Robbins, Moore County : a community diagnosis including secondary data analysis and qualitative data collection
Creators: name: Argue, Robin
name: Taylor, Erica
name: Schowalter, Laurie
name: Zysman, Debbie
name: Behrman, Alyse
name: Adamian, Monica
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2000

description: This document is the product of a community diagnosis of Robbins, North Carolina. A community diagnosis is a process that aims to understand the strengths, challenges, and issues of importance for a community, through a review of existing data and interviews with community members and service providers. The document is intended to serve as a comprehensive resource for Robbins residents to use in order to achieve community goals. It was created by six graduate students in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the School of Public Health, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with the support of FirstHealth of the Carolinas. The community diagnosis of Robbins began in September of 1999 and lasted through April of 2000. The process included three phases. The first phase, secondary data collection, began in the fall of 1999. This phase included the collection of existing data, such as U.S. Census data, economic data, health statistics, and other indicators from local, county, and state sources. To gain an understanding of the town's history and current issues, local newspapers and town documents were also utilized. When possible, information was collected from Robbins, Moore County, and North Carolina for comparison purposes. The second phase of the community diagnosis was the primary data collection, which began in November of 1999 and continued through the spring of 2000. The primary data collection included interviewing community members and service providers highlighting the strengths and challenges of the community. The final phase of the community diagnosis was a community forum (the Northern Moore Community Forum), held in Robbins. This included a presentation to Robbins residents, of the primary and secondary data collected, a discussion among the residents of the findings, and a consideration by the residents of possible solutions to issues presented. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY It was clear that residents have a clear comprehension of issues in the community. Salient issues that emerged from the qualitative data from the interviews almost exactly mirrored the quantitative data collected earlier. Some residents felt that the health issues that the secondary data described were not representative of the same health problems Robbins residents faced, but health problems were not considered a pertinent issue to the town much, if at all. Overall, the secondary and primary data were reflective of each other. Robbins, North Carolina is located in northwest Moore County. The incorporated town of Robbins is one square mile; the Robbins zip code encompasses this area, and several other rural areas surrounding the town. As we began to work in Robbins, we learned that many people define the Robbins area differently. To some, Robbins represents northern Moore County, and includes neighboring communities such as High Falls and Westmoore. Others felt that those communities had their own sense of identity and were separate from Robbins. For the purposes of this document, we chose to define Robbins by its zip code, and include some of the neighboring rural areas. Additionally, we chose to interview people that identified themselves as Robbins residents or service providers in the area. Because of the size of the town, many of the service providers were also residents. There were limitations in the data collection process that are important to consider. Most of the secondary data was only available at the county level; therefore, the secondary data found may not be representative of the town of Robbins. The only source that provided community-level information was the 1990 U.S. Census. However, because the Census is ten years old, the information presented may not be completely descriptive of the community. In an effort to describe changes in the demographics of the community, we utilized current hospital birth records and school enrollment figures. Limitations in the primary data collection include population sample, “social desirability” bias (the tendency to report answers to interview questions that are considered socially desirable), and sample size. Although attempts were made to interview people of all age, racial, and socioeconomic groups in Robbins, it is apparent that the interviews we conducted may not be representative of the entire Robbins community. We were aware of the population growth of Hispanics, but due to language barriers, we were only able to interview four Hispanic individuals. Due to time constraints, we did not conduct a random selection of the community, and so we cannot be assured of representativeness. Additionally, as with any type of social research about delicate issues, it is possible that the answers we were given to certain interview questions were not as accurate as possible; some participants may have tried to give “socially desirable” answers, and some may not have answered to the best of their knowledge due to the fear of being labeled in such a small town (note: confidentiality was assured in all interviews). Finally, our sample size was smaller than we would have liked due to inclement weather in January and time constraints. Because a larger sample size is more likely to be generalized to the whole population of Robbins, this is a considerable limitation. During our interviews, we learned of many of the issues most pertinent to Robbins residents. Community members and service providers enjoyed talking about their town, and described Robbins as a community of many strengths. Residents of Robbins are proud to live in a small, safe, close-knit community, and they feel strong ties to their neighbors. We were repeatedly told that the strength of Robbins is its people. This feeling of community connectedness among the townspeople is illustrated in the community projects that the town has undertaken together. In recent years, Robbins has experienced an influx of Hispanics, and this change has presented a significant challenge to the town. The biggest obstacle posed is the language barrier, and Robbins is working towards solutions to this issue. The schools employ bilingual teachers in an effort to meet this need, and many residents expressed that they would like the opportunity to take Spanish classes. Many community members feel that the Hispanic community is separated from the larger town, and although this division is partially due to language barriers, understanding cultural differences is also a problem the town is trying to address. In the past decade, Robbins has experienced a shift in the town industry. Traditionally a mill town, Robbins is now experiencing growth in the poultry and furniture industries. Still, many residents are leaving Robbins to work elsewhere. Some residents expressed concern that the community will not grow unless more industry and jobs are available in the town. It is possible that Robbins’ children may not return to their hometown to work and raise their families if the lack of employment opportunities continues. Other issues that emerged during our interviews with community members and service providers include housing, education, and health care. Residents remarked about the need for improvements in the quantity and quality of adequate housing in the town. Education was a concern, especially regarding the debate over the consolidation of the middle school and the need to address the issues related to the rise in the Hispanic population within the Robbins school system. The need for more health care providers in Robbins was an issue expressed numerous times by residents, and is a topic that needs further attention in order to offer Robbins more options for convenient health care. At the community forum residents enthusiastically discussed these issues, and many expressed a desire to address the challenges that each poses. Recommendations concerning these issues are highlighted as a means to assist future decisions and solutions for the Robbins community. We hope that the information presented in the following chapters will be a tool to assist with decision making for the present and the future. Robbins is a strong community, built on a foundation of committed citizens dedicated to ensuring a bright future for their town.