoning 

mortality as well as other unintentional injuries. It is possible that this better-than-expected outcome may 

be related to some degree to the decline of the lumber industry in Wirt County—a profession known to 

pose environmental hazards. While lumber was once a major industry in the county, only a few of the 

larger lumber operators are now in business. These larger operators tend to use newer and safer treeharvesting technology. Research suggests that “feller-bunchers”—tree-cutting machines that have 

replaced handheld chainsaws—have lowered injury rates in the industry by 50 to 75 percent (Ray 2016). 

Overall, Wirt County is making strides toward creating a healthier community for residents of all ages.
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REFERENCES

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. 2011. “Chapter 9: Access to Health Care, 2011 National 

Healthcare Quality Report.” Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

https://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhqr11/chap9.html

Allott, Daniel and Jordan Allott. 2017. “The Race to 2020: The people and places that will define a 

presidency.” Washington Examiner. Accessed May 15, 2018: 

http://2020.washingtonexaminer.com/

Appalachian Regional Commission. 2017. The Appalachian Region. September 1. 

https://www.arc.gov/appalachian_region/TheAppalachianRegion.asp

County Health Rankings. 2018. “West Virginia: Wirt County.” Accessed May 15, 2018. 

http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/west-virginia/2014/rankings/wirt/county/outcomes/

overall/snapshot

Ellison, Ayla. 2016. Hospital CFO Report: 6 common characteristics of hospitals vulnerable to closure.

February 09. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/6-common-characteristics-of-hospitals-vulnerable-toclosure.html

Holmes, G. Mark, Nancy M. Lane, Thomas A. Arcury, Michael L. Schawlbe, Randy Randolph, John 

Frank, Sharita Thomas, et. al. 2018. Identifying Bright Spots in Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis. 

Washington, D.C.: Appalachian Regional Commission.

Loma Linda University School of Public Health. 2017. Findings for AHS-2. September 1. 

https://publichealth.llu.edu/adventist-health-studies/findings/findings-ahs-2

Marshall, Julie L., Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, G. Mark Holmes, Thomas A. Arcury, Randy 

Randolph, Pam Silberman, et al. 2017. Health Disparities in Appalachia. Washington, D.C.: Appalachian 

Regional Commission.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. US DHHS. 2017. Healthy People / 2020 Topics & 

Objectives/ Access to Health Services. Accessed July 27, 2017. 

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Access-to-Health-Services

Ray, Logan. 2016. “An Assessment of Workplace Injury in Kentucky’s Logging Industry.” MPH Thesis, 

University of Kentucky. 

Wirt County Health Services Association. 2015. About Coplin Health Systems.

http://www.coplinhealthsystems.com/about-us.html

WorkForce West Virginia. 2017. County Unemployment Rates.

http://lmi.workforcewv.org/DataRelease/CountyRelease.html
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APPENDIX: WIRT COUNTY DATA

Table 40: Wirt County Characteristics

Characteristic Wirt County United States

Population, 2010–2014 5,810 314,107,084

Percent population change, 2010–2015 2.90% 4.10%

Median age, 2015 44.8 37.8

Percent of persons over age 65, 2015 18.50% 14.90%

Median household income, 2014 $38,600 $56,135 

Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 

dollars), 2011–2015 $22,125 $28,930 

Unemployment rate, 2014 9.7% 6.2%

Percent persons in poverty, 2014 20.3% 15.6%

Percent white alone, 2015 97.90% 77.10%

Percent black alone, 2015 0.30% 13.30%

Percent adults with at least some college, 2010–

2014 47.61% 63.27%

Distance to nearest large population center from 

county center Parkersburg – 21.6 miles N/A

ARC designations, fiscal year 2017 At-Risk

North Central Appalachia N/A

Source: These data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 

2014, and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Selected Social Characteristics, General Economic 

Characteristics, Demographic and Housing Characteristics, and Educational Attainment Tables for years 2010–2014 

and 2011–2015.
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Table 41: Wirt County Key Informants

Name Location Title Organization Interview 

Date

Lorraine Roberts Elizabeth Director Wirt County Senior Citizens 

Center 4/10/2017

Kathy Mason Elizabeth Director Wirt County Family Resource 

Network 4/10/2014

Anna Reno Elizabeth Health Information

Specialist

WV Breast and Cervical Cancer 

Screening Program 4/10/2017

Cathy Watkins Elizabeth Library Assistant Dora B Woodyard Memorial

Library 4/10/2017

Amy Snodgrass Elizabeth Co-Director Child Care Food Program –

Community Resources, Inc 4/10/2017

Diane Ludwig Elizabeth Director Little Kanawha Area Development

Corporation 4/11/2017

Ruth Ann Full Elizabeth Physician Assistant Wirt County Family Care / Coplin 

Clinic 4/11/2017

Carrie Brainard Elizabeth Public Information

Specialist

Mid-Ohio Valley Health 

Department 4/11/2017

Penny McVay Elizabeth Mayor Town of Elizabeth 4/12/2017
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Table 42: Wirt County Health Outcomes - Actual vs. Predicted

Outcome Measure Actual Predicted

Percentage 

Difference

(negative = 

better)

Poisoning mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 16.36 29.14 -43.9%

Injury mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 46.91 70.66 -33.6%

Opioid prescriptions as a percent of Part D claims, 

2013 4.35 5.91 -26.4%

Low birth weight births (<2,500g) per 1,000 births, 

2007–2013 6.33 8.20 -22.8%

Percentage of Medicare beneficiaries w/ depression, 

2012 14.6% 17.5% -16.6%

Percentage of excessive drinkers, 2014 11.2% 13.2% -15.2%

COPD mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 58.78 68.19 -13.8%

Suicide mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 14.02 16.12 -13.0%

Heart disease hospitalizations per 1,000 Medicare 

beneficiaries, 2012 58.60 67.22 -12.8%

Average Medicare condition score, 2013 0.90 1.00 -9.7%

Years of potential life lost, 2011–2013 8,523 9,364 -9.0%

Infant mortality per 1,000 births, 2008–2014 6.99 7.25 -3.5%

Heart disease mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–

2014 233.12 235.42 -1.0%

Stroke mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 45.71 45.93 -0.5%

Physically unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.70 4.58 2.6%

Percentage of obese adults (>30 BMI), 2012 38.1% 36.6% 4.1%

Mentally unhealthy days per month per person, 2014 4.60 4.40 4.5%

Cancer mortality per 100,000 people, 2008–2014 225.20 208.98 7.8%

Percentage of adults with diabetes, 2012 15.0% 13.7% 9.2%

Notes:

Percentage Difference = 100 * [ (Actual / Predicted) – 1]

Green = County value was better than predicted

For details on the outcome measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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Table 43: Wirt County Health Drivers vs. National Median

Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Wirt 

County

Air pollution (average daily particulate matter 2.5), 

2011 Yes 11.87 13.26 

Average travel time to work in minutes, 2010–2014 Yes 22.82 30.48 

Chlamydia incidence rate per 100,000, 2013 Yes 287.16 102.62 

Dentists per 100,000 population, 2014 No 37.45 17.09 

Economic index, fiscal year 2017 Yes 108.79 167.43 

Full-service restaurants per 1,000, 2012 No 0.68 0.51 

Grocery stores per 1,000 residents, 2012 No 0.20 0.34 

Median household income, 2014 No $45,226.00 $38,600.00 

Mental health providers per 100,000 population, 2015 No 80.00 17.09 

Percentage of adults currently smoking, 2014 Yes 17.8% 22.7%

Percentage of adults not physically active, 2012 Yes 27.7% 33.7%

Percentage of adults with at least some college, 

2010–2014 No 56.3% 47.6%

Income inequality ratio,4 2010–2014 Yes 4.4% 3.8%

Percentage of diabetics with A1C testing, 2012 No 85.4% 82.8%

Percentage of doctors who e-prescribe, 2014 No 65.0% 100.0%

Percentage of eligibles enrolled in SNAP, 2014 No 78.0% 83.0%

Percentage of households with income below poverty, 

2014 Yes 15.8% 20.3%

Percentage of Medicare women with recent 

mammogram, 2013 No 61.0% 55.0%

Percentage of population with access to places for 

physical activity, 2011 and 2014 No 61.9% 33.7%

Percentage of total population in social assistant jobs, 

2013 N/A 0.01% --

Percentage receiving disability OASDI and/or SSI, 

2014 Yes 5.4% 12.5%

Percentage spending >30% of income on housing, 

2010–2014 Yes 29.0% 18.2%

Percentage w/ no car, low access, 2010–2014 Yes 19.7% 1.2%

Primary care physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 48.54 33.90 

 4 Income inequality is the ratio of household income at the 80th percentile to that at the 20th percentile. A higher 

ratio reflects greater division between the top and the bottom of the income spectrum.
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Driver Measure Lower is 

Better?

National 

Median

Wirt 

County

Social associations per 10,000 population, 2013 No 12.68 10.17 

Specialist physicians per 100,000 population, 2013 No 25.93 N/A

Students per teacher, 2013–2014 Yes 14.13 13.45 

Teenage births per 1,000, 2007–2013 Yes 39.96 42.15 

Uninsured rate for people under 65, 2013 Yes 17.24 19.02 

Notes:

Green = County value was better than national median

For details on the driver measures, see the data files accompanying the report Identifying Bright Spots in 

Appalachian Health: Statistical Analysis.
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201

Appendices

A. Glossary of Terms

B. Research Approach

C. Research Support Materials

D. Radio Spots
202
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A. GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Appalachian Region The Appalachian Region is defined in the federal legislation that provided 

funding to establish the ARC. The Region comprises 205,000 square miles 

within 420 counties in 13 states. It stretches more than 1,000 miles from 

Mississippi to New York. While more rural than the nation as a whole, the 

Region is diverse in population density, levels of economic distress, and 

infrastructure.

Appalachian

Regional 

Commission

ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 

state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. 

ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity 

and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve 

socioeconomic parity with the nation.

ARC Economic 

Index

ARC uses an index-based classification system to compare each county in the 

nation with national averages on three economic indicators—three-year 

average unemployment rates, per capita market income, and poverty rates. 

Based on that comparison, each Appalachian county is classified within one of 

five economic status designations—distressed, at-risk, transitional, 

competitive, or attainment

Bright Spot For the purposes of this research, a “Bright Spot” is a county identified 

through statistical methods that demonstrates better than expected health 

outcomes. Counties are ranked by overall magnitude of “brightness.” Bright 

Spot counties include only those ranking in the top decile in overall 

“brightness.”

Culture of Health This is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative aimed at strengthening 

the complex social factors that enable persons to live the healthiest life 

possible.

Metro Counties Counties that fall within Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), as defined by 

the US Census Bureau and the federal Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) are considered “Metro” for the purposes of this report. The 

delineations used in this report are based on the most recent delineations as of 

the creation of this report, which are July 2015 OMB designations.

Non-metro Counties “Non-metro” counties are counties that are not included in an MSA according 

to the 2015 OMB delineations.

Residual This statistical term describes the difference between an expected outcome 

value and the actual value. It is expressed in terms of standard deviations, and

provides a common metric that the Bright Spots model can average across 

different outcome measures.

Subregion ARC defines five geographical Appalachian subregions. Each shares similar 

characteristics, such as topography, demographics, and economics. The five 

subregions are Northern, North Central, Central, South Central, and Southern. 

These may be referred to as Northern Appalachia, North Central Appalachia, 

etc. Subregions consist of contiguous counties.
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B. RESEARCH APPROACH

PROCESS

As part of the Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots project, the 

research team identified 42 counties in which outcomes for 19 health outcome measures exceeded 

expectations. In cooperation with staff at the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the team 

selected ten of these Bright Spot counties for case studies, divided evenly between metropolitan and

nonmetropolitan counties. In the statistical analysis, each case study county ranked in the top eleven of 

either the metropolitan or nonmetropolitan category. The group included two from each of the 

Appalachian subregions and represented three of ARC’s five economic status classifications and eight of 

the 13 Appalachian states.

Case studies occurred in two phases, four in the fall of 2016 and six in the spring of 2017. In each phase, 

a team of two North Carolina-based health researchers and a journalist with local experience spent three 

days in each county conducting face-to-face interviews and recording field observations. How the two 

phases differed, based on lessons learned from the first four, is included in the section Evolution of the 

Field Protocol below. The protocol incorporated positive deviance and culture of health models. It relied 

on the premise that solutions to a community’s problems often exist within that community with certain 

members possessing wisdom that can be extracted and generalized.

Prior to the site visit, the research team compiled background information on the county, worked with 

ARC, and networked with others to identify interviewees who could describe local health-related 

practices. Investigators used a rapid ethnographic approach (explained in detail below), interviewing 8 to 

17 leaders associated with local government, social services, education, emergency services, university 

extension, ministry, and health care delivery. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed for themes 

(see the sections labeled Findings and Creating a Culture of Health in each of the ten individual reports in 

the Case Studies chapter). The journalists brought local perspective to the field research and contributed 

to the case study development.

The case study reports drew on information from pre-visit background research, face-to-face interviews in 

the field, follow-up inquiries by phone and e-mail, online archival sources, and the journalists’ stories. 

