Westport, Connecticut
Community Assessment Project
HN 600
Marji Kaplowitz
November 21, 2011
Purpose
The purpose of this community assessment is to gather information about the social,
political, economic, environmental and personal factors that influence a nutritional
problem and the population at risk. I have provided baseline information for developing
action plans to address Westport’s nutritional or health needs. The people directly
affected include the residents of Westport as well as all people who work in the schools,
health agencies, government agencies, and community program volunteers.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England
region of the northeastern United States. It
is bordered by Rhode Island to the east,
Massachusetts to the north, and the state of
New York to the west and the south. It is
named for the Connecticut River, the major
U.S. river that approximately bisects the
state. Its capital city is Hartford. i
Connecticut is the nation’s 29th most populous state, with 3.5 million residents, and is
ranked 48th in size by area, making it the 4th most densely populated state. Called the
Constitution State and the Nutmeg State, Connecticut was influential in the
development of the federal government of the United States. The Connecticut River,
Thames River, and ports along the Long Island Sound have given the state a strong
maritime tradition, which continues today. Connecticut’s other traditional industry is
financial services; for example, insurance companies in Hartford and hedge funds in
Fairfield County. As of the 2010 Census, Connecticut features the highest per capita
income, Human Development Index, and median household income in the United
States. Although Connecticut is a wealthy state by most measures, the income gap
between its urban and suburban areas is striking, with several of Connecticut’s cities
ranking among the nation’s poorest and most dangerous.ii
Despite Connecticut’s relatively small size, it features wide regional variations in its
landscape; for example, in the northwestern Litchfield Hills, there are rolling mountains
and horse farms, whereas in the southeastern New London County, it features beaches
and maritime activities. Connecticut’s rural areas and small towns in the northeast and
northwest corners of the state contrast sharply with its industrial cities, located along
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the coastal highways from the New York border to New London, then northward up the
Connecticut River to Hartford. Connecticut consists of temperate broadleaf and mixed
forests. Northeastern coastal forests of oaks, hickories, and maple cover much of the
state. In the northwest, these give way to New England-Acadian forests of the Taconic
Mountains.iii
Westport, Connecticut
Westport is a coastal town located on Long
Island Sound in Fairfield County, Connecticut,
47 miles northeast of New York City.
Westport ranks tenth among the wealthiest
towns in the United States with populations
between 20,000 and 65,000. The town
government consists of a three-member
Board of Selectmen, a Representative Town
Meeting, a Board of Finance, a Board of Education and a Planning and Zoning
Commission. It has a total area of 33.3 square miles. 20.0 square miles of it is land and
13.3 square miles is water.iv
Westport was officially incorporated as a town in 1835. For several decades after that,
Westport was a prosperous agricultural community, which distinguished itself as the
nation’s leading onion-growing center. Today, with its vibrant downtown area and
healthy commercial environment, Westport generates the feeling of a New England
town with the conveniences of modern life, and this continues to attract people who are
leaders in al facets of society. Westport is often considered one of the most loyallyDemocratic, liberal towns in Fairfield County.v
Through the years, Westport has become on of the most affluent suburbs in America,
culturally rich, filled with a blend of old Yankee farmers, academics, and professionals
from all fields, reflecting its international
flavor. Yet, it still retains the old New
England small-town charm on many of its
streets. It is this dichotomy between affluent
suburb and an old New England town that
applies to Westport.vi
Residents enjoy Westport’s quality of life
because of their commitment to conserve
natural resources, preserve traditions and
support community events. It meets the
recreational needs of its citizens by providing
3
a wide range of leisure activities, and the town government offers quality services that
are effective and efficient. Its society’s strength is based upon an educated populace
devoting proper resources to this endeavor.
Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health
Services
In 1998, Hall-Brooke became a wholly-owned subsidiary
of St. Vincent’s Health Services of Bridgeport, CT and in
2000, a new inpatient psychiatric facility in Westport
was built. Its health services offers outpatient services
for adolescents and adults with mental health and
substance abuse disorders; community residential
services, a supportive housing program for individuals
with behavioral health needs who would otherwise be
homeless and inpatient services for children,
adolescents and adults with mental health and
substance abuse disorders.vii It strives to give every
patient and outstanding experience, no matter the level
of care required. Hall-Brooke Behavioral Health Services
are accredited by the Joint Commission, licensed by the Connecticut Department of
Public Health and approved by Medicare, Medicaid, most major insurance companies,
HMO’s and preferred providers.
Sherwood Island State Park
Connecticut’s first state park is still one of its
finest. On the shore of Long Island Sound in
Westport, Connecticut, is a peninsula that covers
234 acres of beach, wetlands and woodlands.
People come to Sherwood Island State Park to
hike, bike, ski, swim, fish, study nature, watch
birds, fly kites, fly model airplanes, play
volleyball, picnic, or just relax under the trees.viii
Summer nature walks, bird watching and learning
activities for adults and children are planned here during the summer months.
