work 1 class 3

Windshield Survey Template and Instructions

Note: Content adapted from the Work Group for Community Health and Development: Community Tool Box’s “Windshield and Walking Surveys.”

Windshield and walking surveys are useful ways to assess specific aspects of a community or neighborhood and help give you a sense of the community.

Conduct your survey at the time that works best for your schedule, but keep in mind that to truly understand the people who live within the community (or neighborhood), you may wish to do the survey more than once, and at different times of the day or different days of the week. For the purposes of this course, you are not required to do the survey more than once.

Please be mindful of your personal safety. If there is a known issue with hostility between specific groups, it may not be safe for some people to survey particular neighborhoods. Do not knowingly put yourself in harm’s way.

Preparation

· Get familiar with the survey questions and know what you will be looking for.

· Use a checklist to be sure you have covered all the questions and observed all the areas you want to.

· Be as inconspicuous as possible. Not only do people act differently when they know they are being observed, they may also become suspicious or hostile.

· Be sure you carry identification.

· Take notes along the way. You can also take photos with a camera or cell phone to help you remember what you have seen.

· Always pay attention to your safety. Be aware of the neighborhood and the situation.

Observation

Use the spaces between the questions below for your notes. You can write more complete observations once you return home.

Neighborhood South Miami Heights 4.9 square miles, population 40 000

· Housing: What is the age and condition of housing in the community or neighborhood? Are the houses and apartments kept up, or are they run-down and in need of repair? Are the yards neat or overgrown?

The north half of the neighborhood was built on the 1950s and houses look run-down with yards in need of care. The population of this part is composed of 50 % African American and 50% of Hispanic origin, mostly unemployed or holding low paying jobs, there is a lot of poverty and crime in the area.

The southern half of the neighborhood was built in mid 1980s and houses are well kept, with neat painting, beautiful fences, well maintained landscaping. The residents of this area are mostly middleclass families 90 % of Hispanic origin and 10% Caucasian and other races.

· Other Buildings: Are other buildings mostly or fully occupied? Are public and commercial buildings accessible by people with disabilities?

Most commercial property is occupied and all businesses look up and running. There are some physical barriers for people with disabilities mainly in the older commercial property

· Parks and Public Spaces: Are parks and other public spaces well maintained? Are they used by a variety of people? Are there sports facilities such as baseball fields, basketball courts, and soccer fields?

The Larry and Penny Thompson park is well maintained by the city with a beautiful biking and jogging trail but only a handful of people were observed exercising.

There are sport facilities within the elementary school located in the neighborhood but access is limited due to security reasons.

There is a GYM opened 24 hours and there seem to be plenty of members attending during peak times of the day.

· Culture and Entertainment: Are there museums, libraries, theaters, restaurants, historic sites, and so forth? Do they reflect the culture of the community? Are they readily accessible?

The restaurants in the area are mostly for take out or delivery, they are not social gathering spots.

No museums, theaters or historic sites are present in the neighborhood.

· Streets: Are there trees and plants along the streets? Are there sidewalks? Are the streets and sidewalks clean? Are there trash cans sitting out in sight? Are there people on the streets? Do they interact with each other? Are the streets well-lit at night?

· Business and Industry: What kinds of businesses are there? Are there vacant storefronts? In what languages are business signs? Do the businesses provide the necessities for the community (such as groceries and medications)? Is there any kind of industry present?

· Traffic and Transportation: Is there evidence of public transportation? Is it well used? Is it easy to navigate and use? How much does it cost? Who uses it? How heavy is the traffic? Is there a major road or highway close by? Is the traffic mostly commercial (such as delivery vans and trucks) or private cars? Are there many bicycles? Are there bike lanes and bike racks?

Public transportation by bus, affordable but inconvenient. The traffic is mainly private cars.

· Public Services: Are there identifiable public service providers such as mental health clinics, food banks, and homeless shelters? Are there police or fire stations nearby? Are they easy to reach?

The department of children’s and Families has an office in the area and it was seen very busy with low income families applying for welfare benefits.

· Religious Centers: Are there churches or other religious institutions? Are they of one faith, or do they represent a variety of faiths? Is there one dominant religion represented?

There are several religious institutions in the area mainly Christian for English and Spanish speaking population

· Health Services: How many hospitals and clinics are there? How big are they? Are they easy to get to?

Only small Dr’s offices found within the area. A community Hospital is located 5 miles away.

· Education: Are there public or private K-12 schools nearby? Are they well-maintained? Are there any two- or four-year colleges or universities? Are they public or private?

Only elementary and middle school are present within the area

· Population: Who lives in the community? Are there identifiable racial or ethnic groups? Do particular groups seem to live in particular areas? Is one age group or gender more obvious? Do the people who live in this community seem to interact with each other?

North half 50% African American, 50% Hispanic or Latino low income families.

South half 90% Hispanic middle class families 10% other races

· What is your overall impression of the community?

Summary and Analysis

To help you analyze what you have seen and decide how to use it, here are some questions you should consider:

· What are the community’s outstanding strengths?

· What seem to be the community’s biggest challenges?

· What was the most unexpected thing you observed?

· What aspect of the community really stood out for you?

· How can you use this information to help develop a health promotion and wellness plan for the population that lives here?

Reference

Work Group for Community Health and Development. (n.d.). Windshield and walking surveys. Retrieved from Community tool box Web site: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-and-resources/windshield-walking-surveys/main