Rowan County Public Health announced on Apr. 7 the completion of the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a report outlining the health needs and priorities for Rowan County residents through 2028. The assessment was developed with input from over 1,300 community members and in partnership with organizations including Healthy Rowan, Novant Health Rowan Medical Center, and Rowan County United Way.
The assessment is important because it identifies the main areas affecting public health in Rowan County and sets a foundation for future improvement plans. It aims to address root causes that impact overall well-being by focusing on social, economic, and environmental factors.
The report highlights three top priority areas: behavioral health (including mental health and substance use), housing (with an emphasis on affordability and accessibility), and healthy lifestyles (such as chronic disease prevention, access to healthy food, physical activity, and primary care). These priorities were determined through surveys conducted in English and Spanish as well as focus groups during the Rowan Community Health Forum.
Findings from local education data show that college readiness remains a challenge for students in Rowan County schools. Of senior students taking the science portion of the ACT during the 2022-23 school year, only about 12% were considered ready for college; among juniors it was just over 10%, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. In reading, approximately 23% of seniors met college readiness benchmarks while about 18% of juniors did so according to state data. For math readiness on the ACT exam, roughly 9% of seniors achieved this level compared to nearly 7% of juniors as reported by state education officials.
Next steps include developing a Community Health Improvement Plan led by Healthy Rowan Coalition. This plan will create measurable strategies based on identified priorities. Progress will be shared annually with updates available online along with a scorecard tracking improvements.
“The CHA is not the finish line—it’s the starting point,” said Harris. “Our next step is turning these findings into action that makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
Community members are encouraged to review full details at https://www.rowancountync.gov/2038/2025-Community-Health-Needs-Assessment and participate in upcoming planning efforts.