4
Sherwood Island is said to be Connecticut’s oldest state parks, having been purchased in
1914. Many years passed before it was made accessible to the public. Since then, there
have been many additional acquisitions and recreational improvements.
Demographics
Just fewer than 27,000 people call Westport home. There are about 10,000 households
and 7200 families residing in the town. The population density is roughly 1300 people
per square mile. The racial makeup of the town is 95% White, 1.13% African American,
0.05% Native American, 2.43% Asian and 0.50% from other races. Of the 10,000
households, 39% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 62% are married
couples living together, 7% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and
25% are non-families. 22% of all households are made up of individuals and 9% have
someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.66 and the average family size is 3.10.
Westport compared to Connecticut state average:
• Median household income significantly above state average.
• Median house value significantly above state average.
• Unemployed percentage below state average.
• Black race population percentage significantly below state average.
• Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.
• Foreign-born population percentage below state average.
• Renting percentage significantly below state average.
• Number of rooms per house significantly above state average.
• Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or
higher significantly above state average.
In the town the age range of the population has 29% under the age of 18, 3% from 1824, 27% from 25 to 44, 28% from 45-64 and 15% who are 65 years of age or older. The
median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 91 males. For every 100
females age 18 and over, there are 86 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was
$147,391, and the median income for a family was $176,740. The per capita income for
the town was $73,664. 2.6% of the population and 1.5% of families were below the
poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.7% are under the age of 18 and
5
2.1% are 65 or older. Westport was named the fifth top-earning city in the U.S., with a
median family income of $193,540 and median home price of $1,200,000 in July 2008.ix
2010
Westport
CT
US
6
Pop Estimates
26,391
3,574,097
308,745,538
Persons < 5 years old
5.5
5.7%
6.5%
Persons < 18 years old
29.8
22.9%
24.0%
Persons ≥ 65 years old
16.0
14.2%
13.0%
Females
51.8
51.3%
50.8%
White
92.6
77.6%
72.4%
African American
1.2
10.1%
12.6%
American, Indian
0.1
0.3%
0.9%
Asian Americans
4.0
3.8%
4.8%
Pacific Islands
2.0
0.0%
0.2%
Persons of 2 or more
1.6
2.6%
2.9%
3.5
13.4%
16.3%
White non Hispanic
89.9
71.2%
63.7%
Language other than
13.2
19.7%
19.6%
Alaskan Native
races
Persons of Hispanic or
Latino
English
Income
The median household income for Westport compared to
Connecticut state average is significantly higher. With a
household income of $151,233, residents of Westport make
double what the average household in Connecticut earns and
about three times as much as in the United States. The median
7
income in Connecticut is $36,468 while Westport’s median income is almost three times
as much as that at $92,854. The percentage of the population of Westport in poverty is
significantly less than the state and national averages as well. The persons below the
poverty level in the United States is 14.3%, but in Connecticut, only 8.7% of the
population is below poverty level and Westport is even less at 2.8% of the population.x
2010
Westport
CT
US
Household Income
$159,672
$66,906
$52,954
Income per Capita
$76,231
$36,468
$27,067
Persons below poverty
2.43%
9.3%
12.10%
level, percent
Education
Westport has 18 preschools, 5 elementary
schools, 2 middle schools and 1 high school.
There are 2 private schools in Westport as
well. Staples High School was ranked by
Newsweek magazine in 2005 as 452nd on a
list of the best 1,000 high schools in the
country (grades 9-12) with 1,800 students. In
the 2008-2009 school year, Staples was
ranked the #1 school in Connecticut by
Connecticut Magazine.xi
8
Westport has a very high percentage (97.2%) of high school graduates for those over
the age of 25 compared to the state, which has 88.2% and the nation, which has 84.2%
of high school graduates. The spread is even greater when it comes to bachelor’s
degrees or higher. 74.2% of the Westport population have bachelor’s degrees or higher
whereas the state only has an average of 35.1% and the national average is even lower
at 27.5%.xii
Connecticut is the home of Yale University, established in 1701, and is one of the most
academically renowned and selective universities in the United States. Yale is one of the
largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of
growing biotechnology companies. In addition, Connecticut hosts many other academic
institutions, including Trinity College, Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut
and Connecticut College.
Employment
There are many employment opportunities in the Town of Westport. Bridgewater
Associates, a global investment manager, is the largest employer in Westport. The
company has about 800 employees. Terex, a Fortune 500 company, is another
prominent company in town. It makes equipment for industries, including construction,
infrastructure, quarrying, recycling, surface mining, shipping, transportation, refining,
utility and maintenance, and it offers financial services to assist in the acquisition of
Terex equipment. They have 17,600 employees companywide with 91 in Connecticut
and $6.4 billion in 2005 revenues.xiii Save the Children is the most significant nonprofit
institution based in Westport. It is an American charity, governed entirely separately
from the British charity of the same name, with about 200 employees working in its
headquarters.
