Two Carteret County officials were honored for their efforts to improve access to healthcare and social services, according to a May 4 announcement. Jessica Adams, Director of the Carteret County Department of Social Services, and County Commissioner Marianne Waldrop received awards at the South Central Regional THRive Local Awards Luncheon held at the Jones County Civic Center.
Adams was given the Bridge Builder Award for her work in connecting health and human services, which has made it easier for residents to find mental health and disability support. Waldrop was recognized as part of the South Central Regional Advisory Board, which earned the Leadership & Community Impact Award for planning community-based programs that assist people across several Eastern North Carolina counties.
County Manager Sharon Griffin said, “Jessica Adams’ ability to work with our social services team and local healthcare providers has changed how we serve the people who need it most. Having both Jessica and Commissioner Waldrop recognized shows the strong leadership we have in Carteret County. We are proud of the work they do to keep our residents healthy and well.”
The awards were presented by Trillium Health Resources through its THRive Local initiative, a program aimed at improving coordination among local groups supporting mental health and traumatic brain injury needs. Trillium Health Resources hosted similar events statewide this spring to honor partners making an impact in North Carolina communities.
Academic readiness remains an area of focus in Carteret County schools. Of 554 senior students taking the science portion of the ACT in county school districts, 202 (36.5%) were considered ready for college in the 2022-23 school year according to state data. Among juniors taking science, 216 out of 563 (38.4%) met college readiness standards as reported by state sources. In reading, 263 seniors (47.5%) out of 554 demonstrated college readiness according to official reports, while among juniors taking reading exams, 287 out of 563 (51%) reached this benchmark according to education authorities.
Math scores showed that only about a third met readiness standards: among seniors taking math on the ACT, just 190 out of 554 (34.3%) qualified as ready for college based on state findings, while among juniors it was slightly higher with 200 out of 563 (35.5%) meeting these criteria according to available data.
