NEW AND EMERGING ISSUES

These are the new or emerging issues in Transylvania County in 2020 that were not identified as priorities in our 2018 Community Health Assessment.

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to most aspects of life in Transylvania County. Primary areas of concern include restrictions on visits to nursing home residents, school and childcare closures (which affected parents' ability to work and access to meals for children), avoidance of healthcare provider and emergency department visits, and limitations on in-person services for a variety of social services. To address these new needs, long-term care facilities offered "window" visits and drive-by "parades for residents, Transylvania County Schools offered bus delivery and pick-up options for meals, Transylvania County's Parks and Recreation began a weekday childcare camp for children of county employees, many healthcare providers began offering or enhanced access to telehealth visits, and other providers offered remote or parking lot options to receive services. Large proportions of public health staff time were diverted from CHA strategies and other chronic health activities into COVID-19 response activities. 
• Transylvania County's United Way closed in January 2020, due to "a changing climate of philanthropy, reduced donations, and a myriad of new options for people to donate to charitable organizations." About 15 local non-profits that were receiving funding from United Way have had to seek funding from other sources or make changes to programming. The direct service programs associated with TRAIN (Transylvania Resource Access Information Network) have been tranferred to other agencies: Transylvania County Library is now managing the monthly roundtable and newsletter for non-profit and governmental service agencies.