9
Males
Males
Females
Females
The most common industries in Westport are Finance and Insurance (23%) followed by
Professional, Scientific and Technical services (21%). The most common occupations
include top executives (11%) followed by sales representatives, services, wholesale and
manufacturing (9%). The unemployment rate in Westport is 6.20%, with job growth of
0.79% vs. the national rate of 9.10% and job growth at an all time low of -.12%. Future
job growth in Westport over the next ten years is predicted to be 35.38% vs. the
national prediction of 31.25%.xiv The average time to work is about 10-20 minutes. The
majority of employees travel to work by car.
Mode of transportation to work
10
Homelessness and Poverty Levels
Residents in Westport below the poverty level are 3.1% vs. the whole state average of
9.4%. The majority of residents are female with no husband present (54.3%). Children
below the poverty level in Westport are 3.0% vs. the state average of 11.9%. The
poverty rate among high school students not in families in Westport is 8.2% vs. the state
at 12.7%.xv
Homes with Hope is a not-for-profit agency located in Westport, Connecticut that
provides facilities and supportive services in a structured environment that enable
homeless people in Westport and the surrounding communities to achieve an
independent and self-sufficient life. Homes with Hope accomplishes this through
permanent supportive housing, casework and supportive services, emergency shelter,
food and meals and the life skills training critical in preventing homelessness from
reoccurring.xvi Their continuum of services includes providing permanent supportive
housing located in Westport and Norwalk, a neighboring town; emergency shelters
where men are separate from women and generally operates at over 100% capacity;
and food which serves 30,000 meals annually. Volunteers from numerous organizations
in Westport take turns preparing lunches and dinners. Food supplied by a variety of
11
food collection and donation drives in Westport and surrounding Fairfield County.
Although numbers of the homeless are very low in Westport, it still exists and the
generous community continues to support this strong agency. 65 people a night are
housed in the emergency shelters and supportive housing services and the volunteers
serve meals to up to 40 people each night in the community kitchen.xvii
Housing
The median house value is significantly above the state average while the renting
percentage is significantly below the state average. Homes in Connecticut vary widely
with a median price of approximately $226,000. Connecticut has the most multi-million
dollar homes in the Northeast and the second most in the nation after California, with
3.3% of homes in Connecticut priced over $1million.xviii
The homeownership rate in both Connecticut and the nation are very similar at
approximately 68% while the rate in Westport is 89%. The housing units in multi-units
in multi-unit structures are very low in Westport (7.5%) compared to both the state and
the nation (35% and 26% respectively), which indicates that residents in Westport
typically own their own home. In addition, the median value of owner-occupied housing
units in Westport is $1,000,001 compared to the state at $295,800 and the United
States at $185,400.xix
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009
Westport
$951,054
Connecticut
$291,200
Mean prices in 2009 in Westport
All housing units
$932,302
Detached houses
$958,923
Townhouses or
other attached
units
In 2-unit
structures
In 3-to-4-unit
structures
In 5-or-more-unit
structures
Mobile homes
$682,261
$517,593
$400,338
$295,022
$1,719,241
12
Median gross rent in 2009: $1,568
Religion and Language
In Connecticut, approximately 82% of residents age
5 and older speak English at home and about 8.5%
speak Spanish followed by Italian at 1.6%, French at
1.3% and Polish at 1.2%.xx Connecticut has large
Italian-American, Irish-American and EnglishAmerican populations, as well as German-American
and Portuguese-American populations, second
highest percentage of any state. Connecticut is also
known for its relatively large Hungarian-American
and Polish-American populations. The languages
spoken at home other than English in both the state
and the nation is close to 20% and the language
spoken in Westport other than English is even
smaller at 13%.xxi
The percentage of the Westport population affiliated with a religious congregation is
70% compared to the United States at 50%. Of those affiliated, the majority are Catholic
at 70% followed by Episcopalians at 4.4%, United Methodist at 2.5% and Muslim at
2.4%.xxii The state of Connecticut is one of the most religiously diverse states in the
country. Most are Protestant (40%) followed by Roman Catholic (32%). Jewish
congregations (3.2%) are concentrated in the towns near Long Island Sound. According
to the Association of Religion Data Archives, the largest Christian denominations were
the Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church.xxiii
Religious Affiliations
Vital Statistics
Live Births
The general fertility rate in the United States fell
slightly to 66.7 live births per 1,000 women aged 15-
13
44 years in 2009. Birth rates for nearly every age and racial/ethnic group declined. The
rate for teenagers aged 15-19 years decreased to 39.1 per 1,000 females in this age
group. Although the birth rate for women aged 25-29 years fell in 2009, the group still
experienced the highest birth rate of all groups. Birth rates for women aged 35-39 years
also declined slightly representing the second year of decline after increasing rates for
three decades. Birth rates for women aged 40-44 years increased slightly over the
previous year.xxiv
The number of births in Connecticut in 2010 was 40,399. Of those, 221 were from
Westport. The fertility rate in Connecticut was 58.4 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years.
