Mecklenburg County Community Health Assessment: Focus Groups
Social Issue
Every three years, Mecklenburg County conducts a Community Health Assessment to better understand how residents experience health in their daily lives and to inform community health priorities.
Organizational Challenge
Mecklenburg County needed assistance conducting high quality focus groups with priority populations in English, Spanish, and French.
Methodology
The County contracted with Common Good Data to to conduct 8 focus groups with priority populations from May to September 2025. A total of 53 Mecklenburg residents participated in focus groups, representing approximately 6–7 individuals per group.
The priority groups included young adults, older adults, Spanish speakers, French speakers, LGBTQIA+, and residents experiencing substance use and/or homelessness.
Focus groups followed a structured protocol and were conducted both in person at a senior center, library, recreation center, and community partner location, as well as virtually.
“Housing is the biggest issue… if you can fix the housing crisis, a lot of things fall under that whether that be depression, just people having a place to even shower.”
“Yo pienso lo económico, eso es lo primordial, la falta de ingreso. // I think the economic part is the main thing. It’s the lack of income.”
“I feel like a lot of people are struggling... Not being able to get insurance because you ‘make too much’, but you’re still struggling.”
“I have spent like basically the whole day on hold. I just feel like…nobody cares really is the bottom line, is how it feels.”
Cross-Cutting Themes
As a part of the qualitative analysis, the following cross-cutting themes emerged across each of the priority groups. To learn more about these cross-cutting themes - and those issues unique to specific groups - download and read the full report.
Access to Affordable, Timely, and Respectful Health Care
Language, Communication, and Technology Barriers
Unmet Mental Health, Dental, and Other Care Needs
Discrimination, Exclusion, and Mistrust
Difficulty Navigating the Health System
Need for Culturally Responsive, Community-Based Care
Gaps in Education and Preventative Care
Social Determinants of Health as the Context for Care