Running head: WINDSHIELD SURVEY

Windshield Survey Lindsey Koch Ferris State University

WINDSHIELD SURVEY Windshield Survey Driving around my town, I observed the types of stores, hospitals, doctor offices, and

their locations. I wanted to figure out if these places were accessible for the majority of people in the community due to the high number of low-income families in the community. Many of these families do not have the resources and transportation to be able to make it to appointments out of town. By having nearby service centers, this provides the low-income families to be able to meet their needs. Luckily, my neighborhood community consists of middle and high class families. Community I believe that a community is a group of people that live in close proximity to each other and help each other out. According to Harkness (2012), Community can be a group of people who live in the same area, or the area in which they live (p. 177). I feel that a community works together to function as a whole, at least in my area. Not only to be help each other out, but many of us are health providers which makes it easier for us to care for each other. Community Health Not only are multiple people in my community, health providers but also they are willing to help each other out after hours. Harkness (2012) defines community health nursing as the use of systematic processes to deliver care to individual people, families, and community groups with a focus on promoting, preserving, protect, and maintain health (p. 9). The community health providers for my community are located within one to two miles. There is a hospital, multiple doctor offices, and dental offices. These are easily reachable by walking, car, bike, or bus.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY Community as Client I feel that community as client is treating the community as a whole. The more your

community is taken care of the, the more it prospers to make those in it happy. Each aspect of the communitys needs have to be met to help it continue to grow and function at the level it was at. I feel that my community is prospering as a healthy client. Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator There are several health indicators that affect the health of various vulnerable populations. Some of the health indicators that Healthy People 2020 listed that I feel are most important to my community were access to health services; clinical preventative services; environmental quality; nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; and oral health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2011), the Healthy People 2020 health indicators: Were selected and organized using a Health Determinants and Health Outcomes by Life Stages conceptual framework. This approach is intended to draw attention to both individual and societal determinants that affect the publics health and contribute to health disparities from infancy through old age, thereby highlighting strategic opportunities to promote health and improve quality of life for all Americans. These indicators help guide vulnerable populations to make healthier decisions in their lives or help show them what could currently be causing health problems. They can also be to help continuing care to upkeep excellent care. I feel that my community is at an excellent area at this time.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY Conclusion If I were to rate my community, I would rate us at an excellent level. I feel that we have outstanding health, good resources, and take care of each other. I believe that this is needed to upkeep a community and keeps it going. Without working together and available resources, a community can have a hard time thriving, but that is not a problem with our community. I feel fortunate to be part of my community.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY Resources Harkness, G.A. (2012). Community and Public health nursing practice: Evidence for Practice Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins: Philadelphia.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, November 7). Leading Health Indicators Development and Framework. In HealthyPeople.gov. Retrieved February 13, 2014, from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/LHI/development.aspx

WINDSHIELD SURVEY Neighborhood Boundaries- Woodlawn Ave, Clare Michigan Transportation The people in this neighborhood walk, ride bicycles, ride motorcycles and ATVs, or drive cars or trucks. The road is not available to large freight vehicles. The nearest highways are two miles away north, east and south. School buses and public buses do not typically go down this road. However, hospitals and doctor offices are within walking distance. Service centers The local hospital is approximately 1 to 2 miles away. Local dentist and doctor offices are also 1 to 2 miles away. The school is 2 miles away from the neighborhood. Race and ethnicity The Caucasian race is the only race represented in the neighborhood. All members of the neighborhood work with members of other races so race and ethnic issues are not problems.

Housing and zoning The houses range from 10- 50 years old and are wood-framed single family houses. A few houses contain remodeling or additions. Some have decks attached to the houses. All houses are in good repair. A few houses have central air however all houses have central heating and modern plumbing.

Open space The houses are 15003000 square feet. The lot sizes vary due to the river in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is on the rural side of town in walking distance to town. Woods and a river occupy the area around the houses.

Religion and politics The neighborhood consists primarily of Methodists that go to church on Sunday morning. The churches are within 2 miles. The community is a mixture of Republican and Democratic ideas and opposes political signs in the yards. Boundaries Stores and street Health and morbidity The neighborhood people This neighborhood consists of private The neighborhood does not consist of houses without fences. does not consist of elderly at this time. The yards are kept seeing street people. There are no green and freshly It is common to see substance abuse issues mowed, or plowed in the community pets or any infectious the winter. There is no and occasional stray disease issues. litter in the cats. Wildlife is also One man has cancer. neighborhood. Signs seen is this area. are not placed in the

WINDSHIELD SURVEY yards. It is 1 mile to the grocery store. This is easily manageable to get to for most residents. Signs of decay There are no visible signs of decay in this neighborhood. The neighborhood is kept clean, no abandoned cars or houses. No junk in the yards.

Commons There is a public park mile away from the neighborhood. Yearly social activities are planned for the neighborhood.

Media There are no outdoor antennas. All neighbors have cable television. Each house has wifi, internet, cell phones, and texting.