Community health nurses conduct community health assessments (CHA) to examine the health status indicators for a specific community to identify key health problems and health-related resources in the community. Salman, Turek, and Donovan (2020) indicate that a CHA helps them plan services for families, individuals, and the community. A windshield survey allows a healthcare professional to get a visual overview of the community while driving around, researching, and recording his or her observations. During this drive, healthcare professional notes trends and conditions in the community that impact the population’s health. This data gives insight and background for conducting CHA or working in the community. In this windshield survey tool, the community under observation is Flagami, a neighborhood in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Community Description
Flagami is a lower-middle-income community in Miami-Dade County, Florida, located on the western part of the Red Road and southeast of the Tamiami Canal. The average elevation of the neighborhood is 3 feet. Alameda and Fairlawn are subdivisions and sub-neighborhood within the community, respectively. The former lies on the western edge of the Tamiami Canal, and the latter comprises a large portion of the western end of the neighborhood. The majority of the community members are of Hispanic origin, followed by whites and African Americans. The physical appearance of most people indicates that they are neat and have a specific place of residence. The neighborhood is dominated by parks, coffee shops, and restaurants. Public schools are above average, based on neatly constructed structures. Flagami offers a variety of housing opportunities. The majority of homes in the community have one storey homes, colonial-themed two storehouses, and aluminum houses. The neighborhood also has some apartments and condominiums. Most of the houses were built in the 1990s, apart from the aluminum houses. Even though most homes have small yards, they are well-maintained with flowers and shrubs. The lighting is adequate, with security lighting systems on roads and inside the community. The community has many attractions sites, including a botanical garden, ocean breeze Water Park, and a boardwalk.
Community Health Status
Flagami has numerous health problems. An assessment report by The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade identifies factors, trends, and vents that can potentially impact community well-being and the value of life in Miami-Dade County. The report indicates the leading issues that are likely to affect health in Flagami include mental health, lack of affordable housing, gun violence, and opioid addiction (The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County Releases Forces of Change Assessment Report, 2018). Opioid addiction is a major risk in HIV infections since heroin users are at high risk for contracting the virus when they share syringes and injection paraphernalia. Opioid addiction could be the primary cause of the high HIV cases among Hispanics in the community. Nationally, Florida ranks second in HIV infection cases.
The Role of the Community as a Client
The community as a client is a concept that allows community health nurses to focus on increasing the community’s health benefits instead of individual needs. Even though nurses may work with individuals and communities, the resulting changes affect the entire community. In Flagami, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is a significant health resource. The Department’s Forces of Change Assessment creates an inclusive assessment of the residents’ well-being and value of life. The assessment acts as an essential resource for health improvement within the neighborhood. It assists the Miami-Dade community in working or reducing threats and exploiting opportunities to protect and enhance community health. Community health nurses are obligated to collaborate with the Florida Department of Health to respond to the high rates of mental health, gun violence, and opioid addiction in the community (Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, 2020). Nurses can promote mental health and prevent mental illness in the Flagami community by identifying people at increased risk and screen. Also, the nurse can collaborate with the Department to map risk factors and identify resources and assets. Secondly, the community nurse can prevent opioid addiction in the community by implementing interventions for people at risk and building community resilience. Lastly, nurses can prevent gun violence in the Flagami community by taking a leadership position in educating parents and adolescents about injury and violence prevention.
Healthy People 2020
The leading health indicators in Miami-Dade County that aligns with the Healthy People 2020 objectives are clinical preventive services of chronic diseases. The Florida Department of Health Bureau and Chronic Disease Prevention has defined goals and established objectives that address the Healthy People 2020 initiatives’ health needs. The Bureau has identified key chronic conditions that include cancer, arthritis, diabetes, nutrition, overweight and heart disease, and stroke (Healthy People 2020 | Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade, 2020). For instance, the Department promotes recommended levels of physical activities to improve diet and nutrition and prohibit tobacco use to lessen cardiovascular disease and enhance the quality of life. The Department has also introduced early detection and access to high-quality care to reduce cancer mortality and morbidity. To reduce the burden of diabetes mellitus to persons in the community, the Department has implemented initiatives to reduce health disparities and increase the accessibility of quality healthcare in Miami-Dade and its communities. These goals align with Healthy People 2020’s preventive services goal to prevent and detect illness at more treatable stages, thereby reducing disability, risk of illness, early mortality, and medical care costs (Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, 2020).
Conclusion
Flagami is a lower-middle-income community in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The key health problems in this community are mental health, lack of affordable housing, gun violence, and opioid addiction. Nurses play a role in the community through programs of prevention and screening. The majority of people in the community use their own cars as a principal transport. The Florida Department of Health is an essential resource in this community, representing the various ways of assessing community health needs. The Department collaborates with community health professionals to devise and implement strategies that promote healthcare. The Department’s health objectives also align with the Healthy People 2020 goals in preventive services.
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