Final Paper part 1 due in 30 hours

FINAL COURSE PROJECT PART 1

Recognizing Health Hazards / Existing Needs

and Possible Solutions

The role of the professional health member in community health includes planning and

developing programs and services (interventions, actions) to prevent or reduce the chance of

illness or injury to their community. Programs and services may also be needed to manage current

illnesses or needs of personswithin the community. Empowering the community act on its

behalf is very important to building healthy communities.

Stick to a 1-mile location to focus your assessment and make sure your plan is achievable from a health

perspective.

Use Windshield Survey Tool. Fill it out as much as possible in your community survey.

Windshield Survey Tool -Refer to the bottom of this document Pages 2-7

My Community Survey: A YouTube example

Specific to your chosen community, discuss your community in an APA formatted paper to include:

▪ Title page (student version)

▪ Minimum of 2-pages and a maximum of 5-pages

▪ Reference page

▪ Headings (page 61-66 of the APA manual)

The title and reference pages do not count in the page limit.

Support your information from researched sources. Government and city information can be found online. If you are unable to find specific information regarding demographics use city or state information available. Sites such as vital statistics for the community, the Chamber of Commerce, and CDC, Census.gov can provide valuable information. Speaking with people in the community is always a great resource.

The APA paper will include:

▪ Provide a description of your selected community. Include demographics, mortality and

morbidity, as well as strengths for the area.

▪ Identify what you see as the #1 health risk/ hazard in your community from your windshield

survey.

▪ Discuss your goal for your selected community according to the identified health risk/hazard you selected.

▪ What interventions, plans, and actions (strategy) would be needed to help the community reach

the goal? (Chapter 5 in your textbook will be helpful.) Your goals are to be specific,

measurable, achievable, and time limited.

▪ Discuss the outcomes you expect from your interventions to resolve or minimize the effects of

the identified health risk/hazard for your community

Submit your scholarly written paper through Turnitin by 11:55 PM CST of Week 3. Refer to Course

Calendar for specific assignment dates.

Final Course Project Part 1 Tool Windshield Survey Assessment

(Replaces Table 11.1 in the textbook) This is a tool to help you process what you see or don’t see.

Do NOT submit it through Turnitin nor the Dropbox.

One of the roles of professional health members in the community includes the identification of potentially negative findings within the community. These findings may detrimentally affect people’s health within the community. Stick to a 1 mile location to focus your assessment on.

Subsystems Observations &/or Data

Boundaries

• Keep your community boundaries at a maximum of a 25 x 25 block area, choose a safe area.

• Does the area have identifiable boundaries? (ie: Rosemont, etc.)

• Are the boundaries natural (i.e. a river or different terrain) or physical (i.e. highway, railroad)? – If not, use street names.

• Does the area have an identity or a name? Is the name official or unofficial? Is the name displayed?

Housing

• Do you see most homes or apartments?

• Do the structures look old?

• Are houses similar in age and architecture? How would you characterize the differences?

• What construction materials are used?

• Are the homes detached or connected?

• Is there space in front of and behind the houses?

• What is the general condition? Are there signs of disrepair?

• Do the houses have central air, modern plumbing, etc.

• Is there business mixed with the houses, if so, what type?

• Is housing affordable?

• Is there homelessness?

• Is there evidence of foreclosures?

Open Space & Common Areas

• Is there an open space?

• What is the quality of the open space- green parks or empty lots?

• How big are the yards?

• Are there flowers and lawns?

• Is the open space private or public?

• Who uses the open space?

• What are the “hangouts”( i.e. schoolyard, stores, restaurant, park, etc.)?

• What groups use the areas and at when?

• Do the areas have a sense of “territoriality” or are they open to a stranger?

Transportation & Infrastructure

• How do people get around the community/neighborhood?-(car, bus, walk, etc.)

• Are the roads in good repair?

• Is there public transportation? How frequently is it available?

• Is there a major highway near?

• Are there sidewalks?

• Are there bike lanes?

• How often is waste collected?

• How often is recycling collected?

• How close is the waste dump site?

• Is there a pollution hazard?

Services

• Are there social service agencies?

• Are there recreation centers?

• Are there parks or playgrounds? Are they in use?

• Are there beauty or barbershops?

• Is there a police station?

• Is child care available?

• Are there food services for the poor?

Economy & Business

• Is it a “thriving” community or does it appear in disrepair?

• Are there industries, stores, and places for employment?

• Are there signs in stores stating food stamps are accepted?

• Do you see an abandoned house and businesses or frequent real estate signs?

• Where do the resident’s shop—shopping centers, neighborhood stores?

• What types of stores are in the area?

• How do residents travel to shop?

• Is there unemployment?

• What is the range of wages?

• What is the poverty rate?

Education

• Are there schools in the area?

• Is there a library?

• Are the schools private or public?

• Does the area offer early development programs?

• What are the Achievement Scores /Standardized Testing Scores?

• What are the Drop-out Rates?

• Are there many residents with English as Second Language issues?

• What is the literacy level of all age groups? Is it where it should be?

• Are there teacher shortages?

• Is there school violence?

• Are there After School Programs?

Safety

• What are the significant crime rates of the area? (domestic violence, drugs, gangs, murder, robbery, etc.)

• Are there Prevention Programs for the types of crimes?

• Are there Intervention Programs for the types of crimes?

• Is there Transitional Housing for victims of crime?

• Is there a Teen Pregnancy Program?

• What is the Juvenile Incarceration data? Is there a Rehabilitation Program available?

• Is there a Fire Department in the area? If not, what is the distance to the nearest Fire Department?

• Is there an Emergency Preparedness Program in effect for the area?

Senior Care

• Is in-home care available?

• Is there a nursing home available?

• Do at home seniors have adequate prescription drug access?

People on the Street

• What type of people do you see on the street?

• Do you see anyone you do would not expect? e.g. Children during the day, unemployed males

• Do you see any pets? What type, dogs on a leash or “watchdogs”?

• Are there police officers present?

• Do people appear friendly—are they willing to talk?

• Are the people dressed the way you would expect?

Race/Ethnicity

• Do you see indicators of different ethnic groups (i.e. signs in other languages, ethnic grocery stores or restaurants)?

• What races or ethnic groups do you see?

Religion

• Are there churches, temples, or mosques in the area?

• Are there different religions represented?

• What is the condition of the buildings?

Media

• What magazines and newspapers are in the stores and on the streets?

• Is there a bookstore?

• Do you see TV antennas and satellite dishes

Health & Morbidity

• Do you see evidence of acute or chronic diseases or conditions?

• Are there doctor and dentist offices?

• Are there clinics or hospitals?

• Are there Urgent Care facilities, Alternative Health facilities (folk medicine, Acupuncture, etc)?

• Is free or low cost health care available? (Including prenatal care)

• Is there a Public Health Unit in the area?

• Are immunizations available even for the poor?

Other Areas of Concern