Catawba County Public Health Named NC Health Department of the Year

Catawba County Public Health just picked up one of the top honors a health department in North Carolina can get.

The North Carolina Public Health Association named the department its Sarah Morrow Health Department of the Year at the group’s annual awards ceremony on October 1. The award recognizes work to protect and improve the health of residents across the county, including here in Sherrills Ford, Terrell, Monbo and Long Island.

What the nomination highlighted

• The Linking Inmates to Health Resources initiative, which helps fill health-related gaps for inmates before release
• Walk Your Block, which aims at healthier, safer communities
• A Social Connection Plan that treats social connection as protection for both mental and physical health
• Work with youth-serving organizations on youth mental health, plus a free online mental health platform open to all county residents
• The Public Health Farmers Market, which gives residents access to local produce

“Across every program and strategy, Catawba County Public Health engages residents, trusted community leaders, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and cross-sector partners to co-create solutions addressing community needs,” said Public Health Director Jennifer McCracken.

Third state award this year

This is the third state-level recognition for the department in 2026. Earlier this year, McCracken was named state Health Director of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors, and William “Bill” Pitts III received the Carl Durham Award from the North Carolina Association of Boards of Health. McCracken called the three awards “like winning the Triple Crown.”

Source: Catawba County Government, published October 2, 2026.