Field investigators sent copies of interview transcripts and drafts of the findings to key informants to 

confirm accuracy. The sections below describe in detail the field study research protocol, from training to 

data collection to analysis.

BACKGROUND ON RAPID ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY METHOD

Rapid ethnographic assessment, or rapid ethnography, is a social research method used when it is 

necessary to learn as much as possible about the culture of a place in a short period of time (Beebe, 2005). 

In contrast to traditional cultural ethnography, which involves long-term immersion in the everyday life

of a group or community, rapid ethnography happens in months, weeks, or days, and relies largely on key 

informants. The contract requirement to conduct case studies in ten Appalachian counties within a 12-

month period made the use of rapid ethnographic techniques both appropriate and essential.

Rapid ethnographic assessment typically involves collecting data through semi-structured interviews, 

focus groups, direct observation, and examination of archival sources (Harris, Jerome, & Fawcett, 1997; 

Beebe, 2005). Usually, multidisciplinary teams complete rapid ethnographic assessment, and the teams

often include at least one member indigenous to the studied culture. Other defining features of rapid 

ethnography are the purposeful selection of key informants (identified as those thought to possess special 
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knowledge of a setting), triangulation or multiple methods of data collection, a focus on a specific issue or 

problem, use of semi-structured interviews rather than rigid survey-style questioning, and iteration, which 

means adjusting data collection and interpretation in response to what is learned as the inquiry proceeds

(Utarini, Winkvist, & Pelto, 2001; Taplin, Scheld, & Low, 2002). The Bright Spots case study protocol 

incorporated each of these standard features of rapid ethnographic assessment.

The case study research teams were multidisciplinary, including members with background in 

anthropology or sociology, public policy analysis, and health services research. Journalists with roots in 

the case study communities were the indigenous members of the teams. The primary form of data 

collection was semi-structured one-on-one interviews with carefully selected key informants; though in 

some cases interviews, it included multiple informants and became much like focus groups. An interview 

guide (see Appendix C) could be used flexibly to suit the interviewee, and the setting provided the

structure; most interviews occurred in the county.

Data collection occurred by triangulation; team members drew on archival sources to develop background 

sketches of each county prior to site visits. In addition to interviews, site visits involved direct 

observation, recording field notes based on observation, and photographic documentation. Post visit

follow-up often involved a return to archival sources to fill in details. In some cases, follow-up required 

phone and/or e-mail communication with previously interviewed key informants or other local contacts. 

The case study process was iterative in two senses. First, after collecting data for the fall of 2016 case 

studies—Hale, Noxubee, McCreary, and Wayne Counties—we made adjustments based on lessons 

learned in these cases. These adjustments, to summarize briefly, included broadening the size of the 

informant base, using a more open-ended (semi-structured) interview guide, coordinating more closely 

with local journalists, and using a more team-based procedure to develop the case study analysis. By 

making these adjustments, in conjunction with additional training for the field team, it was possible to 

obtain richer and deeper data about informants’ health-related beliefs and practices.

The six spring of 2017 case studies—Tioga, Madison, Wirt, Sequatchie, Grant, and Potter Counties—

proceeded iteratively; we made adjustments to the research process based on what was learned as the 

team moved from one site to the next. For example, we added or modified probing questions prior to the 

Madison site visit to better explore matters that emerged as important in Tioga (e.g., regional 

collaboration, employer support for health, commuting patterns). This kind of adjustment occurred as the 

second six case studies proceeded and the team reviewed each field experience. Another adjustment 

involved closer coordination with journalists before, during, and after each site visit to derive maximum 

value from their knowledge of the local people and traditions.

Whereas traditional ethnography seeks to develop a deep and comprehensive understanding of the culture 

and practices of a people, rapid ethnography seeks to learn about a narrower range of beliefs and 

practices. Rapid ethnography is, thus, best suited for applied research that focuses on specific issues or 

problems (Harris, Jerome, & Fawcett, 1997; Beebe, 2005). Accordingly, the Bright Spot case studies 

focused on the beliefs and practices of people who lead organizations that do health and social servicerelated work of various kinds. Rapid assessment would not be suited to trying to document and 

understand the culture of a county. However, under limitations of time and resources, the techniques of 

rapid ethnography as used by the Bright Spots field teams can generate useful knowledge about how local 

leaders perceive and respond to the health challenges facing their counties.
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FIELD WORK

Preparation

Field team member training began in the summer of 2016 with background readings on rapid 

ethnography, interviewing techniques appropriate to the method, interpretation of qualitative data, and 

identification of key informant candidates. Background readings also included articles on the Appalachian 

Region, health challenges faced by the Region, and the RWJF Culture of Health Model. During several 

training sessions prior to undertaking the fall of 2016 case studies, we elaborated upon and discussed 

these readings. Tom Arcury, Ph.D., cultural anthropologist at Wake Forest University School of 

Medicine, led the initial training sessions for field team members employed by PDA Inc. and by The 

Sheps Center for Health Services Research at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (Sheps).

A new phase of team training began in January 2017, prior to undertaking the second set of six case 

studies. Michael Schwalbe, Ph.D., a qualitative sociologist at North Carolina State University, led this 

phase. Field team members at PDA and Sheps participated in sessions devoted to interviewing skills, 

coding transcripts, writing field notes, identifying patterns and themes in qualitative data, and analytic 

memo writing. Trainings also sought to improve communication between team members and journalists

and between team members and Schwalbe while the team was in the field. Following the field visits, 

teams held debriefing sessions to discuss problems that arose in the interviews and to consider how to 

improve future data collection. These post-visit troubleshooting sessions constituted a further training 

component.

Prior to each site visit, the field team read and discussed published background materials about the county 

with the intent to gain a general understanding of its geography and history and to discover probes that 

might be used during the interviews. Local journalists who worked with the field team joined by 

conference calls and added both perspective and factual background. Team members summarized previsit information in shared memos. Training also included discussion of how prior knowledge about 

county could provide essential perspective for interviews, because what had occurred over time might 

have contributed to better-than-expected health outcomes.

Perhaps the most important part of pre-visit preparation was identifying key informants and scheduling 

interviews. This process began at project initiation and intensified 3 to 4 weeks before the team left for

the field. Typically, a list of prospective informants was complete 2 to 3 weeks ahead of making initial 

contact and requesting interviews. Reaching people and putting together a 3-day interview schedule often 

took a week or more. All informants received an e-mail confirming the time and place of the interview 

before the field team left for the site.

Site Visits

Site visits occurred over a period of five days (the individual case study reports provide dates of each site 

visit). Day 1 involved travel from the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Triad area of North Carolina to the field site. 

Interviews were conducted during days 2 and 3 and the first half of day 4. The second half of day 4 and 

all of day 5 involved return travel. When conducting both the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017 case 

studies, field team members met with the local journalists by phone ahead of the visit and soon after 

arrival in the county. These meetings helped team members get oriented to the county and provided 

opportunities to ask questions about local history and current events. Typically, the journalists began their 

work prior to arrival of the field team. This made it possible for journalists to share what they had learned 
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about local health practices and culture and to suggest additional lines of inquiry for the field team to 

pursue.

As weather and interview schedules permitted, team members toured the counties. This made it possible 

to observe the condition of physical infrastructure (e.g., roads, public buildings) as well as to visually 

assess the level and distribution of material wealth. Here, again, local journalists were helpful guides to 

the physical and cultural geographies. The opportunity to tour the counties also gave field team members 

insight into how roads and geography affected commuting patterns and residents’ ability to access health 

services.

Key Informants

Selection of key informants began by building lists of local leaders in public health, health care, 

education, local government, law enforcement, university extension, social services, civic associations, 

business development, and the ministry. Websites of organizations and public agencies located in or 

serving the Bright Spot counties were primary sources. ARC staff provided contact information for some 

key informants. Local journalists and others provided additional suggestions.

The case study team sought to arrange interviews with eight to ten key informants prior to a field visit.

The lists of prospective interviewees included dozens of names, making selection necessary. In some 

cases, selection was largely a result of who was available for interviews. In most cases, however, the field 

team was able to identify informants who seemed likely, based on position and tenure, to be most 

knowledgeable. Consultation with local journalists aided the process. Journalists often knew who was 

native to the county, who was retired, or who had moved away. By drawing on this local knowledge, the 

field team was able to select key informants, representative of multiple sectors, who could help us 

understand health-related practices and social patterns in the county.

E-mail and/or phone requests for prospective interviews, included background on the Appalachian Bright 

Spots project. Most people expressed interest in the project and agreed. Some asked for more information 

before accepting the interview request. A few referred the team to more appropriate interviewees, and a 

few declined (usually on grounds of unavailability during the scheduled site visit). People who agreed to 

interviews or requested more information received a briefing packet (Appendix C). This packet described 

the Bright Spots project in more detail, offered health data about the county, explained how the county 

was classified as a Bright Spot, and further explained the purpose of the field studies.

Most prearranged informant interviews took place as planned. In a few cases, last-minute substitutions 

occurred—usually another person in the same office or organization—when emergencies arose and key 

informants were unavailable. Occasionally, more informants joined the interviews, providing a wider 

range of perspectives and knowledge. In still other cases, the field team met new informants and set up 

interviews after arriving in the county. This usually happened as a result of referrals made by previously 

contacted key informants.
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Post Visit Follow-Up

Upon return from the field and after an initial review of interview summaries, field notes, and preliminary 

memos, it often became apparent that understanding health-related practices in the county required more 

information. The team compiled follow-up questions and assigned members to find answers by phoning 

or e-mailing informants, phoning or e-mailing the local journalist, and conducting online searches. In 

some cases, finding answers required phoning or e-mailing other persons in the county, for example, 

Chamber of Commerce officials or human resources personnel at major employers. Typically, the team 

completed follow-up within a week after the site visit, although gaps in information sometimes did not 

appear until later in the process of analysis. Occasionally, the research team encountered difficulty finding 

authoritative sources. As a result, follow-up sometimes stretched into weeks after return from the field.

All follow-ups included sending thank-you notes and transcripts to key informants.

Key informants received a draft version of the case study report for their county (watermarked and 

identified as not-for-circulation) with an invitation to make corrections and provide comments. We used 

the feedback to correct errors and to inform interpretations of the data. About ten percent of the 

informants responded.

Data Collection and Analysis

The primary method of data collection was face-to-face, semi-structured interviewing. In the context of 

rapid ethnographic assessment, “semi-structured” means that the interviewer uses a set of questions to 

guide a conversation rather than proceeding through a list of questions in survey fashion. Team members 

used the interview guide in Appendix C flexibly to suit the interviewee’s area of special knowledge. For 

example, the interviewer might not ask an emergency services coordinator a question about school 

wellness programs. Rather than collecting answers to the same questions from every informant, rapid 

ethnography seeks to get all questions answered by at least one informant before the team leaves the field. 

Two members of the field team conducted each interview. One team member posed questions and guided 

the conversation while the other took notes and occasionally probed for more detail as needed. At the 

outset of the interview, informants signed a consent form and agreed to have the interview recorded, and 

to receive a transcript. An invitation to make corrections before quoted material was used in final reports

and assured interviewees that context of their comments was appropriate. At the end of each day in the 

field, team members wrote summary notes and commentary on the interviews. These notes and 

commentaries helped to start the analysis process before the team returned from the field.

Local journalists coordinated with field team members—communicating before, during, and after the site 

visit—but otherwise worked independently. After the first four cases, journalists generally did not 

interview the same informants as the field team. Pre-visit coordination aimed to develop complementary, 

rather than overlapping, lists of prospective interviewees. Although journalists often interviewed local 

leaders in the same sectors (government, health care, education, and so on) as the field team researchers, 

they also branched out, interviewing not just leaders, but also local residents. On several occasions, 

journalists made follow-up inquiries upon the request of the field team.

In addition to interviews and observation, data collection also relied on archival (mostly online) sources, 

though local communities provided some printed materials (e.g., pamphlets, brochures, newspapers). Post 

visit follow-up also drew on archival sources to answer questions not answered by key informants. For 

example, online searches for pertinent documents provided answers to questions about health benefits 

provided by local employers, privately operated health and fitness facilities, health-related teachings of 

faith-based groups, and passage dates of local ordinances.
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Verbatim transcripts of interviews with key informants constituted the main body of analytic data. Lineby-line coding of the transcripts sought to identify significant terms, phrases, references to people and 

places, and accounts of practices as well as indications of beliefs and values. This coding was “open”—

not based on a pre-formulated theoretical scheme, but probing to discern what was important from the 

interviewee’s standpoint. Open coding is appropriate when the goal is not to test theories, but rather to 

uncover patterns that might be relevant for policymaking (Charmaz, 2014; Saldana, 2015).

The Institutional Review Board at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill reviewed and approved 

these procedures prior to the start of data collection.

In addition to the field team, the entire project research team read, edited, and reviewed the final case 

reports. To determine promising strategies, we discussed cross-county themes and revisited the raw data 

to investigate the extent to which themes, in fact, existed and/or repeated across communities.

