Community Health Needs, Assessment Example

Overview: Description of the Community

Allapattah, FL is a small suburban community in the City of Miami in Miami-Dade County with a population of 50,560 residents as of 2012 (City-Data.com, 2013). This area is comprised primarily of Hispanic residents, and also African Americans, as well as Whites to a smaller extent (City-Data.com, 2013). Within this population, 26,342 residents are males and 24,119 residents are females (City-Data.com, 2013).

History

Allapattah emerged as a community in 1856 with the arrival of William P. Wagner to develop land in this area (Wikipedia, 2013). Until the 1950s, Allapattah was primarily White, but then African Americans and Latinos to a large extent migrated to this area from Cuba and other nations, such as Honduras and Haiti (Wikipedia, 2013).

Type of Community

Allapattah is a small suburban community with specific boundaries. The community is comprised of a combination of residential housing units and business, including freestanding single family homes, apartments, townhomes, and community dwelling facilities (City-Data.com, 2013). The city is also comprised of different businesses, schools, and other community-based resources and centers to support local residents living within the community’s borders (City-Data.com, 2013).

Physical Environmental Considerations

The physical environment in Allapattah includes water resources, parks, and lawns, and also beaches within a short drive of the community (City-data.com, 2013). The city possesses a number of unique physical attributes that distinguish it from the larger Miami metropolitan community.

Description: Location

Allapattah is located in the City of Miami and is part of the industrial area of the city (Wikipedia, 2013). This area is located northwest of the downtown area and is bordered by several freeways (Wikipedia, 2013).

Topographical Features

Allapattah is represented by an elevation of ten feet and has a number of other features within its boundaries (Wikipedia, 2013).

Climate: Boundaries/Square Miles

Allapattah is comprised of 4.208 square miles (City-Data.com, 2013). The climate is ideal for visitors in the winter, as the temperatures are warm and comfortable with lower humidity (Wikipedia, 2013). In the summer, high heat and humidity are problems, with an increased potential for heavy rainfall and possible hurricanes in the second half of the year (Wikipedia, 2013).

Environment: Sanitation

The local environment in Allapattah includes a number of sanitation strategies to ensure that the city is clean and is free of excess waste and sewage. Filtration and other systems play a role in these processes. In addition, the city offers collection services to collect solid waste on a regular basis to reduce waste and to improve cleanliness throughout the area (City-Data.com, 2013).

Pollutants

As with other cities in the surrounding area, pollutants are always a primary concern and must be addressed on a regular basis. Areas such as air quality are important because they address the potential for health-related concerns within the community.

Air Quality

In Allapattah, the air quality index is 33, which is on par with the State of Florida and below the national average of 37 (AreaVibes, 2013). On the other hand, the pollution index is 686,503, which is well below the Florida average and the national average of over 6 million (AreaVibes, 2013). In addition, out of 275 days measured, 249 days were classified as having good air quality (AreaVibes, 2013). Furthermore, the most frequent particles in the air that cause pollution are Benzene and Carbon Tetrachloride (AreaVibes, 2013).

Food Supply

In Allapattah, food is available for local residents in abundance and is sold in markets, grocery stores, and in restaurants. There does not appear to be a significant problem with food supplies within the city limits. However, lower income families may struggle to obtain the appropriate food items under some conditions.

Potential Disaster in the Population

In this area, there is a significant risk associated with hurricanes, as well as significant high winds and rainfall in the summer and fall months. This risk carries a number of challenges for local residents that must be addressed in a timely and effective manner.

Extent of Disaster Preparation in the Population

Disaster preparedness within the Allapattah area includes state and federal support from different organizations, such the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) (Florida Division of Emergency Management, 2013). Each of these organizations provides resources as necessary in the wake of a hurricane or other type of disaster and also offers training regarding disaster preparedness within the community setting (Florida Division of Emergency Management, 2013).

Housing: Types

In Allapattah, housing includes single family homes, condominiums, townhomes, apartments, mobile homes, and community dwelling facilities (City-Data.com, 2013). The average home value in 2011 was $232,509, with condos averaging $129,614 (City-Data.com, 2013).

Condition of Housing

The conditions of the homes in Allapattah are mixed, including single family homes, two-family units, and multiple unit dwellings (City-Data.com, 2013). This area, however, is largely impoverished and many homes require upkeep that is difficult to maintain (City-Data.com, 2013).

Percent Owned, Rented

There is a mix of owned versus rented units in Allapattah, and the average rent price in this area is $697 (City-Data.com, 2013).

