Health Intervention Project Proposal Assignment

Name/description of community

This assessment will focus on the Downtown Des Moines community. Downtown Des Moines has a population of approximately 8,040 people and is considered a central hub of entertainment, events and leisure activities. It offers a variety of options for living and restaurants.

Summary of five priority needs identified for this community from windshield survey

Based on my observations, there Is a lack of access of healthy foods. This is shown by the limited about of grocery stores in the area. Lack in access of affordable housing is also noticeable within the downtown area with average rent price of $1,136. High incidence of illegal drug use can be a major issue. Iowa in general have a meth problem. Lack of access to quality public school. The downtown Des Moines district score lower in reading, writing and math compared to the rest of the state.

Lastly, there is a lack of safe living conditions due to high crime rate.

Your choice of priority community health need

I will be focusing on the lack of lack of access of healthy foods.

Evidence to support your choice of this health need for this population. You will need to include at least 3 references; Sites that will assist with this are the state and county health department websites.

For the downtown population of 8,040, there is only one grocery store. Because of the city's low population density (Des Moines, Iowa People,2021) and failure to attract chain supermarkets, large sections of the downtown center have been declared as food deserts. (The Food Deserts of Des Moines,2021) The city in the past two years have made the addition of convivence stores such as a Dollar general and a Kum and Go that has recently opened up in the downtown des Moines metro area. These stores do provide an affordable option for food but are lacking in providing fresh produce. Food pantries are available in closing the gap in food insecurity (Food Pantries - Polk County, 2021)

SMART

Goal (must be measureable and time-framed) (example – 50% of the children in the neighborhood will have a safe place to be physically active by August 2021)

At least 3 Feasible Interventions/Actions

(example – Organize a weekly bike ride in the neighborhood)

Who is responsible for this intervention? (example – Community Nurse and Community Workers/Volunteers)

What is the timeline for this intervention? (example – Fully completed by September 2020)

50% of the downtown population's nutritional health will be enhanced by December of 2021.

 Recruiting and establishing supermarkets in the downtown district

 The community nurse is responsible advocating for the need for additional grocery stores.

 Fully completed DEC 2022

Organize a community garden, offering nutritious fruits and vegetables at a low cost. 

 The community nurse is responsible form a planning committee and identify potential partner, sponsors, or funders.

 Fully completed

By spring of 2022

 Advocating for a policy in restricting the overall number of fast-food outlets with the population in a community.

 The community nurse is responsible lobbing and advocating policy changes

 Fully completed by Dec of 2021