Journalist Role

In keeping with the principles of rapid ethnographic assessment, the Bright Spots case study teams 

included local journalists who could bring an “indigenous” perspective to the field research. As noted 

earlier, expectations of the journalists included providing insight into local culture and history, helping

identify key informants, providing photographs for use in published reports, and contributing to the case 

study reports. Journalists were recruited through contacts with local media outlets and national 

professional associations (e.g., Help a Reporter Out, Society of Environmental Journalists, and American 

Society of Journalists and Authors). Lead journalist Janine Latus recruited some journalists through her

own professional network.

Janine Latus, a Board Member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, identified and 

selected journalists based on their personal connections to the Bright Spot case county or region, reporting 

experience in or near the Bright Spot county, publishing history, demonstrated familiarity with health care 

and related issues, ability to provide photographic documentation, and availability. The weight given to 

certain criteria shifted somewhat from the fall of 2016 (the first four case studies) to the spring of 2017 

(the six final case studies). Selection of journalists for the spring of 2017 case studies put more emphasis 

on direct experience in the Bright Spot county or an adjacent county and the journalist’s ability to help 

identify key informants.

Journalists who participated in the first four case studies participated in team training events with the 

public health researchers and accompanied the public health researchers during most interviews with key 

informants, occasionally helping to probe, and conducting a few independent interviews. They also took

photographs at the time of the visit. Here, again, the spring 2017 phase involved several changes to the 

journalist’s role. Training was streamlined, consisting of an online session devoted to reviewing the case 

study protocol and the principles of team ethnography; journalists consulted more closely with the field 

team in identifying key informants, journalists provided more pre-visit background on the county, and 

journalists met with team members in the field but did not accompany team members during interviews 

with key informants. Photographs taken by these journalists were not limited to the research team visit 

days and sent to PDA later.

With the exception of the joint interviews, journalists worked independently. Most began their work 

before the public health researchers arrived in the field. Journalists consulted with the public health 

researchers to create complementary lists of interviewees. Typically, the health researchers focused on 

key informants who held leadership positions in government, health care, education, and social services. 

Although journalists interviewed people in similar positions, they also sought a wider range of citizen 
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voices, often interviewing people whose work (e.g., operating a farmer’s market) had some relation to the

community’s health status. Journalists also occasionally assisted with post visit follow-ups by providing 

additional information or fact checking. This enabled the public health researchers to draw on their work

as supplementary sources of interview and observational data.

Evolution of the Field Protocol

Iteration is a standard part of rapid ethnographic assessment. Researchers try to use lessons learned at 

early stages to inform and modify subsequent data collection and analysis. After the first four case 

studies, modifications to the interview guide included more open-ended questions and reliance on 

strategic probing; and, field team training focused on interviewing, coding, and analysis skills. Better 

procedures for communicating with the field director were established, field team members coordinated 

more closely with local journalists to identify key informants, and journalists were more stringently 

selected based on close familiarity with the Bright Spot county. More in-process troubleshooting to 

improve data collection and team-based analysis following site visits also characterized the latter six case 

studies. Several other modifications to the field protocol occurred over the course of the project.

One of these changes was to drop the pre-visit radio component. The original field study protocol called 

for creating 30- and 60-second radio spots that would air two to four weeks prior to each site visit and use 

a contest format to solicit candidate examples of programs that contribute to better health in the area.

Developed by a media consultant in cooperation with local radio personnel, these spots intended to 

encourage interviewee participation in the project, identify health-promoting groups and organizations, 

and raise awareness about the culture of health concept. These radio spots were developed and aired 

before the field team visited Hale, Noxubee, McCreary, Wayne, Tioga, and Madison Counties (Appendix 

D). In each case, members of the field team asked interviewees if they had heard the radio spots; almost 

without exception, key informants had not, even when stations were local. It thus appeared that the radio 

spots were not reaching the intended audience or making a direct contribution to the field research 

process. In light of this experience, although community development staff at the radio stations helped to 

identify local service programs, following consultation with ARC, the last four case studies (Potter, 

Grant, Wirt, and Sequatchie Counties) had no radio component. Journalists and the research team 

absorbed the identification task.

A parallel effort to promote the Bright Spots project via social media encountered problems of scale and 

broadband coverage in Appalachia. Prior to undertaking the first four case studies, PDA and the media 

consultant created a Facebook page, a Twitter account, and an Instagram account. These efforts were 

intended to call attention to the project, help recruit interviewees, identify groups and organizations that 

might be studied, and raise awareness about the culture of health concept. Again, we found little uptake 

on the part of Bright Spots county residents, perhaps in part because of limited broadband access in many 

areas of the counties under study. In brief, these social media efforts did not develop enough of a 

following to make a significant contribution to the field research process.

One other noteworthy change concerned scheduling. The original protocol allowed only one or two weeks 

between field visits. Such tight scheduling proved extremely difficult, as it did not allow enough time for 

transcribing interviews, coding, making follow-up inquiries, developing an analysis, report writing, and 

troubleshooting before the next field visit. Thus, the revised spring 2017 schedule allowed 4 weeks 

between site visits. A related change was the creation of a second field team so that one team could 

devote its time to post visit data handling, follow-up, and analysis, while a second team was in the field or 

preparing for the field. The creation of two field teams gave each team the time it needed to do thorough 

work while allowing the project as a whole to stay on schedule. It also expanded points of view on the 

field team.
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STUDY LIMITATIONS

Using the methods of rapid ethnography, we were able to learn a great deal within a few days about how 

county leaders perceived and responded to local health problems. Yet, it is important to put our findings 

into perspective by acknowledging the limits of this approach. One limitation, as noted earlier, is that 

rapid ethnography trades depth of understanding for time. The accelerated pace of our research process 

thus means that nuances and complexities that are known to insiders may not be reflected in our analyses. 

We attempted to deal with this limitation by providing key informants with opportunities to read draft 

reports, make corrections, and offer comments.

Rapid ethnography also makes it difficult to explore the full range of perspectives in a community. 

Reliance on key informants, especially leaders in mainstream institutions, can lead to the exclusion of 

minority or marginalized voices. It can also produce a bias that downplays or obscures conflict, as key 

informants may be unwilling to air dirty laundry to outsiders. This is another reason that the depiction of a 

community produced by rapid ethnography can lack complexity or fail to reveal the messiness that is 

characteristic of social life. We dealt with this limitation by seeking representative informants in diverse 

organizations and by asking not only about cooperation, but also about obstacles to cooperation.

Bias appears in the results of rapid ethnography through limitations of memory and the tendency of key 

informants to report current rather than past practices. For example, when asked about collaboration, key 

informants in Bright Spot counties spoke most enthusiastically and extensively about recent or current 

projects. But, often, these projects and practices postdated the 2008 to 2014 health outcomes data used to 

identify the county as a Bright Spot, so they could not have affected those outcomes. Again, this form of 

recall bias is not peculiar to the Bright Spots case studies. We sought to deal with it by probing (during 

interviews) and by following up to find out about the start dates and duration of various projects and 

practices. When a project or practice was too recent to have affected the health outcomes data, we noted 

this in our report.

Perhaps most important to acknowledge is that rapid ethnographic assessment cannot support strong 

inferences about what is causing health outcomes to be better than expected in Bright Spot counties. At 

best, this method allows us to identify health-related practices that are associated with better-thanexpected outcomes. We can also draw on theories from social science disciplines and findings from prior 

research to make plausible inferences about how certain practices might lead to better-than-expected 

health outcomes. So, while we can suggest how the practices we observed might be related to health 

outcomes, causal attribution would require broader, deeper, longer-term, and more systematic inquiry. 

Stronger causal attribution would also require matched comparisons or “controls.” Our case studies 

focused only on Bright Spot counties. This allows us to say that certain local practices are coincident with 

better-than-expected outcomes. However, without broader comparisons, we do not know if the practices 

we observed in Bright Spot counties are unique to those counties. We do not know, in other words, if 

what goes on in Bright Spot counties is different from what goes on in counties with less-stellar health 

outcomes. If future research finds that the practices we have documented are unique to Bright Spot 

counties, this would provide a stronger basis for asserting that these practices make a difference.

Rapid ethnographic assessment has limitations. It is not a method suited for deep and comprehensive 

examination of a people, place, or culture. It is not suited for teasing out nuances and complexities or 

discerning the full range of beliefs, values, and perspectives that are present in a community, nor can it 

support strong claims about causality. Serving these purposes would require long-term, immersive, 

comparative ethnography. Rapid ethnography can, however, produce valid knowledge within a limited 
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scope. In the case of Bright Spot counties, this means knowledge about health-related practices associated 

with better-than-expected outcomes that others might beneficially replicate.
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REFERENCES

Beebe, J. (2005). Rapid Assessment Process. Retrieved from http://csoc.missouri.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/2000_rapid_assessment_process.pdf

Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing Grounded Theory. SAGE Publications .

Harris, K., Jerome, N., & Fawcett, S. (1997). Rapid Assessment Procedures: A Review and Critique. 

Human Organization, 56(3), 375-378. 

doi:https://doi.org/10.17730/humo.56.3.w525025611458003

Saldana, J. (2015). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Research . SAGE Publicationa.

Taplin, D. H., Scheld, S., & Low, S. M. (2002). Rapid Ethnographic Assessment in Urban Parks: A Case 

Study of Independence National Historical Park. Human Organization, 61(1), 80-93. Retrieved 

from http://www.jstor.org/stable/44126969

Utarini, A., Winkvist, A., & Pelto, G. H. (2001). Appraising Studies in Health Using Rapid Assessment 

Procedures (RAP): Eleven Critical Criteria. Human Organization, 60(4), 390-400. 

doi:https://doi.org/10.17730/humo.60.4.3xu3p85amf13avtp
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C. RESEARCH SUPPORT MATERIALS

Briefing Packets for Key Informants

Prospective interviewees were contacted by e-mail and/or phone, told about the Bright Spots project, and 

invited to be interviewed by the field team. Those that agreed to interviews or requested more information 

received a briefing packet. It was also shared with the local journalist working with the field team in each 

county. This packet described the Bright Spots project in more detail, offered health data about the 

county, explained how the county was identified as a Bright Spot, and further explained the purpose of 

the field studies. As the project evolved, so did the information provided in the briefing packet. This 

appendix includes two examples of the briefing packets:

• Hale County, Alabama and Noxubee County, Mississippi – combined packet; and,

• Potter County, Pennsylvania.

Key Informant Interviews

The primary method of data collection was in-person, semi-structured interviews. In the context of rapid 

ethnographic assessment, “semi-structured” means that the interviewer uses a set of questions to guide a 

conversation, rather than proceeding through a list of questions in survey fashion. Team members used 

the interview guide flexibly to suit the interviewee’s area of special knowledge (e.g., a question about 

school wellness programs would not usually be asked of an emergency services coordinator). As the 

project evolved, so did the interview guide; and, this appendix includes both the original and the revised 

versions.
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HALE COUNTY, ALABAMA

Discussion

Hale shows up as a bright spot for mortality measures, but lags behind its sub-region in the raw numbers. 

Like McCreary, KY, and Noxubee, MS, Hale starts from so far behind; even its bright spots areas still lag 

in real terms. However, Behavioral Health generally for both Hale and Noxubee seems to be a real bright 

spot. Both Hale and Noxubee still have very high morbidity, both in real terms and relative to its region. 

Despite high morbidty, they both acheive better than expected outcomes: Why?

Top 20 Residual Measures: Meaning Very Bright Spot for these Metrics

• Average HCC (Risk Score - Measures 

General Sickness for Medicare)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

Hospitalizations (Medicare)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

Mortality

• Depression Prevalance (Medicare)

• Excessive Drinking

• Infant Mortality

• Overall (Average of All Measures)

• Stroke Mortality

• Years of Potential Life Lost

Bottom 20 Residual Measures: Meaning Very Dim Spot for these Metrics

• Physically Bad Days
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NOXUBEE COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

Discussion

Noxubee shows up as a bright spot for mortality measures, but lags behind its sub-region in the raw 

numbers. Like McCreary, KY and Hale, AL, Noxubee starts from so far behind, even its bright spots 

areas still lag in real terms. However, Behavioral Health generally for both Hale and Noxubee seems to be 

a real bright spot. Both Hale and Noxubee still have very high morbidity, both in real terms and relative to 

its region. Despite high morbidty, they both acheive better than expected outcomes: Why?

Top 20 Residual Measures: Meaning Very Bright Spot for these Metrics

• Overall (Average of All Measures)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

Hospitalizations (Medicare)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

Mortality

• Depression Prevalance (Medicare)

• Years of Productive Life Lost

• Heart Disease Hospitalization

• Average HCC (Risk Score - Measures 

General Sickness for Medicare)

• Opiod Prescription Use Rates

Bottom 20 Residual Measures: Meaning Very Dim Spot for these Metrics

• Diabetes Prevalence 

• Obesity Prevalence
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SUMMARY DATA TABLES

Residual Rank: High = “Good” = Green

County Noxubee Hale

State Mississippi Alabama

Subregion Southern Southern

Mean Residual 3 1

YPLL 14 4

Average HCC Score 12 10

Cancer Mortality 34 39

COPD Hospitalizations 13 4

COPD Mortality 1 3

Depression Prevalance 16 4

Diabetes Mortality 118 34

Diabetes Prevalance 258 101

Excessive Drinking 173 16

Heart Disease Hospitalizations 6 37

Heart Disease Mortality 52 34

HIV Prevalance 200 75

Infant Mortality 106 12

Injury Mortaly 41 108

Low Birth Weight 33 92

Mentally Bad Days 89 48

Obesity Prevalance 262 44

Opiod Rx (Medicare Part D) 9 82

Physically Bad Days 41 131

Poisoning Mortality 67 63

Stroke Mortality 102 15

Suicide Mortality 51 64

n = 270 151

Notes:

Green - Rank is in the Top 20 of all 420 Appalachian Counties

Red - Rank is in the Bottom 20 of all 420 Appalachian Counties 
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Actual Data: Alabama / Mississippi

Full Name

Lower 

is 

Better?

