Health Intervention Project Proposal Assignment

Write two or three lines about the area- just an introduction- what area is it?  What schools are in the area?  Any major landmarks?  

Downtown Des Moines is a central hub for entertainment and Food. The area offers, the civic center, a performing arts center used for Broadway shows, ballets and other events, Wells Fargo arena which hosts big time concerts, basketball, and hockey games. Pappajohn Sculpture Park which features works by international artists. There are several dining choices available including bars, breweries, coffee shops and unique restaurants with a twist such as Fong’s pizza or Zombie burger. One of the largest landmarks in Des Moines is the capitol building. The capitol building houses the Iowa senate, representee and Governor’s office to name.

Community Assessment Area

Findings

Boundaries

geographic (e.g., river), political (e.g., municipal border), economic (e.g., industrial)

Des Moines River is at the center of downtown and has three downtown bridges crossing over it. One of the bridges is called the Iowa women of achievement bridge.

One of the largest landmarks in Des Moines is the capitol building. The capitol building houses the Iowa senate, representee and Governor’s office to name.

There are many industrial/commercial spaces available for rent or lease to be used as office or retail spaces.

Housing 

Size of homes, air conditioning?  Apartment buildings?  Size of yards?  Garages? - what is in the garages?

· The downtown area mostly offers large apartment building or townhouses.

· The apartments are mostly newly built and have central air conditioning

· The townhouses come with attached garage and the apartments offered street parking or a key in underground garage parking.

Conditions

Signs of decay

maintenance/repair

abandoned property

vacant lots

· The downtown area constantly has construction on new buildings and repairs on old buildings

The abandoned property I’ve seen is on 555 walnut street, the Kaleidoscope food court and downtown mall.

·

Parks and Recreational Areas

maintenance, who uses them

· Rotary Riverpark- family oriented, runners and bikers

· Robert D. Ray Asian gardens – well kept garden, every age group seen enjoying the garden

· Lauridsen skatepark – Mostly teenagers to young adult uses this park to practice skateboarding

Common Areas

Where do people gather

accessible/open to all

signs

· Downtown court ave- This area has a lot of bars and restaurants on the weekends they are full of college students

Pappajohn Sculpture Park- these locations host a lot of summer events such as the Des Moines Concours d’elegance

Stores (other than grocery)

What, where, who

Boutiques,

· Nisa’s pieces 655 Walnut St,

DESPENSARY- 221 4th St

· Sell of medical marijuana

· pharmacy stores (Walgreens), 606 Walnut St

Dollar general - 604 Locust St

· sell snacks, makeup, hygiene products

Kum and go- 319 7th St 

· convivence store

Starbucks - 909 Locust St

· coffee, bakery

Grocery stores

Where are the stores in relation to housing, go in and price staples- milk, bread, what are the options for white versus whole grain, 1 lb of ground beef, include the percent fat

-challenges for an elderly person shopping here- think about the use of a scooter, or reaching high shelves, etc.

 Hy-Vee- 420 Court Ave

· Located in the middle of restaurants, bars and apartments downtown.

· Milk- 2% gallon $3.49

· Bread- option of whole wheat, gluten free, multi-grain, country white, 7 whole grain organic – average cost $3.00

· 1lb ground beef

· 80% - 5.99

· 85%- 7.99

· 93%-9.99

Transportation

What, who, how

roads, sidewalks, etc.

· Sidewalks are clean and, on every street, and bridge

· Roads are well kept and nicely paved

· Bus stops on every block

· Bus DART system

· Uber and lyft friendly

Communication

Media, billboards, posters, how is information disseminated?

· Billboards are limited but advertised local real-estate and new apartment complex leases

Service Centers

What, where

resources for senior citizens

 Iowa Homeless Youth Center- 612 locust ST- this center is located in the business district in downtown.

· The downtown area is limited with options with senior only services.

· Most are for youth or targeted to everyone

People in the Community

How dressed, what are they doing, pets?, demographics, signs of socioeconomic status

· Around the business district people are dressed business causal.

· People can be seen biking or jogging

· People walking their pets

· Homeless people around bus stops

Industries and Employment

What economic activity, what jobs, who works where

· Employers include mercy one, unity point (healthcare)

· Nationwide insurance

· Principle (financial services

· Wells Fargo & Co (Home mortgages)

· Hy-Vee (Food and grocery chain)

Protection Services

Police/fire

distribution of presence

· Police station is near the center of downtown

· Police are always seen with every block

Ethnicity

Individuals and organizations,

Distribution

· Majority of people are Caucasian

Religion

What, abundance, distribution

· Churches of mostly catholic, some Methodist, and one Baptist church

· Two catholic churches were centrally located

Health and Morbidity

Access to health care, healthy options are in the area, drug-use, mental illness, disease -From the internet- what are the most common diseases in the area

· Most violent crimes, homicides in the state

· Heart disease

· Major drug use – opioids, meth, marijuana

Politics and Personal Beliefs

Political parties,

characteristics, distribution

· Des Moines is somewhat liberal with a ratio of

56.5% to 41.3%.

·

Write a brief assessment of the community. In your assessment, comment on your findings (don’t repeat the findings), including access to healthy food options, exercise opportunities, protection services, and access to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services.  Analyze the apparent health of the community and what your observations might mean in terms of the population’s ability to maintain their health.

- Options for can be limited due to the downtown area only having one grocery store and a handful of convince stores. Exercise opportunities can be found in the downtown location of the YMCA, multiple park and bike rentals. Police presence can be seen everywhere due to the close proximity to the police station. Access to healthcare is good. With two major hospitals, MeryOne and UnityPoint and their physicians’ offices located nearby. Health of the community is dependent on status of the person living downtown because of how expensive the location can be. Grocery items have different options but are often expensive. Housing is new and available for lease but are expensive to rent. Overall, downtown des Moines does have the ability to maintain their health but its catered towards a certain population that can afford it.

List five priority health needs or health problems for this community based on your observations during your survey. Two examples of how you would write a health need are: “lack of access to healthy foods” and “unsafe travel between school and home.” However, "need a grocery store in the neighborhood," is not a health need. It is an intervention for the health need "lack of access to healthy foods." 

1) Lack of access of healthy foods

2)Availability of affordable housing

3) Drug addiction

4) Quality of public school

5)Safety from crime