In the United States, it seems that the majority of the births were from mothers
between ages 20-34.xxv The birth rate in Connecticut was 11.5 with women aged 15-44
years compared to the United States at 14.0. In Connecticut, the birth rate for
teenagers aged 15-19 years in 2006 was 23.5. This is a significant decrease compared to
the results in 1991 where the birth rate was 40.1 for the same age group. The mean age
of the mother in Connecticut in 2006 was 27.2 vs. the United States at 25.0. xxvi
Infant Mortality
The number of infant deaths in 2007 was 29,327 in the United States. Infant mortality
in Connecticut was 267 or 0.9% of the total population. These numbers translate to a
rate of 6.8 in the United States and 6.2 in Connecticut. In both the United States and
Connecticut the infant mortality rate for Non-Hispanic Blacks was 13.4 and 13.9
respectively.xxvii
Death Rate
In the United States in 2009, the life expectancy is 78.1 with a death rate of 8.2 deaths
per 1,000 people. The leading causes of death in the United States as of 2007 are heart
disease (616,067), cancer (562,875), stroke (cerebrovascular diseases, 135,952) and
chronic lower respiratory diseases (127,924). The average life expectancy for
Connecticut is 80.2 with a death rate of 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people.xxviii The leading
causes of death are consistent with the national averages with heart disease (7,289),
cancer (6,827), stroke (1,463) and chronic lower respiratory disease (1,353).xxix
Causes of death
United States
Connecticut
Westport
Heart disease
616,067
7,868
43
Cancer
562,875
7,175
32
Stroke
135,952
1,635
14
14
Chronic Lower
Respiratory Diseases
127,924
1,432
Accidents
123,706
1,261
7
Influenza
52,717
868
10
764
8
767
8
Alzheimer’s disease
Diabetes mellitus
74,632
71,382
2
Program Participation
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Through the Department of Public Health,
Connecticut provides services, through 24 local
agencies, to the Special Supplemental Nutrition
Program for Women, Infants and Children. 23%
of women in Connecticut are enrolled in this
program. Among all women in the state, WIC
enrollees were significantly more likely than nonWIC enrollees to be of minority race and
ethnicity, be unmarried, be less than 24 years
old, use tobacco during pregnancy, have no more
than 12 years of education, and gain no more
than 15 pounds during pregnancy. Enrollment in
WIC, associated with a 31% reduced risk of low birth weight in 2000, reduced the
number of low birth weight events by 273, and probably reduced additional
hospitalization costs by as much as $8.9 million.xxx
The WIC program promotes breastfeeding as the normal and optimal method to feed
infants for at least the first year of life with a special emphasis on the health benefits
derived from exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. The Healthy People 2010
objective for breastfeeding is 75% of children having ever been breastfed, 50%
breastfed at least six months, and 25% breastfed at least one year.xxxi
As a discretionary program, WIC is required to operate within strict budgetary
constraints. In Connecticut, the WIC program serves approximately 60,000 participants
15
per month. They are currently looking at ways to provide quality nutrition services
without the existing resources. WIC nutrition benefits include: nutrition counseling and
education, WIC supplemental foods, and referrals to health and other social services.
Currently in Connecticut, most WIC nutrition staff are Certified Lactation Counselors and
are available to provide individual support for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. In
July 2009, the Connecticut WIC Program implemented the Revised WIC Food
Package.xxxii
The closest local WIC agency to Westport is in Bridgeport. It is about 15 minutes away
by car or public transportation. Connecticut eligibility includes: pregnant women;
postpartum women up to six months, regardless of how pregnancy ends; infants and
children up to their fifth birthday; income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty
Level. Permanent status is not required.