NonAppalachia Appalachia Southern 

Appalachia

Hale 

County, AL

Noxubee 

County, MS

Adults With At Least Some 

College (Percent) No 63.8% 57.1% 57.7% 48.8% 43.8%

Breast Cancer Screening (% 

Medicare Women with 

Mammo)

No 62.2% 61.4% 62.8% 65.0% 53.0%

Cancer Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 166.7 184.0 177.3 206.7 206.8 

Chlamydia Incidence Rate per 

100,000 Yes 451.1 321.4 390.4 1,260.7 891.4 

COPD Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 40.9 53.5 53.0 44.0 26.7 

Dentists per 100,000 Population No 66.1 47.8 43.8 13.2 18.0 

Diabetes Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 21.3 23.8 20.6 26.0 24.7 

Diabetes Prevalance (Percent 

Adults) Yes 9.6% 11.9% 11.9% 17.2% 19.0%

Diabetes Screening (% Adults 

w/Diabetes w/ A1C Test) No 84.6% 85.9% 86.4% 77.2% 92.9%

Disability Prevalance (Percent 

Receiving Disability OASDI 

and/or SSI)

Yes 2.8% 4.8% 4.4% 9.8% 7.3%

E-Prescribe Rates (Percent Docs 

Using Electronic Rx) No 66.0% 63.8% 61.5% 80.0% 77.0%

Excessive Drinking (Percent of 

Population) Yes 17.9% 15.2% 15.0% 10.1% 10.2%

Grocery Stores per 1000 

Residents No 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.4 

Heart Disease Mortality per 

100,000 People Yes 34.9 47.6 39.5 51.8 55.4 

HIV Prevalance (Adults With HIV 

per 100,000) Yes 373.0 153.5 211.3 344.4 354.6 

Households with Income Below 

Poverty (Percent) Yes 15.4% 17.2% 16.9% 28.1% 31.3%

Infant Mortality per 1,000 

Births Yes 6.1 7.1 7.4 10.5 10.7 

Injury Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 82.0 111.0 106.4 151.1 140.8 

Low Birth Weight Births 

(>2500g per 1000 Births) Yes 8.0 8.7 9.2 14.3 12.0 

Median Household Income No $ 57,074 $ 45,585 $ 48,668 $ 33,315 $ 28,730 

Medicare Beneficiaries with 

Depression (Percent) Yes 15.3% 16.7% 15.1% 10.5% 9.7%

Medicare COPD Hospitalizations 

per 1,000 Yes 10.7 13.4 12.4 10.1 9.7 

Medicare Heart Disease 

Hospitalizations per 1,000 Yes 47.3 56.2 51.3 55.5 28.5 
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Full Name

Lower 

is 

Better?

NonAppalachia Appalachia Southern 

Appalachia

Hale 

County, AL

Noxubee 

County, MS

Ment. Unhealthy Days Per 

Month Per Person Yes 3.6 4.1 4.1 5.1 4.6 

Mental Health Providers Per 

100,000 Population No 207.2 130.4 92.5 19.8 126.6 

Obesity Prevalance (Percent 

Adults >30 BMI) Yes 27.1% 31.0% 31.1% 35.9% 41.8%

Opioid Prescriptions As Percent 

of Part D Claims Yes 5.2 6.0 6.8 7.8 4.0 

People Under 65 Without 

Insurance (Percent) Yes 16.8% 15.8% 18.9% 16.1% 24.0%

Phys. Unhealthy Days Per 

Month Per Person Yes 3.6 4.1 4.1 5.6 5.0 

Physically Inactivity (Percent 

Not Physcially Active) Yes 22.6% 28.4% 27.6% 35.3% 39.7%

Poisoning Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 26.5 35.3 26.3 14.2 15.4 

Primary Care Physicians per 

100,000 Population No 76.3 66.8 59.5 13.0 9.0 

Smoking Rates (Percent Adults 

Smoking) Yes 16.0% 19.8% 17.8% 21.8% 24.4%

Social Associations per 10,000 

Population No 9.2 12.5 11.1 5.2 13.5 

Specialist Physicians Per 

100,000 Population No 156.8 109.7 95.5 19.5 8.9 

Stroke Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 38.0 43.8 47.3 48.8 52.9 

Students per Teacher Yes 16.7 14.3 14.8 14.8 - 

Suicide Mortality per 100,000 

People Yes 12.2 14.5 14.1 11.8 10.9 

Teenage Births per 1,000 Yes 34.3 38.2 42.3 42.6 71.5 

Travel Minutes to Work 

(Average) Yes 25.8 24.8 26.0 29.0 27.2 

Years Potential Life Lost per 

100,000 People Yes 6,513.9 8,291.2 8,278.9 10,037.1 10,274.1 

Note: Green = County data is better than Southern Appalachia
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RELEVANT DISPARITY FOREST CHARTS

Mortality Domain

Figure 1 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.27)

(0.15)

(0.10)

(0.31)

(0.35)

(0.36)

(0.12)

(0.27)

(0.25)

(0.06)

(0.29)

(0.30)

(0.13)

0.03 

(0.54)

(0.29)

(0.24)

(0.08)

(0.84)

(0.48)

(0.22)

(0.58)

(0.39)

(0.24)

0.35 

(0.72)

(0.59)

(0.16)

 (1.00) (0.80) (0.60) (0.40) (0.20) - 0.20 0.40

Years Potential Life Lost per 100,000

Stroke Mortality per 100,000

Cancer Mortality per 100,000

COPD Mortality per 100,000

Injury Mortality per 100,000

Heart Disease Mortality per 100,000

Diabetes Mortality per 100,000

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Morbidity Domain

Figure 2 - Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.14)

(0.16)

(0.24)

(0.14)

0.59 

(0.13)

(0.14)

(0.25)

(0.15)

0.43 

(0.56)

(0.43)

(0.79)

(0.33)

0.08 

(0.39)

(0.29)

(0.98)

(0.54)

0.05 

 (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50 1.00 1.50

Average Phys. Unhealthy Days/Month Per

Person

Average Ment. Unhealthy Days/Month Per

Person

Percent Adults with Diabetes

Percent Adults with BMI>30

Number Adults With HIV per 100,000

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Behavioral Health Domain

Figure 3 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.19)

(0.09)

(0.33)

(0.15)

0.15 

(0.15)

0.02 

0.01 

(0.30)

0.17 

0.03 

0.32 

0.46 

(0.50)

0.44 

0.11 

0.37 

0.42 

0.24 

0.43 

 (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50 1.00

Suicide Mortality per 100,000

Percent Medicare Beneficiaries with

Depression

Poisoning Mortality per 100,000

Opioid Prescriptions As Percent of Part D

Claims

Percent Residents Drinking Excessively

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Child Health Domain

Figure 4 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.08)

(0.18)

(0.11)

(0.15)

(0.23)

(0.23)

(0.77)

(0.74)

(0.24)

(0.49)

(0.76)

(1.09)

 (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50

Number Births <2500g per 1000 Births

Infant Mortality per 1,000 Births

Teenage Births per 1,000

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Environment Domain

Figure 5 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.08)

(0.18)

(0.11)

(0.15)

(0.23)

(0.23)

(0.77)

(0.74)

(0.24)

(0.49)

(0.76)

(1.09)

 (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50

Number Births <2500g per 1000 Births

Infant Mortality per 1,000 Births

Teenage Births per 1,000

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Health Behaviors Domain

Figure 6 - Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.24)

(0.26)

0.29 

(0.11)

(0.22)

0.13 

(0.36)

(0.56)

(1.79)

(0.53)

(0.76)

(0.98)

 (2.00) (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50

Percent Adults Currently Smoking

Percent Adults Not Physically Active

Chlamydia Incidence Rate per 100,000

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Health Care Systems Domain

Figure 7 - Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

(0.19)

(0.25)

(0.12)

(0.28)

(0.30)

(0.37)

(0.03)

0.06 

(0.08)

(0.16)

(0.22)

(0.34)

(0.39)

(0.55)

(0.07)

(0.12)

(0.17)

0.05 

(0.83)

(0.80)

(0.88)

(0.90)

0.21 

0.04 

0.40 

0.09 

(0.88)

(0.73)

(0.94)

(0.39)

0.17 

(0.43)

 (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50 1.00

Medicare Heart Disease Hospitalizations

per 1,000

Medicare COPD Hospitalizations per 1,000

Primary Care Physicians per 100,000

Population

Dentists per 100,000 Population

Specialist Physicians Per 100,000

Population

Mental Health Providers Per 100,000

Population

Percent of Doctors that E-Prescribe

Percent People Under 65 Without

Insurance

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Quality Domain

Figure 8 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia

0.01 

(0.01)

0.02 

0.01 

(0.09)

0.05 

0.10 

(0.15)

 (0.25) (0.20) (0.15) (0.10) (0.05) - 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

Percent Diabetics With A1C Testing

Percent Medicare Women with Recent

Mammogram

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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Social Determinants Domain

Figure 9 – Percent Difference: Appalachian Subregions versus Non-Appalachia 

0.36 

(0.11)

(0.12)

(0.20)

(0.68)

0.21 

(0.10)

(0.10)

(0.15)

(0.55)

(0.43)

(0.23)

(0.82)

(0.42)

(2.45)

0.48 

(0.31)

(1.03)

(0.50)

(1.57)

 (3.00) (2.50) (2.00) (1.50) (1.00) (0.50) - 0.50

Social Associations per 10,000 Population

Percent Adults With At Least Some

College

Percent Households with Income Below

Poverty

Median Household Income

Percent Receiving Disability OASDI and/or

SSI

Appalachia Southern Hale Noxubee

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POTTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

Project Background 

“Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: Disparities and Bright Spots" is an innovative research 

initiative sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Appalachian Regional 

Commission (ARC) and administered by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. This multi-part health 

research project will, in separate deliverables: document disparities in health outcomes in the Appalachian 

Region; identify “Bright Spots,” or communities that exhibit better-than-expected health outcomes; and 

explore Bright Spot communities through field-based research. This research aims to identify factors that 

support a Culture of Health in Appalachian communities and explores how this knowledge could translate 

into actions that other communities can replicate. 

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, building a Culture of Health means creating a 

society that gives every person an equal opportunity to live the healthiest life they can—whatever their 

ethnic, geographic, racial, socioeconomic, or physical circumstance happens to be. A Culture of Health 

recognizes that health and well-being are greatly influenced by where we live, how we work, the safety of 

our surroundings, and the strength and connectivity of our families and communities—and not just by 

what happens in the doctor's office.

The principles of the Culture of Health serve as a foundation for identifying measures of health in 

Appalachia, and evaluating the measures in the context of the ARC’s vision for bringing Appalachia to 

parity with the rest of the nation. By establishing a baseline of national and Appalachian performance on 

the measures, the project has a reference point against which to measure Bright Spots, or counties where 

performance is “better than expected.” Using Culture of Health” to inform choice of measures, gives 

direction and context to lessons learned from Bright Spot communities. This in turn can inform policies

and investments that funders can transfer to others. 

In the case studies, researchers are looking for local practices, beliefs, and networks that work with 

limited resources to support better than expected health outcomes.
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Project Sponsors

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated to health. 

For more than 40 years, RWJF has supported research and programs targeting some of the nation’s most 

pressing health issues. 

RWJF provided funding for this research project as part of its Culture of Health Initiative. David M. Krol, 

MD, MPH, FAAP, Senior Program Officer, provided the impetus for the Bright Spots in Appalachia 

project and solicited the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky 

as partners.

Appalachian Regional Commission

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) provided funding, leadership, and project management for 

the project. Established in 1965, ARC is a regional economic development agency that represents a 

partnership of federal, state, and local government. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to 

build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve 

socioeconomic parity with the nation. 

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

The non-profit Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky (FHK) was the grantee and fiscal agent for the project. 

Since 2001, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has been working to improve the health of 

Kentuckians through policy changes and community investments. Its mission is to address the unmet 

health care needs of Kentucky residents by developing and influencing health policy, improving access to 

care, reducing health risks and disparities, and promoting health equality.

