In 2010, the Dare County Department of Public Health and Healthy Carolinians of the Outer Banks completed a comprehensive Community Health Assessment of Dare County.  In the spring of 2009, the Dare Health Alliance commissioned a comprehensive Youth Risk Behavior Survey among Dare County students in grades nine through 12.  The Youth Risk Behavior Survey sample included 1,110 of the total 1,561 high school students in the county, a response rate of 71%. 

Bullying

Among the questions included in the survey instrument were several that assessed the student's exposure to and participation in violence-related behavior. Bullying appears to be among the most observed of the violence-related behaviors in Dare County High Schools. Almost two-thirds of students reported having seen other students being bullied on school property. Almost 24% of students reported themselves having been bullied on school property.

Continued 

"Keeping Kids Healthy & Active in a Technology Based World"

Feb 28th , 6:30-8:00pm

Outer Banks YMCA

Presenter: Ryan Henderson

"Teen Myth: Prescription Drugs Are Safer...Just Because It's Medicine Doesn't Make It Safe"

March 27th , 6:30-8:00pm

Outer Banks YMCA

Presenters: Amber Bonder & Kelly Tobin

"Motivating Children to Learn"

April 24th , 6:30-8:00pm

Outer Banks YMCA

Presenter: Beth Tillett

Register online at www.darekids.org or call Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County at 441-0614.

The good news for cancer survivorship is that the numbers are growing, with an estimated 12 million survivors living in the United States today. Unfortunately, cancer treatments are not without consequence and these survivors are dealing with the long-term effects of treatments with little guidance. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) researched the state of care for cancer survivors and found that little guidance is available for survivors and their healthcare providers to overcome the medical and psychosocial problems that may arise post treatment.

The IOM suggests that once a person has completed cancer therapy, he or she should be provided with a summary of the treatments received and a follow up "care plan". This care plan should summarize the potential late effects, their symptoms and treatment, recommendations for cancer screening; psychosocial effects, financial issues, recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, genetic counseling, effective prevention options, referrals for follow-up care and a list of support resources.  

Cape Spin Trailer

 

Miss Representation, explores how the media's misrepresentations of women have led to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence. This powerful documentary is being shown across the country.  However, the current licensing agreements require a hefty price tag. $500 or a 50/50 split with tickets costing $10 - $15.  There is an Education Version that must be ordered by a school and with restrictions that costs $99.00.  The Coalition continues pressure on the distributor to make the film available to small towns and rural areas at an realistic price.  If you are interested in joining in our fight to show this film at a reasonable cost in Eastern North Carolina, please contact nancy@obxcommonground.org.

Miss Representation

Tax season is on the minds of many in Dare County, and not everyone is up to the task without some expert help.  The AARP Foundation provides free tax preparation and e-filing services for both Federal and State income tax returns.  Appointments can be made through the Baum Center at 252-475-5637 for every Monday and Thursday through April 12th from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM.  Services are intended for all low and middle income taxpayers.

North Carolina has 110 Tax Aide sites, with more than 1,200 volunteers, who must pass a test each year to be certified to work for the program.  This program has been around for more than 40 years and was used nationwide by over 2 million taxpayers last year.  The program is not limited to seniors.

 Acts of crime and violence on school property

Just over 30% of students reported having had personal property stolen or damaged while they were at school. Almost 13% of students reported having been threatened or injured by someone with a weapon on school property, and 8.4% reported that they had carried a weapon on school property. With the exception of bullying, which is experienced equally by males and females, higher proportions of males than females report experiences with these violence-related behaviors.   Acts of crime and violence detected on school property often result in disciplinary responses. The usual disciplinary action is either a shortterm (up to 10-day) suspension, a long-term (11 or more days) suspension, or expulsion. In Dare County, the most commonly employed disciplinary action is the short-term suspension. Dare County high schools issued only 10 long-term suspensions and no expulsions over the entire period cited.  High schools in Carteret County issued an average of 4.2 times as many short-term suspensions as high schools in Dare County, despite the fact that total school enrollment in Carteret County is only twice the comparable enrollment in Dare County. The number of short-term suspensions in Dare County decreased from one year to the next throughout the period cited.

Undisciplined and Delinquent Youth

The number and rate of complaints for undisciplined and delinquent youth in Dare County both increased from 2008 to 2009. The rate of complaints for undisciplined and delinquent youth in Dare County dramatically exceeded the comparable rates for Carteret County and NC as a whole in both 2008 and 2009. Despite the high rates of complaints against youth in Dare County, few are sent to secure detention, to youth development centers,
or are transferred to Superior Court.  

Sexual Behavior

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Dare County high school students (cited previously) asked a number of questions about sexual behavior. According to survey results, 54.7% of females and 61.0% of males in Dare County High Schools reported that they had had sexual intercourse. The average age of first intercourse was 14.6 years for females and 13.9 years for males. Almost 30 percent (29.9%) of females and 45.9% of males reported having consumed alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse.  A little over half of all students (54.4% of females and 53.3% of males) reported having used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse. Female students reported having had 2.9 sexual partners in their lifetime at the time of the survey; the comparable figure for males was 3.5 partners. 

Mental health 

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Dare County High School students asked several questions relative to mental health that are pertinent to a discussion of suicide.  Over 30% of Dare County high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row.  Almost 16% reported having contemplated suicide, and almost 14% reported having developed a suicide plan. Just over 12% of Dare County high school students reported having attempted suicide.  

Substance Abuse 

The 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of Dare County High School Students  asked a number of questions about the students' use of alcohol, tobacco and "other drugs" (ATOD). The average age on onset of use of all three substances listed is approximately the same: in the fourteenth year. Youth of this age are usually in the final two years of middle school or sometimes the first year of high school (grades 7-9)   Dare County Schools contract with a vendor to conduct random drug testing among students in grades 7-12 who participate in "privileged activities." Privileged activities are extracurricular activities, interscholastic athletics, and campus parking. Also included are students whose parents "opt in" to the program.

Complete Assessment

The percentage of students in grades 7-12 participating in the program increased through the third year of the program, and then leveled off. There were approximately 100 initial positive tests every year for the past three school years, as well as from 50-70 refusals each year. There has been a substantial increase over time in the total rate for positives/refusals.  

 In the view of most interviewees, widespread alcohol overuse and abuse represents the most serious health challenge to the people of Dare County. It was repeatedly identified as "endemic" to the culture of beach life, as an "anything goes" mentality that county residents began witnessing at a young age and emulated based on vacationers' relaxed, party behaviors. Temptations for underage drinking are great; young people may start drinking before their teen years, finding it easy to steal from tourists' coolers, or working in the restaurant industry where "everyone does it." 

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• Dare County Arts Council & Glenn Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery host 34th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show