School Lunch Program
The objective of the Connecticut School Lunch program
is to provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free
lunches to children each school day. The Connecticut
Department of Education’s Bureau of Health and
Nutrition Services administer this program. In order to
qualify for this benefit program, you must be a resident
of the state of Connecticut and a parent or primary caregiver for a child who attends
school. Those who qualify must also have an annual household income before taxes
that must not exceed $26,955 if two people live in the household. For larger
households, add $6,919 for each additional person in the home.xxxiii
The Westport Public Schools’ offers a choice of healthy meals each school day. Children
may buy lunch for $2.80 at the High School, $2.60 at the Middle Schools and $2.35 at
the Elementary Schools. Children who qualify under the U.S. Department of Agriculture
guidelines may get meals free or at a reduced price of $.40 for lunch. All meals served
must meet nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. All
children in households receiving benefits from the Special Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) and Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) can get free meals regardless of your
income.xxxiv
Each school within the Westport School District is responsible for tracking the number
and percentage of students who qualify and use the program. While Westport has a
greater median income than other towns within the state, there are still families that
are struggling. The percentage of students within each school that use and qualify for
free and reduced lunch rates are as follows: Staples High School-1.71%, Coleytown
Middle School-1.75%, Bedford Middle School-3.88%, Coleytown Elementary School-
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.65%, Greens Farms School-3.81%, Kings Highway-3.12, Long Lots School-2.32, and
Saugatuck Elementary School-1.57%.xxxv
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP is a nutrition program that helps
low-income individuals and families buy food. It also provides education about nutrition
to help recipients choose foods that enhance their health and well-being. To receive
SNAP benefits in Connecticut, household income and other resources have to be under
certain limits and are reviewed. For some households, there is also an asset limit. For a
household of one the maximum SNAP benefit is $200 monthly. For a household of four,
the maximum SNAP benefit is $668 monthly.xxxvi
As of May1, 2009, the Connecticut Department of Social Services provided federal SNAP
benefits to 131,296 households. Those households were comprised of 240,599
individuals, including 93,133 children. The average monthly benefit was $195. There
are about 150 individuals in Westport who participate in the SNAP program. xxxvii
End Hunger Connecticut is a useful website for Connecticut residents to use to obtain
information about eligibility requirements and additional information about the
program. Food stamps can be used to buy food, beverages, and food-producing seeds
and plants. The Meals on Wheels program for the elderly and disabled allows you to
use food stamps to get prepared meals. Elderly, disabled or homeless individuals living
in a place that serves meals can also use food stamps to pay for such meals.
Home Delivered Meals-Meals on Wheels
A new report released earlier this month by the U.S.
Census Bureau reinforces the urgent need to address
17
senior hunger in the U.S. The number of seniors facing the threat of hunger and poverty
is increasing and increasing significantly. The number of Americans in poverty increased
slightly from 15.2% to 16% or 50 million people. However for seniors, the poverty rate
nearly doubled from 9% to 16%. Evidence indicates that the number of seniors facing
the threat of hunger has grown significantly as the economy has worsened and more
seniors have experienced poverty. The real tragedy and concern about the growth in
seniors in poverty is the fact that, once they fall into it, they are unlikely to move back
out of it. Many federal nutrition programs are often targeted towards low-income
children, women and families and are not designed to address the specific needs of
seniors, particularly those who are homebound and cannot cook for themselves.xxxviii
There are a variety of programs designed to help older adults and individuals with
disabilities to obtain groceries and nutritious meals in Connecticut. Home delivered
meals or Meals on Wheels is just one program that is offered. They prepare and deliver
hot meals to older adults and individuals with disabilities who are unable to shop and/or
prepare food for themselves or travel to a site where a meal is being served. The Elderly
Nutrition Program is another program that serves nutritionally balanced congregate
meals to individuals 60 years and older. Congregate meal sites are served once a day for
five or more days per week at approximately 200 meal sites in Connecticut. These meal
sites are located in senior centers, elderly housing facilities, schools, churches and other
community settings. The Elderly Nutrition Program is supported by the Nutrition
Program for the Elderly which is administered by the U.S Department of Health and
Human Service’s Administration on Aging, and receives commodity foods and financial
support from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. The
Elderly Nutrition Program is also supported by the state and local funding and client
contributions.xxxix
Community resources serving Westport include food pantries, congregate meals and
home delivered meals. There are 15 providers throughout the area. The United Way
provides this information as a public service to those in need. Meals to homebound
residents are provided 5 days a week. One or two meals can be ordered for each
delivery. There is a sliding fee for those who qualify.
Health Statistics
Obesity
Obesity rates in the United States are soaring. About 60 million adults, or 30% of the
adult population are now obese. Similarly, overweight rates
have doubled among children and tripled among
adolescents-increasing the number of years they are
exposed to the health risks of obesity.xl
18
In Connecticut, 60.5% of adults are overweight or obese as of 2010. Among high school
students, 10% were obese in 2009. This has to do with unhealthy dietary behaviors as
well as physical inactivity. The solutions need to be better health education, more
physical education and physical activity programs, and healthier school environments.xli
In Westport in 2010, out of 100%, the numbers are as follows: neither overweight nor
obese (BMI < 24.9) was 45.6%; overweight (BMI 25-29.9) was 37.8%; and obese (BMI>
30) was 16.6%.xlii
Heart Disease
In Connecticut in 2008, 85% of all heart disease deaths were among residents 65 years
old and older. 48% of all heart disease deaths in Connecticut were among residents 85
years old and older. Black non-Hispanic Connecticut residents have a higher
cardiovascular disease age-adjusted mortality rate than White non-Hispanic and
Hispanic Connecticut residents. Coronary heart disease and heart failure males are
significantly higher than those of females. In Connecticut, heart disease is the leading
cause of death. However, heart disease mortality rates have decreased over time.
