Systematic social observation (SSO) is a method that researchers use to determine the characteristics of a community. What are the houses, buildings, and structures in a community? How are the roads laid out? Where are the parks, playgrounds and daycares? Observing where these structures are located and how institutions, schools and businesses exist together helps reveal many things about a community works together and what effect they might have on children’s health. Our Study staff collected this information in the Fall 2008. We will be looking at this information to see how it helps us understand children’s health in Duplin County and across the United States.