Cary, North Carolina, Wake County : an action-oriented community diagnosis : findings and next steps of action
Creators: name: Artis, Shavon
name: Giles, Catherine
name: Markatos, Betty
name: Shelton, Rachel
name: Johnston, Jennifer
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2003

description: Background: A team of students from the UNC School of Public Health in Chapel Hill conducted an Action Oriented Community Diagnosis (AOCD) in Cary, North Carolina during the 2002-2003 academic year. During the AOCD process, the student team interviewed community members and service providers of diverse backgrounds to assess their perspectives on quality of life in Cary, as well as the strengths and needs of the community. The project culminated in a community dialogue that gave service providers and community members the opportunity to come together and identify action steps pertaining to the topics that arose from the interviews. Methods: This community assessment was conducted under the guidance of a preceptor from Culturas Unidas, a non-profit organization in Cary. The assessment focused on the experiences of different racial/ethnic populations in Cary. Thirty-seven interviews were conducted with 17 community members and 20 service providers during the AOCD process. Thirteen of the service providers were also Cary community residents. Interviewees included town employees, elected officials, members of community organizations, single and married residents, newcomers and long-standing residents. The team also collected and analyzed secondary data pertinent to both Cary and Wake County as a comparison to primary data, with the goals of providing supplemental information and highlighting discrepancies. Results: Interviewees felt that there were many strengths in the Cary community, such as the family-oriented nature of the town. Respondents also discussed the significant changes the town has experienced recently. Five main topic areas were identified: housing, transportation, connecting diverse groups, education, and health. The perspectives of community members and service providers were often similar. Respondents provided evidence of an economic divide in Cary, stressing that residents of lower socio-economic status are more likely to face challenges regarding affordable housing, transportation, and access to healthcare. Countywide bussing for economic diversity in schools is a topic of controversy, as well as the overcrowding of the schools. Community members also identified a need to connect diverse groups, especially differing racial and ethnic populations. The main limitation of this AOCD process was that the team was unable to provide an in-depth assessment of any one particular community within Cary, but instead focused on shared experiences across diverse racial and ethnic groups. Secondary data that was collected was somewhat limiting, as it was often not representative of certain groups, such as recent immigrants and certain ethnic/racial groups. Community Dialogue: The community dialogue was an opportunity for diverse providers and community members to come together to discuss issues of importance that emerged from the interviews. The team presented the process and findings from the community assessment on April 24, 2003. Participants then dialogued in small groups around a topic, identifying action steps for follow-up. These action steps were communicated back to the larger group for feedback, discussion and follow-up suggestions. The key action steps which arose from the dialogue included: Encourage diverse participation in town events. Organize a multicultural celebration day in Cary. Develop a list of existing after-school programs. Create a youth mentoring program. Develop lists or clearinghouses of existing health resources. Raise awareness of media – document health care shortages. Translate the existing Cary Housing Resource Guide. Put Wake County Housing Resource Center satellite office in Cary. Translate C-Tran materials into Spanish. Publicize C-Tran through police officers, radio stations, existing outreach programs, and Culturas Unidas. Outcomes and Recommendations: The team is confident that the action steps identified during the Community Dialogue will be presented to the Cary Town Council. As a direct result of the Community Dialogue, a bi-lingual Jesuit Volunteer Corps position will be housed at Culturas Unidas to address affordable housing issues.