Target populations include Black individuals and individuals of low socioeconomic
position.xliii
In Westport specifically, there were 43 deaths from cardiovascular disease (24 white
males and 19 white females) and 30 deaths from heart disease (18 white males and 12
white females). 43
Diabetes
A total of 25.8 million children and adults in the United States or 8.3% of the population
have diabetes. The mission of the Connecticut Diabetes Prevention (DPCP) and Control
Program is to create a comprehensive system of care for the prevention and treatment
of diabetes. The goal is to reduce the incidence or delay the onset of diabetes and its
complications and enhance the quality of life for people affected by diabetes. With the
funding and support of the CDC, the CT DPCP has worked with partners to increase
diabetes awareness to the residents of Connecticut and to provide diabetes information
to health care professionals. An estimated 6.9% of the Connecticut adult population or
approximately 186,000 adults age 18 years and older have been diagnosed with
diabetes. An additional 93,000 Connecticut adults are estimated to have undiagnosed
diabetes.xliv The information for Westport is not available on the number of residents
that have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Cancer
19
Breast cancer is diagnosed in women more often than any other cancer. There were
2706 new cases of malignant breast cancer diagnosed in women in Connecticut in 2004.
Connecticut had the 3rd highest rate of new breast cancers in the United States in 20002004. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Connecticut
women. 552 Connecticut women died from breast cancer in 2004. Connecticut had the
26th highest rate of death from breast cancer in the United States in 2000-2004. The
chance of getting breast cancer increases with age. More than 3 out of every 4 breast
cancers diagnosed in 2004 were women 50 years or older. Breast cancer rates vary
among women from different racial and ethnic groups: White, non-Hispanic women are
the most likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer.xlv
Colorectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer diagnosed in Connecticut men and the
3rd most common cancer diagnosed in Connecticut women. In 2005, there were 983
new cases of malignant colorectal cancer diagnosed in Connecticut men and 965 in
Connecticut women. In 2001-2005 Connecticut had the 13th highest rate of new
colorectal cancers in men in the United States and the 11 th highest rate in women.
Colorectal cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death in both Connecticut
men and women. 278 Connecticut men and 354 Connecticut women died from
colorectal cancer in 2005. Colorectal cancer rates in Connecticut vary among men and
women from different racial and ethnic groups. “Other” non-Hispanic men are the least
likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Black, non-Hispanic women are the most
likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.45
Ovarian cancer is the 8th most common cancer diagnosed in women in Connecticut.
There were 279 new cases of malignant ovarian cancer in women in Connecticut in
2004. Connecticut had the 15th highest rate of new ovarian cancers in the United States
20
in 2000-2004. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer-related death in
Connecticut women, and accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female
reproductive system. 169 Connecticut women died from ovarian cancer in 2004.
White, non-Hispanic women are the most likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer.45
The most up to date information that I obtained about cancer in Westport was very
insignificant. A total of 2 males and 1 female died of colorectal cancer and 2 females
died of breast cancer and another 2 women died of ovarian cancer in 2010.
Health Resources
Westport’s health resources are consistent
with the town’s needs. There are
approximately 350 doctors in the town of
various specialties and approximately 50
dentists. Most Westport residents can
stay within the town to find a doctor to
meet their needs. There are 132
internists, 8 neurologists, 46 psychiatrists,
35 pediatricians, 2 radiologists, 12
ophthalmologists, 14 dermatologists, 33
gynecologists/obstetrics, 8 geriatric
medicine doctors, 5 rheumatologists and 9
plastic surgeons to name a few.xlvi
There are no hospitals within the town of Westport, but there is a walk-in clinic.
Westport Family Health has a primary and walk-in/urgent care team of 3 experienced
board-certified physicians. It is a Norwalk Hospital physician practice open seven days a
week. The staff speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese. There are 6 local hospitals in
Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, New Haven and Greenwich. All 6 hospitals are within a
25-mile radius. Bridgeport Hospital has 425 beds, more than 2,600 employees and 580
active attending physicians. Norwalk Hospital is a 328-bed, not-for-profit, acute care
community teaching hospital that serves a population of 250,000 in Fairfield County,
Connecticut. It has over 500 physicians and 2,000 health professionals and support
personnel. Stamford Hospital is a 305-bed provider of comprehensive healthcare
services in lower Fairfield County and the region. Yale-New Haven Hospital is a nonprofit, 966 bed tertiary medical center. Over 3,600 university and community physicians
and advanced practitioners, including more than 600 resident physicians provide
comprehensive, multidisciplinary, family-focused care in more than 100 medical
specialty areas. Finally, Greenwich Hospital is a 206-bed regional hospital.xlvii There is
one county health department that services both Westport and Weston which is a
governmental agency that provides local public health services to the residents of the
21
towns. It provides a range of services to help keep the communities healthy. The staff
includes highly trained professionals in environmental and community health.xlviii There
are 15 medical home health care services in Fairfield County and 22 non-medical (home
care companions) in the county of which Westport is part.