Principal Investigators

To implement the research, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Foundation for a Healthy 

Kentucky named two Principal Investigators for the study: Julie L. Marshall, PhD, Economist, Division 

of Planning and Research for the Appalachian Regional Commission, and Gabriella Alcalde, D.Ph., Vice 

President, Policy & Program for the Foundation for Healthy Kentucky. PDA, Inc. received the contract 

award. Nancy Lane is the project manager for PDA. University of North Carolina Sheps Center for Health 

Services Research, Directed by Mark Holmes Ph.D. is the primary subcontractor. Michael Schwalbe, 

Ph.D., from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University is guiding 

the case studies.
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What is a Bright Spot?

Bright Spots are locations, counties, or communities where health outcomes are better than would be 

expected based on unemployment, poverty rates, and other community factors. In this study, we 

considered only factors reported at the county level by national data collection systems.

Each county has its own unique set of characteristics. Researchers used statistical modelling to predict 

how healthy a county should be, based on its unique characteristics. For example, generally, a county with 

a low median income and a high teen birth rate would have less healthy outcomes than a county with a 

high median income and a low teen birth rate. But some counties buck trends, measuring healthier in one 

or more aspects than we would expect, given existing socioeconomic conditions. Those are candidates for 

Bright Spot designation.

To conduct the statistical model, researchers first identified factors known to affect community health. 

The research team identified 29 such county-level factors or “drivers,” such as household income, 

education, health insurance coverage, availability of primary care physicians, and adult smoking rates. 

Next, the team identified 19 “outcome” measures, such as infant mortality, cancer mortality, obesity rates, 

diabetes prevalence, and depression rates among Medicare beneficiaries.

The team then looked at the relationship between the 19 health outcome measures and the 29 driver

measures and determined the statistically predicted value for each of the 19 outcome measures. As a 

hypothetical example, a county with specific values of median income, smoking rates, primary care 

physicians, etc., might have a predicted suicide rate of 17.4 per 100,000 population. If that county had an 

actual suicide rate of (say) 12.4, then, on this factor, the county would classify as unexpectedly healthy. 

Most counties will have some outcomes that are better than predicted and some worse than predicted. But 

a county that is much healthier than predicted, on average, across all 19 health outcome measures, would 

be considered a Bright Spot. The goal of the field study is to discover what is happening in a sample of 

the Bright Spots that makes them better than expected.

The team identified 42 Bright Spot counties. Figure 1 and Tables 1 and 2 below identify the 42 

Appalachian Bright Spot counties. The Bright Spots occur throughout Appalachia, in both economically 

distressed and non-distressed counties. 
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Field Team Research

Team members will schedule interviews with candidate county leaders and residents in 10 of the 42 

Bright Spots to discuss local factors that make a Bright Spot, including, for example, (1) the most 

important health issues in the county; (2) ways in which the county addresses important local health 

issues; (3) local health leaders and collaboration among them; (4) programs and funding developed to 

improve health; and (5) population groups on whom programs have focused.

The Statistical Model 

Tables 1 through 3 provide summary results of the statistical model. It involves a five-step regression and 

ranking process. 

1. The first step is a linear regression of raw values for each of the 19 measures against the 29 driver 

values to produce the “expected” health outcomes for each of the 420 Appalachian counties. 

2. The next step compared actual outcomes for each county to expected, to produce a residual for 

each outcome for each county. 

3. To make the 19 outcomes comparable, the model standardized the outcomes by measuring them 

as standard deviations of the actual outcome variable from the expected. 

4. Then, the model averaged the 19 standardized outcome residuals for each county to produce an 

average county residual. An average county residual greater than zero reflects a “better than 

expected” aggregate county health profile. 

5. Bright Spots are the top decile of the rank ordered counties separated into metro and non-metro 

groups to remove any bias that might be associated with urban resource availability 1

. Metro 

counties are defined as being within a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and non-metro counties 

are defined as not within a MSA.

The Appendix contains a list of data sources.

 1 For additional information regarding the Bright Spots statistical model, call Jon Rodgers at (919)754-0303
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Figure 1: Map of Bright Spot Counties in Appalachia
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Table 1: Metro Appalachian Bright Spot Counties Rank Ordered by Residual

Rank County State Metro 

Designation

Average. 

Residual 

(a)

Highest Individual 

Residual (b)

1 Wirt West Virginia Metro 0.47 Injury Mortality 1.49

2 Clay West Virginia Metro 0.40 HD Mortality 1.34

3 Henderson North Carolina Metro 0.35 Obesity 1.30

4 Hale Alabama Metro 0.35 Depression 1.03

5 Sequatchie Tennessee Metro 0.31 Poisoning Mortality 1.01

6 Floyd Virginia Metro 0.30 COPD Mortality 0.94

7 Sullivan Tennessee Metro 0.30 Poisoning Mortality 0.91

8 Marshall Mississippi Metro 0.30 Opioid Rx Part D 1.19

9 Madison North Carolina Metro 0.29 Obesity 1.54

10 Whitfield Georgia Metro 0.29 Depression 1.00

11 Tioga New York Metro 0.27 Stroke Mortality 0.78

12 Schoharie New York Metro 0.25 Average HCC 1.03

13 Beaver Pennsylvania Metro 0.25 Average HCC 0.92

14 Jefferson Tennessee Metro 0.24 Average HCC 0.92

15 Catoosa Georgia Metro 0.24 Stroke Mortality 0.99

Notes:

a. Average residual score for the regression involving 150 Metro counties

b. Highest of the 19 standardized residual outcome scores for this county and the associated outcome 

measure name.
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Table 2: Non-Metro Appalachian Bright Spot Counties Rank Ordered by Residual

Rank County State Metro 

Designation

Average. 

Residual 

(a)

Highest Individual Residual

(b)

1 Wayne Kentucky Non-Metro 0.72 Stroke Mortality 1.76

2 Calhoun West Virginia Non-Metro 0.58 Injury Mortality 3.20

3 Noxubee Mississippi Non-Metro 0.58 COPD Mortality 1.96

4 Grant West Virginia Non-Metro 0.49 Cancer Mortality 1.94

5 McCreary Kentucky Non-Metro 0.45 Poisoning Mortality 2.15

6 Potter Pennsylvania Non-Metro 0.45 HD Mortality 1.56

7 Taylor West Virginia Non-Metro 0.42 HD Hospitalizations 1.95

8 Rockbridge Virginia Non-Metro 0.41 HD Hospitalizations 2.05

9 Pulaski Kentucky Non-Metro 0.40 Poisoning Mortality 2.35

10 Russell Kentucky Non-Metro 0.40 HD Hospitalizations 1.63

11 Green Kentucky Non-Metro 0.40 YPLL 1.40

12 Lee Virginia Non-Metro 0.40 Poisoning Mortality 1.69

13 Bledsoe Tennessee Non-Metro 0.39 Cancer Mortality 1.42

14 Grayson Virginia Non-Metro 0.39 Injury Mortality 1.74

15 Johnson Tennessee Non-Metro 0.38 Poisoning Mortality 1.69

16 Hardy West Virginia Non-Metro 0.38 Opioid Rx Part D 1.23

17 Lincoln Kentucky Non-Metro 0.37 Obesity 1.28

18 Pendleton West Virginia Non-Metro 0.36 Poisoning Mortality 1.42

19 Meigs Tennessee Non-Metro 0.36 Opioid Rx Part D 1.32

20 Choctaw Mississippi Non-Metro 0.35 Cancer Mortality 1.35

21 Adair Kentucky Non-Metro 0.35 Injury Mortality 1.69

22 Lewis Kentucky Non-Metro 0.34 Depression 1.24

23 Roane West Virginia Non-Metro 0.33 HD Hospitalizations 1.22

24 Monroe Tennessee Non-Metro 0.32 COPD Mortality 1.68

25 Alleghany North Carolina Non-Metro 0.31 YPLL 1.55

26 Chickasaw Mississippi Non-Metro 0.31 Stroke Mortality 1.00

27 Morgan Kentucky Non-Metro 0.28 Injury Mortality 1.86

Notes:

a. Average residual score for the regression involving 270 Non- Metro counties

b. Highest of the 19 standardized residual outcome scores for this county and the associated outcome 

measure name.
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Why is Potter County, New York, a “Bright Spot”?

Potter County’s average outcome residual ranked it 6th among the 27 Appalachian Non-Metro Bright Spot 

counties in Table 1. Table 3 shows Potters’ estimated versus actual value for each of the 19 health 

outcome measures. Potter County was better than expected in 14 of the 19 health outcomes.

Table 3: Potter County Expected and Actual Health Outcome Comparison

Outcome Measure Predicted Actual % Difference

1 Infant Mortality per 1,000 Births 6.9 4.3 37.7%

2 Poisoning Mortality per 100,000 People 17.3 11.6 32.9%

3 Heart Disease Hosp. per 1,000 Medicare 

Beneficiaries 60.0 40.6 32.3%

4 Heart Disease Mortality per 100,000 People 222.3 152.8 31.2%

5 Years of Potential Life Lost 8,986 6,630 26.2%

6 Stroke Mortality per 100,000 People 46.2 34.4 25.5%

7 Suicide Mortality per 100,000 People 17.8 13.8 22.3%

8 Low Birth Weight Births (<2500g) per 1,000 Births 7.8 7.0 9.6%

9 COPD Mortality per 100,000 People 55.0 50.4 8.3%

10 Injury Mortality per 100,000 People 58.1 53.3 8.2%

11 Percent of Adults with Diabetes 12.5% 11.6% 7.1%

12 Average Medicare Condition Score 1.0 0.9 5.4%

13 Percent of Medicare Beneficiaries w/ Depression 16.8% 16.2% 3.7%

14 Physically Unhealthy Days per Month per Person 4.0 3.9 2.0%

15 Mentally Unhealthy Days per Month per Person 4.08 4.10 -0.6%

16 Cancer Mortality per 100,000 People 189.3 190.7 -0.7%

17 Percent of Obese Adults (>30 BMI) 31.0% 32.4% -4.4%

18 Percent of Excessive Drinkers 15.2% 16.2% -6.3%

19 Opioid prescriptions as a Percent of Part D Claims 5.7% 6.6% -15.8%

Better than Predicted
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Figure 2 shows the percent difference between expected and actual values for the health outcomes that 

were better than expected in Potter County. For example, Potter’s rate of infant mortality is 38 percent

better than expected. In addition, Potter’s rate of heart disease mortality is 31 percent better than 

expected.

Figure 2: Percent Difference between Expected and Actual Health Outcomes, Potter County

Source: Bright Spots Model

2.0%

3.7%

5.4%

7.1%

8.2%

8.3%

9.6%

22.3%

25.5%

26.2%

31.2%

32.3%

32.9%

37.7%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Physically Unhealthy Days per Month per Person

Percent of Medicare Beneficiaries w/ Depression

Average Medicare Condition Score

Percent of Adults with Diabetes

Injury Mortality per 100,000 People

COPD Mortality per 100,000 People

Low Birth Weight Births (<2500g) per 1,000 Births

Suicide Mortality per 100,000 People

Stroke Mortality per 100,000 People

Years of Potential Life Lost

Heart Disease Mortality per 100,000 People

Heart Disease Hosp. per 1,000 Medicare Beneficiaries

Poisoning Mortality per 100,000 People

Infant Mortality per 1,000 Births
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Potter County’s profile for the 29 “drivers” is described in Table 4. Values in green show where Potter 

County is better than the rest of the US. Potter County is better than the rest of the US in 13. Potter 

notably lags the rest of the US in four measures of health resource supply.

Table 4: Comparison of 29 Health Drivers to Rest of US, Potter County

Full Name Lower is 

Better?

