Brunswick County faces chronic health challenges such as unhealthy weight, diabetes, and heart disease at a higher rate than other counties in North Carolina. With help from the Brunswick Wellness Coalition (BWC) to proactively address these health issues, the county improved its health ranking to 25th in North Carolina, according to the 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report. 

BWC began as a small group of only five people meeting to discuss the health of Brunswick County. With help from a Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas (HPHC) grant from The Duke Endowment, BWC formalized in 2016 to improve the health and wellness of the county. That year, the county ranked 45th for health outcomes out of North Carolina’s 100 counties. 

Dosher Memorial Hospital, along with Brunswick County Health Department, New Hope Clinic and YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina, were founding members of the Coalition. Today, there are over 40 official partners from a wide spectrum of community organizations – health care (including Novant Health), public health, social services, government, education, faith communities, business and others – working to make BWC’s vision of a healthier Brunswick County come true. 

To address pre-diabetes and diabetes, BWC brought together diabetes program providers from across the county to share resources, spread awareness, and collaborate. From 2019 to 2022, this initiative reduced diabetes prevalence by 2% (from 12% to 10%). 

To combat food insecurity, the BWC Food Access Committee worked to ensure that the community had equitable access to healthy foods, especially fresh produce. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they developed a food resource guide with an interactive map, to highlight food pantry locations, farmers markets, meals on wheels, and other resources across the county. In 2022, they launched a Farm to School initiative in Brunswick County Schools and provided over two million pounds of food through food pantries. 

“The BWC has been successful in forming local partnerships to work together on a more evidence-based approach to health, building new and innovative ways for community members to access a better quality of life,” said Trish Vandersea, Director of Performance Improvement and Population Health at the North Carolina Healthcare Foundation, which along with CaroNova, supports North Carolina–based HPHC coalitions with technical assistance and specialized expertise. 

Photos courtesy of Dr. Leigh Lane, Executive Director, Brunswick Wellness Coalition