Connecticut, with approximately 3,493,006 residents, has a higher than national average
of residents over the age of 65. Currently, 13.5% of Connecticut residents fall into this
category (the national average is 12.6%). The most recent census figures tell us that
there are just under a half-million seniors living in Connecticut. There are 23 assisted
living/retirement centers throughout Fairfield County with anywhere from 50-100
beds.45
Community Resources
Pre-Schools
There are many different kinds of preschools available to Westport youngsters. The 20
schools that are around town vary from temples,
churches, and the local YMCA and Day Schools.45
There is certainly no shortage of education for the
young residents around town!
Places of Worship
There are 19 churches, 1 Jehovah’s Witnesses, and
4 synagogues in Westport. The temples include
chabad, reform, conservative, and orthodox45. The churches range from Baptist, to
Episcopal to Greek Orthodox, to Roman Catholic and Lutheran.
Transportation
There are 2 local taxi companies around
town that provide transportation
throughout the county and beyond.
Westport Transit Service includes afterschool shuttles to and from the train,
school and downtown and provides
transportation for seniors and the
disabled. The Coastal Link travels through
the towns of Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield,
22
Bridgeport, and Milford 7 days a week. Westport has 2 train stations with Metro-North
service to and from New York City and New Haven. Statewide bus service is supplied by
Connecticut Transit with smaller municipal authorities providing local service. The
Westchester County Airport is located in Harrison, New York (about 35 miles from
Westport) and serves much of southwestern Connecticut. Finally, Kids on the Go is a
private business which provides transportation for children to and from school or
activities.45
Parks
Residents and visitors will find a variety of
20 beautiful parks throughout the town of
Westport. Whether you are looking for
active recreation, an energetic walk with
the family dog, a casual picnic along the
banks of the Saugatuck River or watching
the sun set across Long Island Sound, you
are sure to find a park that suits your
mood!45
Beaches
Westport has many miles of coastline on Long Island Sound and provides 3 town
beaches. All of Westport’s waterfront properties are open with lifeguards on duty
Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Vehicle parking emblems are
required from May 1 through September 30 or a daily fee is
available. Compo Beach, the largest of the 3, is a 29 acre park
with an extensive sand beach along the shore of Long Island
Sound and borders the Saugatuck River. It is handicapped
accessible with a boardwalk, pavilion, concession stand, two
sand volleyball courts, large wooden playscape, bathroom
facilities and lockers.45
Swimming Pools
Westport has three public swimming pools. The
Longshore Pool consists of two swimming pool and a
wading pool. The Training Pool is 20 yds. In length, is a
uniform depth of 3’7” and used for lap swim and swim
lessons. The Lap Pool is 25 yds. In length with depth
from 3-ft. to 9-ft. and is used for open swim. The
Wading Pool has a depth of 1-ft. to 2-1/2 ft. and is
restricted during open swim to children under six years
of age. The Staples High School Community Pool is
23
available to all Westport residents, ages 6 and up and their guests. It is open for
recreational and lap swimming during certain hours. A Westport resident and their
guests may pay a daily fee of $7 or a variety of memberships for Westport residents are
offered.45
Marinas and Boating
The Town of Westport is
access to the waters of
making boating a popular
There are two marinas
Town of Westport as well
launch boats. A boat
exist for all in-water and
assignments.45
fortunate to have
Long Island Sound
activity for many.
maintained by the
as three places to
waiting list does
drystall
Athletic Fields
The Parks and Recreation Department maintains a full inventory of athletic fields to
support a vigorous community athletic
program. Four artificial turf fields and
more than 20 grass fields play host to
thousands of youth and adult practices
and contests each season. Town fields are
open for play from April 1 through Dec 1.
All field usage is by permit only. When not
reserved for organized activities, fields are
available to residents.45
Background Information
There is a debate erupting in the town regarding changes to the town zoning
regulations. Pending a bidding process and local approvals, there is an opportunity for
the future development of a senior housing complex and nursing facility on town-owned
property. Although the zoning amendment was approved by the Planning & Zoning
Commission, many residents signed a petition calling for a repeal of the changes. The
preliminary plan calls for a 66 apartment (one and two beds) senior housing facility on
the 23-acre property, with 60% of the units designated as “affordable” under the state
Affordable Housing Act, as well as an 84-bed nursing home, which would be built in a
separate phase after construction of the apartments is completed. Many of the town
residents believe this property will hurt seniors the most, as taxes and expenses in the
town will rise out of sight. They believe that there is no report on the costs to Westport
24
or an independent study that explains what Westport is going to get from this. There is
no guarantee that Westport residents will get preferential treatment. Any measure
giving preferences for residents could be negated by the state Affordable Housing Act,
which requires applicants to submit to an income/asset test to see if they qualify. When
most seniors in Westport sell their homes, they will probably no longer meet the test
and qualify for affordable housing. The other side of the debate states that about 850
people in the town qualify for the affordable portion of the project. There are more
than 4.200 residents aged 65 or over in town. Seniors are 16% Westport’s population
and growing plus the 628 residents aged 85 and older.xlix
Summary
Westport, Connecticut is an incredible place to live and raise a family. Resident’s enjoy
its quality of life because of the commitment to conserve their natural resources,
preserve their traditions and support community events. Westport meets the
recreational needs of their citizens by providing a wide range of leisure activities, and
the town government offers quality services that are effective and efficient. Westport
recognizes that their society’s strength is based upon an educated populace and they
devote proper resources to this endeavor
Strengths
There are many strengths to Westport. Westport’s image continues to be special
because of the people who live there and work there. All of the town’s agencies
collectively work together in the town’s best interests. People are often outspoken and
they publicly differ, but when a decision is made they come together as a whole for the
good of the community. It is also the people who take the time to make sure senior
residents can afford to stay in town, ensuring that Westport retains a key segment its
population. Through the years, Westport has become one of the most affluent suburbs
in America, culturally rich, filled with a blend of old Yankee farmers, academics, and
professionals from all fields, reflecting its international flavor. Yet, it still retains the old
New England small-town charm on many of its streets.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately, there are some weaknesses to the town as well. One major weakness is
the lack of supermarkets available in the town. There are only two major grocery stores
on opposite sides of town. While there are plenty of specialty markets with prepared
foods, they are much more expensive and none of the staples are available. Stop and
Shop is the only large supermarket offering a wide range of products and services.