Rest of 

US

Potter

County

1 Social Associations per 10,000 People No 9.2 19.4

2 Percent of Population in Social Assistant Jobs N/A 0.9% 0.37%

3 Percent of Children in Single Parent Household Yes 4.7% 4.2%

4 Percent Eligible Enrolled in SNAP No 74.7% 84.0%

5 Grocery Stores per 1,000 People No 0.2 0.4

6 Full-Service Restaurants per 1,000 People No 0.7 0.8

7 Percent of People with No Car, Low Access Yes 20.5% 18.8%

8 Percent of Population with Access to Places for Physical Activity No 85.4% 41.9%

9 Percent Spending >30% Income on Housing Yes 37.7% 27.6%

10 Percent of Doctors that E-Prescribe No 66.0% 55.0%

11 Percent of Adults Currently Smoking Yes 16.0% 19.7%

12 Percent of Adults Not Physically Active Yes 22.6% 30.2%

13 Chlamydia Incidence Rate per 100,000 People Yes 451.2 176.4

14 Percent of Diabetics with A1C Testing No 84.6% 85.4%

15 Percent of Female Medicare Beneficiaries with Recent Mammogram No 62.2% 62.0%

16 Percent of People Receiving Disability OASDI and/or SSI Yes 2.8% 6.9%

17 Teenage Births per 1,000 People Yes 34.3 40.5

18 Students per Teacher Yes 16.7 12.5

19 Percent of Adults With At Least Some College No 63.8% 48.8%

20 Air Pollution (Average Daily Particulate Matter 2.5) Yes 11.0 12.8

21 Primary Care Physicians per 100,000 People No 76.3 51.5

22 Dentists per 100,000 People No 66.1 29.1

23 Specialist Physicians Per 100,000 People No 156.8 57.3

24 Mental Health Providers Per 100,000 People No 207.3 40.7

25 Percent of Households with Income Below Poverty Yes 15.4% 14.3%

26 Economic Index Yes 102.5 117.2

27 Median Household Income No $57,062 $40,323

28 Average Travel Time to Work in Minutes Yes 25.8 22.0

29 Percent of People Under Age 65 without Insurance Yes 16.8% 14.0%
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Appendix: Data Sources

29 Health Drivers 

Label Data year(s) Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

1

Social Association 

Rate (per 10,000 

People)

2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

County Business 

Patterns

2

Percent of Total 

Population in 

Social Assistance 

Jobs

2013 County Business 

Patterns US Census Bureau

3

Percent of 

Children in Single 

Parent Household

2010-2014

American 

Community 

Survey

US Census Bureau

4 Percent eligible 

enrolled in SNAP 2014

USDA Food 

Environment 

Atlas, 2015 edition

US Department of 

Agriculture

USDA Food and 

Nutrition Service, 

SNAP Benefits, 

Redemption Division

5 Grocery Stores per 

1,000 People 2012

USDA Food 

Environment 

Atlas, 2015 edition

US Department of 

Agriculture

U.S. Census Bureau, 

County Business 

Patterns

Better than Rest of US
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Label Data year(s) Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

6

Full-Service 

Restaurants per 

1,000 People

2012

USDA Food 

Environment 

Atlas, 2015 edition

US Department of 

Agriculture

U.S. Census Bureau, 

County Business 

Patterns

7 Percent w/ no car, 

low access 2010-2014

American 

Community 

Survey

US Census Bureau

8

Percent of People

with Access to 

exercise 

opportunities

2011 &2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Business Analyst, 

Delorme map data, 

ESRI, & US Census 

Tigerline File

9

Percent of People 

spending >30% 

income on 

housing

2010-2014

American 

Community 

Survey

US Census Bureau

10 Percent of Doctors 

that E-Prescribe 2014

The Office of the 

National 

Coordinator for 

Health 

Information 

Technology

US Department of 

Health and Human 

Services

11 Percent of Adults 

Currently Smoking 2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Behavioral Risk Factor 

Surveillance System
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Label Data year(s) Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

12

Percent of Adults 

Not Physically 

Active

2012

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

CDC Diabetes 

Interactive Atlas

13

Chlamydia 

Incidence Rate per 

100,000 People

2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

National Center for 

HIV/AIDS, Viral 

Hepatitis, STD, and TB 

prevention

14

Percent of 

Diabetics with A1C 

Testing

2012

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Dartmouth Atlas of 

Health Care

15

Percent of 

Medicare Women 

with Recent 

Mammogram

2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Dartmouth Atlas of 

Health Care

16

Percent Receiving 

Disability OASDI 

and/or SSI

2014 SSA OASDI 

Beneficiaries

Social Security 

Administration

17 Teenage Births per 

1,000 People 2007-2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

National Center for 

Health Statistics –

Natality Files
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Label Data year(s) Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

18 Students per 

Teacher 2013-2014

National Center 

for Education 

Statistics

US Department of 

Education

19

Percent of Adults 

With At Least 

Some College

2010-2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

American Community 

Survey

20

Air Pollution 

(Average Daily 

Particulate Matter 

2.5)

2011

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

CDC WONDER 

environmental data, 

Air pollution -

particulate matter

21

Primary Care 

Physicians per 

100,000 People

2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Area Health Resource 

File/American Medical 

Association

22 Dentists per 

100,000 People 2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Area Health Resource 

File/National Provider 

Identification file

23

Specialist 

Physicians Per 

100,000 People

2013

Area Health 

Resource File, 

2015-2016 edition

US Department of 

Health and Human 

Services

American Medical 

Association
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Label Data year(s) Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

24

Mental Health 

Providers Per 

100,000 People

2015

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

CMS, National 

Provider Identification 

file

25

Percent of 

Households with 

Income Below 

Poverty

2014

Small Area Income 

and Poverty 

Estimates

US Census Bureau

26 Economic Index 2016 County Economic 

Status

Appalachian 

Regional 

Commission

27 Median 

Household Income 2010-2014

American 

Community 

Survey

US Census Bureau

28

Average Travel 

Time to Work in 

Minutes

2010-2014

American 

Community 

Survey

US Census Bureau

29

Uninsured Rate 

(percent) for 

People Under 65

2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood 

Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin 

Population Health 

Institute

Small Area Health 

Insurance Estimates

Notes: 

(a) Applies only to data obtained from secondary sources.
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19 Health Outcomes 

Label Data 

Year(s)

Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

1

Years Potential Life 

Lost per 100,000

People

2011-2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

National Center for 

Health Statistics –

Mortality Files

2 Stroke Mortality per 

100,000 People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

3 Cancer Mortality 

per 100,000 People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

4 Injury Mortality per 

100,000 People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

5 COPD Mortality per 

100,000 People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

6

Heart Disease 

Mortality per 

100,000 People

2008-2014 Compressed 

Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention
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Label Data 

Year(s)

Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

7

Average Physically 

Unhealthy 

Days/Month Per 

Person

2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

Behavioral Risk 

Factor Surveillance 

System

8

Average Mentally

Unhealthy 

Days/Month Per 

Person

2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

Behavioral Risk 

Factor Surveillance 

System

9 Suicides per 100,000

People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

10

Percent of Medicare 

Beneficiaries with 

Depression

2012

CMS Chronic 

Conditions 

Warehouse

Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services

11

Low Birth Weight 

Births (>2500g per 

1000 Births)

2007-2013

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

National Center for 

Health Statistics –

Natality Files

12 Infant Mortality per 

1,000 Births 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention
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Label Data 

Year(s)

Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

13 Percent of Adults 

with Diabetes 2012

National Center for 

Chronic Disease 

Prevention and 

Health Promotion, 

Division of Diabetes 

Translation County 

Data Indicators

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

14

Medicare Heart 

Disease 

Hospitalizations per 

1,000 Beneficiaries

2012 CDC Atlas of Heart 

Disease and Stroke

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention

15

Average HCC Score 

per Medicare 

Beneficiary

2013

Medicare 

Advantage Rates & 

Statistics

Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services

16 Percent Adults with 

BMI>30 2012

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

CDC Diabetes 

Interactive Atlas

17 Percent Residents 

Drinking Excessively 2014

County Health 

Rankings, 2016 

edition

Robert Wood Johnson 

Foundation and 

the University of 

Wisconsin Population 

Health Institute

Behavioral Risk 

Factor Surveillance 

System

18 Poisoning Mortality 

per 100,000 People 2008-2014 Compressed Mortality File

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention
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Label Data 

Year(s)

Source 

File/Database Institution Primary/Original Data Source (a)

19

Opioid Prescriptions 

as Percent of Part D 

Claims

2013

Medicare Part D 

Opioid Drug 

Mapping Tool

Centers for Medicare & 

Medicaid Services

Notes: 

(a) Applies only to data obtained from secondary sources.
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Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: 

Disparities and Bright Spots

Bright Spots Case Study Standard Operating Protocol 

INTERVIEWER PROTOCOL

I. Traveling to the Site

II. Day/evening prior to Key Informant Interview

III. Day of Key Informant Interview (See the Key Informant Interview Guide for details)

A. Introduce/re-introduce yourself/yourselves

B. Briefly explain the site visit and interview process.

C. Present the Key Informant Study Information Sheet and Key Informant Study Consent Form 

before proceeding.

D. Invite the key informant to complete the demographic survey. Ensure that interview team is 

ready/every member understands their role, the devices are operational, and that there is sufficient 

time to complete the interview. 

E. Begin the interview, following the Interview Guide. 

IV. Helpful Tips

A. The most thoughtful and revealing responses are spurred from open-ended questions. 

• What

o What do you do when faced with X?

• How

o How were you able to do X?

o How were you able to overcome X?

• Why

B. The timing suggestions in the Interview Guide are meant to reflect the priority of each core 

question. Those questions allotted “more time” are important in order to reach our project aims:

• Profile Bright Spots, using social/anthropological approaches, and identify communitybased models and policy implications; and

• Propose a findings dissemination strategy, complete with a communications plan to 

accompany the research.
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW INFORMATION SHEET

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Appalachian 

Regional Commission (ARC), and the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program (NCRHRP) is 

conducting a multiyear, collaborative research project examining the health outcomes of rural 

Appalachian counties. A portion of this research project involves case studies of communities that have 

better-than-expected health outcomes given their economic status, known as “Bright Spots.”

To carry-out the case studies, we will use interviews and photography to identify and document 

community-based models and potential policy implications. We will interview individuals in these Bright 

Spot communities who would be able to provide insight as to why they have better-than-expected 

outcomes. From these case studies, we will communicate our findings to all Appalachian communities. 

You have been identified as one of these individuals who we would like to interview. We expect the 

interview will take approximately one hour. 

Participation is voluntary. You do not have to participate if you no longer wish to. You do not have to 

answer every question that we ask. Further, you can stop the interview at any time. 

If you agree to be interviewed and observed for this study:

• We will ask you about the health of your community. This may or may not touch on your own 

health and the health of people you may know.

• You can decide whether you will allow us to record your interview and whether or not we can 

quote your statements in our final products.

• You can decide whether we use your image in our final products. 

• The raw information that you provide will be kept confidential to the research team.

• Your comments and images will not be anonymized.

• The findings will be published within a year and potentially released and/or re-released for up to 

at least five years. This can include your statements, quoted directly or not, and/or your images. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS STUDY please contact:

• Sharita R. Thomas, MPP- NC Rural Health Research Program, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health 

Services Research, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill; 725 MLK Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill, 

NC 27599-7590; 919-966-6168; Sharita.Thomas@unc.edu
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM

Please initial next to each statement and sign at the appropriate space at the bottom.

_________ I have read and understood the information sheet provided about this study, and/or the 

interviewer explained to me the purpose of the research.

________ I understand that my participation is voluntary.

________ I have the right to stop the interview at any time without explanation and to not answer any 

question at my discretion. 

________ I understand that my statements and/or my image may be published and attributed to me by 

name, occupation, and community. 

________ I understand that I may contact the identified researchers listed on the information sheet with 

any questions that I may have.

________ I agree to be photographed (at a future date yet to be determined). Circle YES / NO

________ I agree to have my statements audio recorded. Circle YES / NO

________ I would like to receive an edited copy of my interview transcript. Circle YES / NO

If YES, please provide an email address ______________________________________

Declaration:

I, ___________________________________________ agree to be interviewed for this study. 

Signed: _____________________________________ (Participant) Date: ______/______/________

Signed: _____________________________________ (Research) Date: ______/______/________
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KEY INFORMANT DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY

Interviewer:

Interviewee Name:

Date:

1. What is your gender? ___________________

2. What is your age group?

a. 20-29

b. 30-39

c. 40-49

d. 50-59

e. 60 or older

3. How would you describe your race? _________________________

4. How would you describe your ethnicity? _____________________

5. What is the highest level of education you completed? __________________

6. What is your occupation? _________________________________

a. What is the name of the organization that you work for? _________________________

b. How many years have you worked in this position at this organization?

i. Less than 1 year

ii. 2 – 5 years

iii. 6 – 9 years

iv. 10 – 14 years

v. 15 – 19 years

vi. 20 – 25 years

vii. 26 or more years

c. If you have held any other positions within this organization, please list them and the 

number of years worked in that position. 

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ _______________
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW GUIDE (Version 1: May 16, 2016)

This basic outline covers the site visit flow and the core questions that must be asked in each interview 

based on the profession or role of the key informant in the community. The suggested timing for each 

core question is not a restriction, but is meant to indicate the importance of the section or question. We 

will spend no more than 3 hours (our goal is 2 hours) with each key informant (this includes the set-up, 

the interview, the debriefing period, and the pack-up time). More than one key informant may be 

interviewed at a specific site or organization.

Interview Aims

1. Understand and explain the characteristics (values, processes, collaboration, network) of 

each Bright Spot,

2. Determine commonalities and differences across the Bright Spots, and

3. Delineate policy recommendations for improving the culture of health across Appalachia 

based on the Bright Spot commonalities and differences.

Introduction and Informed Consent (5 min) 

• Introduce yourself/yourselves and explain the project briefly. Distribute the Key 

Informant Interview Information Sheet and the Key Informant Interview Consent Form.

• Ensure that proper consent is given before proceeding any further.

• Distribute the Key Informant Demographic Survey. Ensure that the interview team and 

all devices are prepared for the interview. 

Core Questions (75 min)

The core questions drive the focus of the interview. These questions must be covered. The interviewer is 

not required to use the exact language, but is encouraged to use the language as a guide. Follow-up 

questions are provided as anticipated, but it is also expected that follow-up questions will organically 

arise from the responses given, and therefore may be unique to each key informant interview. It is 

important to record and transcribe spontaneous follow-up questions. Keep in mind the intent of the core

questions and do not stray off topic with follow-up questions. 

Prior to starting the recording devices/transcribing 1 min):

• Thank you for agreeing to participate in this key informant interview. You have 

indicated that you are giving us permission to record and transcribe this interview. 

Is that correct? 