Housing for Special Populations: Near Homeless, Homeless, Frail Elders

Housing is available in group settings for different classifications of residents and includes skilled nursing facilities, residential treatment centers, group homes, and other facilities that are designed to support different groups (City-Data.com, 2013).

Leading Industries and Occupations

The most prominent industries in Allapattah include retail, food service, construction, and administrative support, and the most common occupations include drivers, sales employees, mechanics and installers, protective service employees, material distribution, electrical support, and production (City-Data.com, 2013).

The People of the Community: Population Profile

Total Population

Allapattah was comprised of 50,560 residents as of 2012, with a larger number of males than females City-Data.com, 2013).

Population Density

Within Allapattah, the population density is significant because of the location and type of housing that exists within the community, and this is expected to grow in the coming years (City-Data.com, 2013).

Population Changes in Past 10 Years

Over the past 10 years, there has been a 5.4 percent increase in the population within the city limits (City-Data.com, 2013.)

Population per Square Mile

Within the city limits, there are 8,672 individuals per square mile, which signifies crowding within some areas, perhaps where community dwelling or apartment units exist (City-Data.com, 2013).

Mobility

In Allapattah, there are considerable efforts in place to keep residents within the city due to the close-knit group of residents who live there. Furthermore, since the population has grown, there appears to be a strong degree of mobility into the city that supports an increase in the population over the past decade.

Types of Families

Biological Considerations/Vital and Demographic Population Characteristics

62.6 percent of family units within Allapattah are comprised of families, and 37.4 percent are comprised of homes with unmarried partners (Point2homes.com, 2013).

Age Composition

The average age of residents in Allapattah is 37.7 years, which is below the Miami average of 38.8 years (City-Data.com, 2013).

Sex Distribution

A larger number of males reside in Allapattah than females (City-Data.com, 2013).

Race Distribution

There is a mix of races in Allapattah, including Whites (City-Data.com, 2013).

Ethnic Group Composition and Distribution

Within this population, ancestries include Hispanic at 72.23 percent, 18.33 percent African American, 6.89 percent White, and 2.55 percent a combination of other races (Wikipedia, 2013).

Mortality Characteristics

Between 2009-2011, the average mortality rate in Allapattah was over 100 deaths per 100,000 residents, with many of these deaths attributed to heart disease (Dadehealth.org, 2011; Healthcouncil.org).

Annual Birth and Death Crude Rates

Age-specific death rate
Infant mortality rate
Maternal mortality rate
Cause-specific death rate (specific health area)
Leading causes of morbidity
Incidence rates (specific diseases)
Prevalence rates (specific diseases)
Psychological Considerations
Significant historical events

Future economic prospects
Formal and Informal Communication Network

Rates of Suicide and Homicides for specific subgroups within the population
Adequacy of protective services

Common sources of Stress (e.g. unemployment , lack of affordable housing)
Sociocultural Considerations: The Community As a Social System
Socioeconomic status
Income of family
Major occupations
Estimated level of unemployment
Percent below poverty level
People retired
Educational level
Religious distribution
Marriage and divorce rates
Language
Government and Leadership
Type of government (mayor, city manager, board of commissioners)
City offices (location, hours, services, access)
Education
Public educational facilities
Private educational facilities
Libraries
Services for special populations
Pregnant teens
Adults with special problems
Children and adults who are developmentally disabled
Children and adults who are blind and/or deaf
Transportation
Behavioral Considerations
Consumption patterns (general nutritional level of the population)
Leisure pursuit
Other health-related behaviors (e.g. frequency of seat belt use)
Health System Considerations
Identify existing services
Assessing current level of performance
Availability and accessibility of specific types of health care services
Health needs lacking services
Extent to which health care services are overused and underused
Financing of health care

References

AreaVibes (2013). Allapattah, FL Health & Safety. Retrieved from http://www.areavibes.com/north+miami+beach-fl/health-safety/

City-Data.com (2013). Allapattah, Florida. Retrieved from http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Allapattah-Miami-FL.html

Dadehealth.org (2011). All injury mortality rate per 100,000 residents, Miami-Dade County, 2009-2011. Retrieved from http://www.dadehealth.org/downloads/1%20-%20All%20Injury%20Rate%2009-11_Final.pdf

Florida Division of Emergency Management (2013). “Know your zone” to prepare for hurricane season. Retrieved from http://www.floridadisaster.org/index.asp

Healthcouncil.org. Section II: health status. Retrieved from http://www.healthcouncil.org/publications/nmhp_part2.pdf

Princeton.edu (2013). Allapattah, Florida. Retrieved from http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/North_Miami_Beach,_Florida.html

Wikipedia (2013). Allapattah. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allapattah