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Fuquay Varina, North Carolina
Wake County

A Community Diagnosis including Secondary Data Analysis and Qualitative Data Collection

Authors: Pearl Friedberg, Susan Haws, Megan Raspa, Felicia Solomon, Deborah Wood, David Yum
Preceptor: Alan Muriera and Deborah Cerrito, Wake County Human Services
Field Coordinator: Sandra Crouse Quinn, Ph.D.

Completed during 1999-2000 in partial fulfillment of requirements for HBHE 240 and 241

Department of Health Behavior and Health Education
School of Public Health
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Methodology

Community Description
Geography
History
Economy

Community Profile
Demographics
Race and Age
Households
Education
School System
Student Performance
Educational Level of Community
Income
Poverty Status
Employment

Health Profile
Morbidity and Mortality
Morbidity
Mortality
Births and Pregnancy Outcomes
Child Abuse and Neglect
School Health
Pilot program linking student health and student performance
Health Resources
Health and Community Services/Facilities
Mental health and substance abuse
Crime
Conclusion

Chapters According to Major Themes and Issues
Growth
Small Town Fuquay-Varina and the "Cary Syndrome"
Fuquay-Varina Rush Hour
Business and Economic Growth in Fuquay-Varina
Limited Resources
Youth Voice
Race Relations
Latino population
African American and White Relations
Youth Voice
Schools
Needs/Improvements
Schools and the Community
Youth Voice
Recreation and Entertainment
Youth Voice
Religion and Community Partnerships
Safety: Drugs
Safety: Crime
Health
Youth Voice

Discussion and Recommendations
Growth
Race Relations
Schools
Recreation and Entertainment
Religion and Community Partnerships
Safety: Crime and Drugs
Health
Conclusions

References

APPENDIX A: IRB Protocols and Informed Consent
APPENDIX B: Interview Guides and Table of Interviewees
APPENDIX C: Announcements and Promotional Material for Fuquay-Varina Community Forum
APPENDIX D: Fuquay-Varina Community Forum Report

List of Tables

Table 4.1Population Growth in Fuquay-Varina and Wake County, 1990-1998.
Table 4.2 Race-Based Population Percentages in Fuquay-Varina Zip Code 27526 (1990 & 1998) and Wake County (1990 & 1997).
Table 4.3 Growth in Number of Households and Families in Fuquay-Varina Zip Code Area between 1990 and 1998.
Table 4.4 Composite End-of-Grade Test Results in Reading and Math, May 1999: Percent of Students Achieving 3 and 4 for 1998 and 1999.
Table 4.5 Composite Writing Results for 4th Grade Writing Test, May 1999: Percent of Students Achieving 2.5 or greater.
Table 4.6 Composite End-of-Grade Test Results in Reading and Math, May 1999: Percent of Students Achieving 3 and 4 for 1998 and 1999.
Table 4.7 Composite Writing Results for 7th Grade Writing Test, May 1999: Percent of Students Achieving 2.5 or greater.
Table 4.8 State-Mandated End-of-Course Tests, Average Scale Scores, May 1999.
Table 4.9 English II (10th Grade) Writing Test, May 1999.
Table 4.10 1996-1999 Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Results.
Table 4.11 1998/99 NC ABCs Status of Schools Which Serve Fuquay-Varina Students.
Table 4.12 State-Mandated End-of-Course Tests, Percent Scoring Level III or IV by Race, May 1999.
Table 4.13 Educational Attainment of Persons 18 years and over.
Table 5.1 Rates of selected STDs and AIDS for all age groups by race and sex, per 100,000 people, Wake County and North Carolina, 1998
Table 5.2 Rates of selected STDs and AIDS per 100,000 among youth 10-19 years of age by race and sex, Wake County and North Carolina, 1998
Table 5.3 Up-to-date immunization coverage for selected vaccines in children aged 19-35 months, United States and North Carolina, National Immunization Survey 1997
Table 5.4 Leading causes of death by race and sex in the Fuquay-Varina zip code area, 1998
Table 5.5 Selected mortality rates per 100,000 for chronic disease in North Carolina and Wake County
Table 5.6 Mortality rates for selected causes by sex, race and age group, per 100,000 in North Carolina and Wake County, 1998
Table 5.7 Health needs and incidents addressed by school nurses, 1998-99
Table 5.8 Top 3 most common juvenile arrests in Wake County in 1997 and 1998
Table 7.1 Summary Table of Determinants and Interventions at Relevant Social Ecological Levels for Each Theme