• Thank you. We will now turn on our recording devices. We will then ask you 

again, for the record, if you agree to have your interview recorded and 

transcribed. 
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Consent and Introduction (1 min):

• Thank you for agreeing to participate in this key informant interview. You have 

indicated that you are giving us permission to record and transcribe this interview. 

Is that correct? 

• We will start asking our questions now. We have arranged our questions by 

overall topics or themes. We will begin by asking you about the characteristics of 

your community.

Environmental Characteristics (2 min)

• How would you describe the look of the physical environment of your 

community? (How near to each other do people live? What types of buildings? 

Are there many green spaces?)

• Is this the type of community where there are many community services?

o Do people know about/access these services?

Community Characteristics (10 min)

• Please describe the qualities of your community? 

o What are its most important assets? 

o What are its most significant problems?

• What are the most important organizations in your community? How do they 

work together?

• What are the different factions in your community?

• What types of people live in this community?

o Tell me about the ages of the residents – are there a lot of children, a lot of 

older adults?

o Tell me about diversity in your community.

o What is the typical economic situation?

o What is the typical educational background?

o What is the typical race/ethnicity? 

o What is the typical language spoken?

o What is the typical occupation?

• Does the typical community resident have health insurance?
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• What does the structure of a typical household look like here? (Both parents in a 

home with a child? Elderly relatives living and being cared for in homes?)

• Is this the type of community where people are close to one another? (Tell me 

about informal social networks?)

• Is this the type of community where members carry a heavy emotional and 

physical load? (They are burdened by finances, personal or family health, etc.) 

Community Beliefs (5 min)

• In this community, who makes the health decisions for family members?

• Tell me about the involvement of religious leaders/organizations in the health of 

the community?

• What ambitions are held for children for those community members who have or 

care for children? (Desire for higher education, staying in/leaving the community, 

etc.?)

• How do people talk about health in your community?

• How do people support health programs in your community?

o Are you different from other communities?

• How did you make health a shared value in your community?

Health Behaviors (10 min)

• (Equity) Tell me about the people in your community who have good health.

• Tell me about the people in your community who have poor health.

• Why do you think these groups differ in health?

• Tell me about the use of tobacco products by community members.

o What are some reasons for which you think this is the case?

• Tell me about the typical diet of community members.

o Are community members more or less likely to eat healthy foods (fruits, 

vegetables, non-processed foods)?

o What are some reasons for which you think this is the case?

• Tell me about physical activity among community members.
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o Are community members more or less likely to exercise/be physically 

active?

o What are some reasons for which you think this is the case?

Health Attitudes (10 min)

• How do people talk about the health care facilities and providers in your 

community?

o Are they seen as important to health?

• Tell me about where community members go for most of their care.

o What are some reasons for which you think this is the case?

• How do community members feel about preventative health care?

• How do community members value/appreciate/utilize modern health 

services/technology? 

o Can you give examples?

• How do community members value/appreciate/utilize traditional medicine/home 

remedies?

o Can you give examples?

Professional Practice (30 min)

• What is your role in this community?

o How does the community think of you?

o In which situations does the community seek your advice/services?

• What does health mean to you?

o Have you heard the phrase, “culture of health?” (If not, briefly explain.) 

What does a culture of health mean to you?

• What is your vision for the health of this community?

o How are you moving towards that vision?

o What methods do you use to move towards this vision?

o How well equipped are health facilities in this community to achieve this 

vision?

o What barriers might prevent community members from achieving this 

vision of health?
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• Based on your observation and professional experience, what does this 

community do very well as far as health behaviors?

Bright Spot Characteristics

• (This question will be specific to the positive health outcome variables for each 

Bright Spot. Ask this question for each variable of interest.) According to you, 

what are the reasons for the positive outcome in IDENTIFY VARIABLE HERE 

(i.e. infant mortality)? 

• Health issues addressed by the Bright Spot – Tell me why these issues were 

addressed?

• What works to improve “health” in your community?

• Why does it work?

• What did you/your community do to improve health / health care in your 

community?

• What (resources, processes, persons, organizations) did you use / call on in 

your community to (“improve health” increase prenatal care, change 

physical activity, start gardens)

• Structural characteristics (e.g., size, staffing, funding) of Bright Spot 

organizations

• Based on your observation and professional experience, what would you say is 

the “key” or “root cause” of the positive health outcomes of your community? 

o What makes this community a “Bright Spot”?

• Who are health champions in your community?

o Tell me about what they do.

• Tell me about how the people and the organizations collaborate on health.

o Those that are in your community.

o Those that are in your region; that work across communities.
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Policy

• What is the best method to inform your community about health issues?

o What are the health marketing and advertising methods you have seen in this 

community?

o Do you think they were effective? Why/why not?

• Tell me about practices you have developed in your community to improve health that 

other communities could adopt.

o What are the best ways for communities to adopt these changes?

• What policies would help communities like yours to improve health

o Local

o State

o Federal

Further Thoughts (5 min)

• Is there anything that we forgot to ask you about that you feel is important in our 

understanding of the health of your community?

Closing (1 min)

• Thank you very much for your responses. Your interview will help us better 

understand the behaviors, attitudes, and activities that could benefit other 

Appalachian communities. 
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Creating a Culture of Health in Appalachia: 

Disparities and Bright Spots

Bright Spots Case Study Standard Operating Protocol 

INTERVIEWER PROTOCOL

I. Traveling to the Site

II. Day/evening prior to Key Informant Interview

III. Day of Key Informant Interview (See the Key Informant Interview Guide for details)

A. Introduce/re-introduce yourself/yourselves

B. Briefly explain the site visit and interview process.

C. Present the Key Informant Study Information Sheet and Key Informant Study Consent Form

before proceeding.

D. Invite the key informant to complete the demographic survey. Ensure that interview team is 

ready/every member understands their role, the devices are operational, and that there is sufficient 

time to complete the interview. 

E. Begin the interview, following the Interview Guide. 

IV. Helpful Tips

A. The most thoughtful and revealing responses are spurred from open-ended questions. 

• What

o What do you do when faced with X?

• How

o How were you able to do X?

o How were you able to overcome X?

• Why

B. The timing suggestions in the Interview Guide are meant to reflect the priority of each core 

question. Those questions allotted “more time” are important in order to reach our project aims:

• Profile Bright Spots, using social/anthropological approaches, and identify communitybased models and policy implications; and

• Propose a findings dissemination strategy, complete with a communications plan to 

accompany the research.
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW INFORMATION SHEET

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Appalachian 

Regional Commission (ARC), and the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program (NCRHRP) is 

conducting a multiyear, collaborative research project examining the health outcomes of rural 

Appalachian counties. A portion of this research project involves case studies of communities that have 

better-than-expected health outcomes given their economic status, known as “Bright Spots.”

To carry-out the case studies, we will use interviews and photography to identify and document 

community-based models and potential policy implications. We will interview individuals in these Bright 

Spot communities who would be able to provide insight as to why they have better-than-expected 

outcomes. From these case studies, we will communicate our findings to all Appalachian communities. 

You have been identified as one of these individuals who we would like to interview. We expect the 

interview will take approximately one hour. 

Participation is voluntary. You do not have to participate if you no longer wish to. You do not have to 

answer every question that we ask. Further, you can stop the interview at any time. 

If you agree to be interviewed and observed for this study:

• We will ask you about the health of your community. This may or may not touch on your own 

health and the health of people you may know.

• You can decide whether you will allow us to record your interview and whether or not we can 

quote your statements in our final products.

• You can decide whether we use your image in our final products. 

• The raw information that you provide will be kept confidential to the research team.

• Your comments and images will not be anonymized.

• The findings will be published within a year and potentially released and/or re-released for up to 

at least five years. This can include your statements, quoted directly or not, and/or your images. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS STUDY please contact:

• Sharita R. Thomas, MPP- NC Rural Health Research Program, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health 

Services Research, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill; 725 MLK Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill, 

NC 27599-7590; 919-966-6168; Sharita.Thomas@unc.edu
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM

Please initial next to each statement and sign at the appropriate space at the bottom.

_________ I have read and understood the information sheet provided about this study, and/or the 

interviewer explained to me the purpose of the research.

________ I understand that my participation is voluntary.

________ I have the right to stop the interview at any time without explanation and to not answer any 

question at my discretion. 

________ I understand that my statements and/or my image may be published and attributed to me by 

name, occupation, and community. 

________ I understand that I may contact the identified researchers listed on the information sheet with 

any questions that I may have.

________ I agree to be photographed (at a future date yet to be determined). Circle YES / NO

________ I agree to have my statements audio recorded. Circle YES / NO

________ I would like to receive an edited copy of my interview transcript. Circle YES / NO

If YES, please provide an email address ______________________________________

Declaration:

I, ___________________________________________ agree to be interviewed for this study. 

Signed: _____________________________________ (Participant) Date: ______/______/________

Signed: _____________________________________ (Research) Date: ______/______/________
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KEY INFORMANT DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY

Interviewer:

Interviewee Name:

Date:

1. What is your gender? ___________________

2. What is your age group?

a. 20-29

b. 30-39

c. 40-49

d. 50-59

e. 60 or older

3. How would you describe your race? _________________________

4. How would you describe your ethnicity? _____________________

5. What is the highest level of education you completed? __________________

6. What is your occupation? _________________________________

a. What is the name of the organization that you work for? _________________________

b. How many years have you worked in this position at this organization?

i. Less than 1 year

ii. 2 – 5 years

iii. 6 – 9 years

iv. 10 – 14 years

v. 15 – 19 years

vi. 20 – 25 years

vii. 26 or more years

c. If you have held any other positions within this organization, please list them and the 

number of years worked in that position. 

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ ______________

__________________________________ _______________
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KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW GUIDE (Version 2a: March 27, 2017)

Prior to starting the recording devices/transcribing

• Thank you for agreeing to participate in this key informant interview. You have 

indicated that you are giving us permission to record and transcribe this interview. 

Is that correct? 

• Thank you. We will now turn on our recording devices. We will then ask you 

again, for the record, if you agree to have your interview recorded and 

transcribed. 

Consent and Introduction:

• Thank you for agreeing to participate in this key informant interview. You have 

indicated that you are giving us permission to record and transcribe this interview. 

Is that correct? 

• We’ll start by asking you to tell us a little bit about your work, then we have 

some questions about _____ county in general, and then some questions 

specifically about health. 

1. First, would you briefly describe your work?

2. What kind of challenges do you run into in your work in _____ county? 

3. What’s your sense of how _____ county is different from other counties in the region?

4. How would you describe the different areas within the county? Are there areas or 

communities that people see as very different from one another? Can you describe them for me? 

5. Do the differences among these groups present challenges in getting people to work together? 

If so, how are those challenges being met? What seems to work to encourage cooperation? 

6. When you think of the health problems faced by people in _____ county, which groups or 

individuals do you see as responding most effectively to these problems? What are they doing? 

7. If you think about all the health resources in the county—hospitals, clinics, emergency 

services, education programs, everything—what do you see as especially important? What kind 

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8. Do you collaborate with other organizations on health-related work? Which organizations? 

How do these collaborations work? What kind of problems do you run into? What works well?

9. Do you collaborate with organizations outside the county? Can you tell me about these 

collaborations? 

10. Who are the major employers of people who live in _____ county? Do these employers offer 

health benefits or wellness programs?

11. Is your organization involved in health education? If so, what kinds of things do you do to 

get health information to people in the county? 

12. What kinds of prevention and health screening efforts go on in the county? Is this something 

that people in general take seriously here?

13. Are there other organizations doing work related to health that we haven’t asked about? If

so, what are these organizations doing?

14. If you could export one idea or one way of doing things from _____ county to other similar 

counties in the U.S., what would it be? What do you do well here that others could benefit from 

learning about? 

15. Is there anything you’d like to add that would help us better understand the public health 

situation in _____ county, or just help us better understand _____ county in general? 

Thank the interviewee again. Offer to answer any questions s/he might have. Ask if it 

would be okay to follow up by phone or e-mail if we have any additional questions or need 

clarification.
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D. RADIO SPOTS

The original field study protocol called for creating 30-second and 60-second radio spots that would air 

two to four weeks prior to each site visit. Developed by a PDA media consultant in cooperation with local 

radio personnel, these spots were intended to encourage interviewee participation in the project, identify 

health-promoting groups and organizations that might be studied by the field team, and raise awareness 

about the culture of health concept. These radio spots were developed and aired before the field team 

visited Hale, Noxubee, McCreary, Wayne, Tioga, and Madison Counties. In each case, members of the 

field team asked interviewees if they had heard the radio spots. Almost without exception, they had not. It 

thus appeared that the radio spots were not reaching the intended audience or making a cost-effective 

contribution to the field research process. In light of this experience, and in consultation with ARC, the 

radio component was dropped from the last four case studies (Potter, Grant, Wirt, and Sequatchie 

Counties).

The following is a summary of each radio spot that was aired, including:

• Each program identified either by community members or the radio station as an organization 

working to help its community be a “Bright Spot County”; 

• The radio copy for the aired spot; and,

• A screenshot of the advertisement on the radio station website.