Opportunities
25
Some opportunities in the town would be to develop another large grocery store in the
area that is easily accessible and convenient. Being able to shop for food, do your
banking, purchase stamps and develop photos is something that the town needs.
Another educational opportunity would be to offer a more rigorous nutrition education
in all the grades. Nutrition education and programs should be expanded and part of the
student’s curriculum.
Threats
The threats for Westport are the incredibly high percentage of residents with lyme
disease. It is an important public health concern for the town residents. Connecticut
has the highest number of cases relative to the population of any state. In Westport,
there is an overabundant deer population and an increased potential for contact with
ticks. More residences have been established in wooded areas where deer tend to
roam. More public information needs to be provided.
Summary of Problems/Issues
Lyme Disease
The prevalence of Lyme Disease in Westport has become a huge issue. 47% of Lyme
disease cases result from outdoors play, 18% from doing yard work and 12% from
gardening.l There is a lack of infectious disease doctors in the Westport community to
treat and deal with the side effects of Lyme Disease.
My recommendation would be to develop a handbook for all town residents and
prospective home buyers. Suggestions such as: modify backyard vegetation, purchase a
deer fence, spray yards with natural alternatives to pesticides, etc. I would also include
what to do regarding the serious illness of Lyme disease.
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. A 2004 survey
found that 43.1% of white adults in Connecticut had at least one sunburn in the past
year. Sunburns are a significant risk factor for the development of skin cancer. The rate
of new melanoma diagnoses was 31% higher in Connecticut than the national average
from 2001-2005 and it was the 8th highest in the United States. An estimated 1.060
state residents were diagnosed with melanoma in 2008. Fairfield County, where the
town of Westport is located, has the 2nd highest rate of melanoma diagnoses in the
state after New London County, 79% higher than the U.S. average.li
26
The fact that Westport is home to many beaches, athletic fields, walking trails and parks
makes it a prime spot for many skin cancer incidents. Staying out of the sun, covering
up or wearing sunscreen are the best preventive measures; however, many people fail
to take these precautionary steps. My recommendation would be to promote the
prevention of this disease by offering free screenings at schools, health fairs, the health
department and doctors’ offices. By increasing the public’s awareness of the
importance of prevention will hopefully encourage Westport residents to instill lifelong
habits.
WIC Program Participation
Although Westport is considered one of the wealthiest suburbs in America, there are
still some mothers and children in need of this vital program. When doing some
research on it for this project, I found it very difficult to obtain any information both
online and when I tried to call the main agency in Hartford. The closest agency to
Westport is in Bridgeport as part of Optimus Health Care. Nobody there was able to
give me hard facts or statistics about the eligible participants. I believe that Westport
residents have no idea that this program is available.
My recommendation would be to utilize this program in Bridgeport in a much more
productive way. Perhaps a WIC facility should be built in Norwalk, a more urban town
neighboring Westport. Information on WIC should be made available in every
gynecologist’s office around town in both English and Spanish along with the housing
assistance offices and food banks. This way, mothers can become properly educated on
nutrition for themselves and their children, breastfeeding and referral sources.
Conclusion
I certainly know a lot more about the state of Connecticut and the town of Westport
than before I started this assessment. I always felt lucky living here because of the
vibrancy of the town and the New England charm it exudes. I did not realize, however,
the abundance of the health and human resources available. I truly feel that one can
obtain any information necessary with the click of a button or a phone call. There are
always improvements that can be done, however. The incidence of lyme disease and
skin cancer, the inadequate number of grocery stores and the dichotomy of interests
regarding aging seniors and younger families.
27
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