Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan

Active Kids Strategic Plan

Section 3. Background Information & Data There are several great data and information sources available for Wake County that point to a variety of conditions, factors, and influences on the health of youth and the overall population. A challenge remains in compiling health-specific data at the town or Census Tract level as countywide surveys and datasets have yet to be broken down into more specific geographies. Despite the lack of Morrisville-specific data, Wake County-specific information is available through Youth Thrive, an organization that describes itself as “a community- based collaborative comprised of individuals and organizations working to create

positive change for Wake County youth.” In 2015 they produced the Wake County Youth Well-Being Profile as “a series of snapshots of conditions, compiled to help leaders complete the big picture of how the county’s children and youth are doing along their journeys to adulthood.” The data profiled at right are some key findings of the profile report as they relate to physical activity among Wake County youth. More specific findings of the Wake County Youth Well-Being Profile include:  Issues related to healthy weight are of concern in Wake County. Childhood obesity often leads to the same condition in adulthood. Thirty-seven percent of children and youth in Wake County are considered overweight or obese.  More than one-third of middle school students reported that they had not seen a doctor or nurse for a check-up during the past year. A doctor and/ or nurse can discuss with parents and caretakers the wellness and lifestyle habits that might harm the child’s health or contribute to health risks.  Female students report higher instances of feeling sad or hopeless than male students. Over one- fourth (29%) of high school students surveyed report feelings of sadness or hopelessness that interfered with usual activities within the past year, with over one-third of female students (37%) reporting these feelings. These are some of the salient findings that relate to the Morrisville Active Kids Strategic Plan. Additionally, the profile addresses the topic of traffic safety and risks while in an automobile, noting that 38 children were killed in traffic crashes in Wake County in 2013. In that same year 78 youth were the victims in pedestrian crashes in Wake County, including three fatalities. According to NCDOT data, there were 32 youth involved in bicycling-related crashes. Building safer networks for walking and bicycling greatly benefits safety for children and provides them with greater

37%

29%

April 25, 2017

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