Hale County, Alabama, and Noxubee County, Mississippi

Community Entries

Organization Summary

Good Samaritan Clinic

Joy Foster

5225 First Ave

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35405

(205) 394-7932

The Clinic is a non-denominational Christian ministry that 

provides primary health care to those who do not have any 

insurance or receive any Medicaid or Medicare benefits. Patients 

receive free medical care including medicines and referrals to 

specialists. All doctors and nurses are volunteers. They give their 

time and talent to those in need.

The Little Closet Community 

Food Pantry

Susan Dockery

12540 Stacks Loop Circle

Berry, Alabama 35546

(205) 657-6979

The Little Closet Food Pantry, provides Food for The Samantha 

Community. Where Hunger is a Great issue to many. They are 

operated by volunteers only. Hunger is very real everywhere, and 

Samantha is Blessed to have a Ministry that Shows God's Love.

Secret Meals for Hungry Children, 

Alabama Credit Union

Andrew Porter

2311 Legacy Park Loop

Tuscaloosa, AL

(205) 966-1012

Secrets Meals for Hungry Children" is a charity organization 

created about 8 years ago with Alabama Credit Union. They have 

served our community so well that they have spread across the 

entire state of Alabama serving thousands of children every 

school year with back pack meals. Kelley Porter is director and 

has done a fabulous job being a part of the this great community. 

Ask any school around and they will tell you the same thing.
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Organization Summary

The Good Shepherd Foundation 

Susan Dockery

12540 Stacks Loop Circle

Berry, Alabama 35546

(205) 657-6979

The Foundation feeds the hungry, provides basic daily essentials 

and builds up the community with encouragement and promotes 

good will and relationship with neighbors. They host community 

parties and events that are free to all to attend

Autism Child First – Patty 

McKnight and Jennifer Yaw

Allison MacIntyre

5711 Golden Pond Avenue

Northport, Alabama 25473

(205) 737-2297

These two women have dedicated their lives to community 

service in the special needs community. Together they created a 

program that gives autistic children the best possible start, thru 

their completion of high school. They have selflessly given their 

own funds, time, and resources to ensure that their clients’ needs 

are consistently met. They are incredibly selfless, inspiring, and 

deserving of recognition.

Radio Copy

At (WTUG) we’ve seen some incredible programs that are making us healthier! From kids outdoor 

playgroups to senior clinics to recovery centers - people are making a difference, in fact, they’re creating 

bright spots in healthy living! We want to hear about how you’re helping the community get healthy! 

Submit your stories, photos, or videos to (website entry) and you could win three hundred dollars to 

further your cause. (website entry). Just look for the bright spots page and submit your entry. Shine your 

bright spot on healthy living in Alabama and Mississippi and win money for your community project. 

Entries must be received by August 18th. For more information go to WTUG.com.

Screenshot from Radio Website
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McCreary and Wayne Counties, Kentucky

Community Entries

Organization Summary

God’s Food Pantry

Brenda Russell

119 South Central Avenue

Somerset, KY

(606) 679-8560

God's Food Pantry has been giving supplemental food to those in 

need in Pulaski County for almost 35 years. Last year, we served 

close to 30,000 people. In addition, we oftentimes help with 

hygiene items and household items. We have recently added a 

diaper program that allows families to purchase high quality 

diapers at very low prices in order to help our littlest ones to stay 

dry and healthy. Our facility regularly brings in healthcare 

partners to do blood pressure and diabetes screenings as well as 

flu shot clinics. We also host representatives who can help with 

medical insurance needs. In the past year, we have shared 

sunscreen with dozens of other agencies with the hope that easy 

access will mean more people will use it. God's Food Pantry 

partners with the USDA and facilitates the Farmer's Market 

Nutritional Program for seniors here in our county. This program 

provides vouchers for low-income senior citizens to buy fresh, 

healthy produce at farmer's markets during the summer months. 

Our facility offers volunteer hours to many programs. This 

includes court ordered volunteer hours as well as those on KTAP 

who are trying to learn a job skill to take with them into our 

community. We strive to help these volunteers build, not only job 

skills, but also their self-esteem. 

Lake Cumberland Community 

Action

Alicia Polston

PO Box 830

Jamestown, KY 42629

Head start program prepares children from low income families 

for school by offering educational, nutritional, health, social and 

other services

Kendra Newton (person entry)

Kendra.hyden@lindsey.edu

Physical education major at Lindsey Wilson College, wants to 

promote healthy living to area’s youth

Assurance for Life

Rhonda Webber, Executive 

Director

859.278.8469

ronda@assurancecare.org

Provides counseling and health services to people with unplanned 

pregnancies.

Pain Management Medicine

Brook Bentley, Fitness Director

859.275.4878

medfit@painmm.com

Hosting a free healthy Halloween event for the Lexington 

community that invites local businesses in the area to join them 

for an afternoon of education, healthy trick or treating, and fun 

for the entire family.

Fayette County Farm Bureau

Carrie McIntosh, Executive 

Director

859.253.0023

Held a Ladies Night Out Health & Wellness Fair educating 

women’s about alternative health practices to improve their 

overall well-being as well as compliment their traditional 

medicine practices
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Organization Summary

Carrie.mcintosh@kyfb.com

Central Kentucky Riding For 

Hope

Jenny Jackson Lead Instructor

859.231.7066

leadinstructor@ckrh.org

CKRH has grown into a multi-faceted program that is dedicated 

to enriching the community by improving the quality of life and 

the health of children and adults with special physical, cognitive, 

emotional, and social needs through therapeutic activities with 

the horse.

Girls On The Run

Sara Hochgesang – Clinic Director

859.340.1061

info@girlsontherun.org

www.girlsontherun.org

GOTR aims to help build young women up during their 

formative years by providing positive social interactions, learning 

and service opportunities, and a chance to exercise. It is open to 

girls in grades 3-5 and meets two times per week after school.

Legacy Gymnastics

Stephanie Lambert – Mother of 

Gymnast

859.977.8862

Legacy not only trains routines for specific events, but the 

coaches focus on overall body wellness. They do cardio, strength 

training, flexibility training and a nutritionist even comes in once 

a month to talk about the importance of healthy eating.

Radio Copy

At K.93 we’ve seen some incredible programs that are making us healthier! From kids outdoor 

playgroups to senior clinics to recovery centers - people are making a difference, in fact, they’re creating 

bright spots in healthy living! We want to hear about how you’re helping the community get healthy! 

Submit your stories, photos, or videos to (website entry) and you could win three hundred dollars to 

further your cause. (website entry). Just look for the bright spots page and submit your entry. Shine your 

bright spot on healthy living in Kentucky and win money for your community project. For more 

information go to k93country.iheart.com.

Screenshot from Radio Website
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Tioga County, New York

Community Entries

Organization Summary

Tioga County Healthy 

Neighborhoods Program

Adam Ace

Tioga County Public Health

56 Main Street

Owego, NY 13827

(607) 687-8390

acea@co.tioga.ny.us

This program provides free home safety checks for Tioga County 

residents supported through a grant from the New York State 

Department of Health. This program is in its third year. The goal 

of this program is to reduce lead poisoning, asthma, indoor air 

pollution and to prevent fires. They evaluate problems in the 

home such as bugs, safety and cleaning. The program provides 

hands-on education materials and supplies. The program can also 

assist in larger projects. There is no income requirement. To date, 

this program has served more than 300 families in Tioga County.

Tioga County Anti-Hunger Task 

Force / Tioga Opportunities, Inc.

Andrew Hafer

9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard

Owego, NY 13827

ahaver@tiogaopp.org

This program is working to reduce hunger by increasing access 

and promoting participation at free summer meal sites. This 

program stems from the Tioga County Hunger Coalition.

Family Resource Center / Cornell 

Cooperative Extension of Tioga 

County

Jackie Spencer

56 Main Street

Owego, NY 13827

(607) 687-4020 ext. 305

jds77@cornell.edu

The Family Resource Centers of Tioga are free community 

centers for families with young children. There are two locations; 

one in Owego, NY and one in Waverly, NY. Each center offers 

drop-in play space, parent-child activities, parenting workshops, 

links to community resources and a lending library. At each 

Family Resource Center, parents, grandparents, and other 

caregivers are all welcome to participate. They can learn 

information and skills to help with the challenges of parenting. 

They can also find resources and meet with other families to help 

support them with parenting. There are also opportunities to get 

involved and help create safe communities for children. These 

centers are a part of their Family Development Program.

Tioga Mobile Dental Services / 

Tioga County Public Health

Sue Medina

56 Main Street

Owego, NY 13827

(607) 687-8595

medinas@co.tioga.ny.us

The Tioga Mobile Dental Van travels throughout Tioga County 

providing dental care to children and adults. Sites include Tioga 

County schools where children have easy access to receive care 

during the school day. Adults can also receive care before or after 

school and on school vacations. Services include dental 

cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, and extractions. 

Must be a Tioga County resident to receive care.

Mental Health Clinic Treatment 

Services / Tioga County 

Department of Mental Hygiene

Lori Morgan, LCSW-R

56 Main Street

Owego, NY 13827

(607) 689-8139

morganL@co.tioga.ny.us

Mental Health Clinic Treatment Services, available in both 

Owego and Waverly, include a wide variety of different options 

for consumers of all ages who present a need for counseling or 

evaluation services. No one is refused services due to inability to 

pay.
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Organization Summary

Common Ground Christian 

Community Center

Robert Henrich

28 Main Street

Owego, NY 13827

(607) 972-7054

Bringing churches and community resources together in 

collaborative service, accomplishing together what we can’t do 

alone. Targeted service populations are children, seniors, and 

low-income families.

Radio Copy

All around Tioga County incredible programs making us healthier! From kids outdoor playgroups to 

senior clinics to recovery centers people are truly making a difference, creating bright spots in health! On 

behalf of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Robert 

Wood Johnson Foundation we would like to recognize Common Ground Christian Community center for 

their contributions to creating healthier living in Tioga County. The mission of common ground is to 

bring area Christian Churches together to deliver much-needed programs to Tioga County residents, 

especially children, seniors, and low-income Families. Just some of the many community programs at 

Common Ground include a summer food service program, a summer recreation program, tutoring, a 

gardening program, Life skills classes, and youth programs. Common ground believes that the only way 

to make a real, long-term difference in a Community is together. To learn more about common ground 

Visit their website at thechurchcommons.org 

Screenshot from Radio Website
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Madison County, North Carolina

Community Entries

Organization Summary

Beacon of Hope

Allen Bradley

120 Calvary Drive

Marshall, NC 28753

(828) 649-3470

thebeaconofhope@frontier.com

Beacon of Hope distributes food to approximately 1,227 people 

on a monthly basis. There numbers have recently grown by 200 

per month. They distribute both a pantry box as well as a box of 

fresh produce. They partner with both Manna Foodbank as well 

as local farmers who donate their excess produce.

Madison Substance Abuse 

Awareness Coalition

Heather Sharp

493 Medical Park Drive

Marshall, NC 28753

(828) 649-3531 ext 232

hsharp@madisoncounty.gov

This organization is under the umbrella of the Madison County 

Health Department and is a coalition of different community 

partners who originally received a grant through Wake Forest to 

address substance abuse in Madison County, more specifically 

with the focus on opioids. They work both in the larger 

community as well as in public education. They have recently 

expanded to include nicotine and ecigs as part of their 

elimination and education process.

Neighbors in Need

Rev. Melissa Upchurch

165 South Main Street

Marshall, NC 28753

(828) 649-3622

pastormelissa.upchurch@gmail.com

This organization operates under the umbrella of the Marshall 

Presbyterian Church. They offer food, shelter, and heating 

services to Madison County residents in need. They are only 

open on Tuesdays from 1-3pm.

YMCA of WNC

Austin Granger

53 Ashland Avenue Suite 105

Asheville, NC 28801

(828) 251-5909

agrainger@ymcawnc.org

The YMCA of WNC based in Asheville, has put a large focus 

on the health of the citizens of Madison County. They have also 

partnered with the County Health Department and offer a 

variety of services. They have created a mobile kitchen from an 

old bus from where they teach healthy cooking classes as well 

as distribute fresh produce to the community in need. In 

addition, they offer healthy ageing classes focusing on arthritis 

and physical activity. They are planning on expanding into 

diabetes prevention in the upcoming year.

Radio Copy

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Appalachian 

Regional Commission are looking for programs that build a Culture of Health in Appalachia. AND! All 

around Madison County incredible programs are making us healthier! Mix 965 would like to recognize 

one of these Bright Spot projects: the Madison Substance Awareness Coalition (MSAC). Started by the 

Madison County Health Department to address the growing opioid and other substance abuse problems in 

our area, MSAC is educating our community, especially our youth, about risks and consequences. MSAC 

encourages people to see substance abuse disorder as a health problem, start conversations, and reduce the 

stigma. It has a clear message: talk it up, lock it up, show you care, dispose of properly, never share. For 

more information about the Culture of Health visit the mix965asheville.com. For more information about 

MSAC check out its Facebook page. Thank you MSAC and congratulations to other Madison County 

Bright Spot initiatives that together are making us healthier.
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Screenshot from Radio Website