Windshield Survey

Community Boundaries

Are the boundaries geographical, political, or economic?

Do neighborhoods have names?

Are there sub-communities?

How are these identified?

Name of community and state: ___________________________

Housing and Zoning

What is the age of the buildings? Are the residences single family or multifamily dwellings?

Environmental Signs of Decay

Is the area well maintained or in disrepair? Is there garbage strewn? Are there trashed/abandoned cars, places for rodents or other wildlife to hide, vacant lots?

Parks and Recreational Areas

Are there play areas for children and adults? Are they safe and maintained? Is there a Community Center? Who uses them?

Common Community Areas

Where do people collect for social gatherings; where do they “hang out”? Are they for particular groups or are they open to all? Are there signs posted?

Shopping

What stores (grocery, retail, drug, dry cleaning, etc.) are in the area? How do residents travel to them? Are they convenient to housing?

Transportation

How do most people get around the area? Is there public transportation? If so what kind and does it appear to be used? Who uses it? What is the condition of the streets, roads, highways?

Communication

Is there evidence of local and national newspapers and other media? Are there informational posters on streets, busses, billboards, etc.? How does government communicate with residents?

Service Centers

What services are available in the community – health care, social services, schools, employment offices etc.? Be specific in your description.

People in the Community

Who is in the area during the day? What evidence is thereof particular “classes” of people – upper, middle, working, lower? Include community statistics.

Industries

What are the major industries located in the area? What types of occupations are evident? Be specific.

Protective Services

Where are fire and police stations located? Is there evidence of police and fire protection in the area? Is there evidence of crime in the area?

Ethnicity

What is the predominant ethnic group? Are there residents from a variety of ethnic backgrounds or is the community mostly one group? Which one? Are there stores, restaurants, churches, schools, or languages that indicate a particular ethnic group(s)? Include community statistics.

Health and Morbidity

Is there evidence of any health problems such as drug/alcohol abuse, communicable, chronic diseases, mental illness (etc.)? Describe this evidence (for instance billboards, advertisements, presence of paraphernalia etc).

High Risk Populations

Are there certain populations within your community that are high risk communicable illnesses or for worse outcomes? What are these populations and explain why? Give specific examples of ethnic/cultural disparities or ethical issues related to communicable diseases.

Healthcare Resources

Are there sufficient healthcare resources in your community and do all citizens have access to healthcare? Consider any ethnic/cultural disparities or ethical issues. Give explicit examples of disparities related to access to healthcare. Include community statistics.

Community Teaching

Consider a health need in the community based on what you have observed in during this windshield survey. Describe a teaching plan related to this health need and an audience that might benefit from the teaching plan. You will be the teacher for this group. What information should be communicated to the community group? How will you evaluate your teaching plan. How will you find a community location in which to complete your teaching plan?