Community Assessment of Queens

Part One 

Composition 

Queens is a modern, ethically advanced borough in the city of New York with a distinct structure in the community structure and resource allocation. It is imperative to note that there is a strong association with the neighborhoods in the county and as such, most individuals associate with these as opposed to the city itself. Each of these sections of the community is very different with unique identities based on the culture of the region. Queens is also known for its industrial dexterity with a very diversified economy. 

Resources and Unique Characteristics 

Industries in the city include construction, retail trade, film, and television production, transportation, manufacturing, and health care among others. It is also ranked second of the five boroughs in New York when it comes to the state of the economy. It houses two major airports with other key attraction sites such as the Flushing Meadows Park. It is also home to one of the most prominent beaches in Queens in Jamaica Bay. Educational institutions in the region include Queen's College, St. John’s University, the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, and LaGuardia Community College among others ( New York State, n.d. ). 

Vital Statistics and Analysis 

The population in Queens is estimated to be at 2.3 million, which accounts for 28% of New York’s entire population ( United States Census Bureau , 2019 ). It is the largest county when we view in terms of the geographical area. It, however, is second to Brooklyn in terms of the population in the regions. The total number of households is estimated to be 814,896 whereas the median income per household is $62,520 ( United States Census Bureau , 2019 ). An analysis of the family size shows that there is an average of 4 members per family in the community. The city of New York, on the other hand, has a total population of 19.3 million with 8 million housing units whereas the entire nation has a population of 327 million with 126 million households ( United States Census Bureau , 2019 ). Based on this data, it can be seen that the community makes up a significant proportion of the state within which it is located. 

Further assessment shows that the community has one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse populations of older individuals. It is home to some of the best care programs and services for the elderly which have been designed to inspire continued engagement and senior independence. The community also provides comprehensive youth training and development programs for those who fall between the ages of 5 and 24 ( New York State, n.d. ). Here, the young generation is given a chance to explore their talents, passions, and interests so that they can develop a positive connection with society and bring a significant contribution to the community. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Queens has a population that is comprised of 50% whites, 24% Asian, 28% Hispanic, 21% black and 3% mixed race ( United States Census Bureau , 2019 ). It is imperative to note that nearly half of this population houses foreign residents with 57% of this population speaking a foreign language. The largest ethnic groups in Queens include the Chinese at 9%, Italians and West Indians at 7%, Indians and the Irish at 5% ( United States Census Bureau , 2019 ). It is also important to note that the black community also makes up a very large percentage of the population. 

Health Issues 

One of the main health problems that affect the city of Queens is obesity. Research conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Hygiene shows that the community is among the most affected counties in New York with 27% obesity rate, implying that the county falls below the city’s average that had been set at 23.8% ( CDC GIS Site, 2018 ). The availability of fast food joints in the city, less physical activity and bad nutrition has greatly contributed to the increasing percentage of individuals with this health condition. Consequently, the proportion of individuals suffering from weight-related issues such as diabetes and hypertension has also been on the rise among the elderly in Queens. 

Excessive consumption of alcohol is also a serious health concern in the community because it affects 23% of the population including teenagers and adults. The number of traffic deaths in the region has increased over the recent past as a result of this issue. Health complications associated with alcohol consumption have also been on the rise and as such, this puts a significant percentage of the population at risk. Sexually transmitted diseases are also on the rise as a result of indulgence in unprotected sexual activity. Even though this is not such a big health concern in the community, it affects a substantial portion of the population and may become a big problem over the coming years. Substance abuse among the youth is believed to be a big contributor to the growing trends of these diseases in Queens. 

Part Two 

Interventions 

Background information. Obesity was selected in this section because it is not only a serious problem in Queens but also in New York and the U.S. in general. It is considered as a national epidemic and a chronic disease that has severe health consequences on those affected. Those who have this condition are prone to develop health complications such as diabetes, heart conditions, bone, and joint diseases. The results of this prevalence in the community and nation, in general, have come as a result of less indulgence in physical activity and poor choice of diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC GIS Site, 2018 ), an estimated 35% of the population in the U.S. are obese and this could have a detrimental effect on the physical, psychological and metabolic health of those affected. Based on this data, it can be seen that a third of the nation’s population is obese compared to Queens’ 27%. In the latter, obesity is widespread and the trends have been increasing over the recent past. The community, therefore, needs to adopt an intervention plan to counter the increasing trends and institute a better method of dealing with this health issue. 

The districts that have the highest rates include Astoria, Sunnyside area and Long Island City. We also have those that have moderate rates and these include Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Little Neck, Oakland Gardens, Kew Gardens, South Ozone Park and Wood Haven, Douglaston, and Richmond hill at an average rate of 18.3%. On average, the adult obesity rate in Queens is 25.76% ( CDC GIS Site, 2018 ). From the information provided above, it is evident that obesity is a real health problem in the city. According to CDC GIS Site (2018) , the main factors that have contributed to the growing trends of obesity in Queens is lack of physical activity and poor nutrition diets. 

Increased Physical activity. In Queens, a majority of the population rarely engages in physical activity. CDC GIS Site (2018) notes that most individuals in Queens are obese because all they do is eat with little or no physical exercise. They use cars to get to work and schools and as such, they do not burn the calories and fats that accumulate within the body. Schools and workplaces need to adopt policies that advocate for each member of staff or student to take part in activities that would reduce energy imbalance. The easiest way of burning calories in the body is by increasing the amount of physical activity each day. This way, individuals would lower the risk of getting heart diseases, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure and other types of cancers. A physical exercise program would, therefore, discourage individuals from living sedentary lives and start embracing healthier ones. 

Adoption of better diets. According to a study conducted by CDC GIS Site (2018) , the number of calories that a person consumes has a direct impact on their body weight. The implication of this statement is that one should always strive to burn the same number of calories that they consume. If this does not occur, then they start to gain more weight. Now, it is very important for people to understand that different foods have different levels of nutrients, that is, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and fats. Communities should adopt a diet that balances the right amounts of nutrients so that individuals do not consume too much of one category. There are also certain means that protest individuals against certain health conditions such as diabetes, and strokes. These should be included in daily diets to ensure individuals maintain a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, people should avoid eating fast foods because they are not healthy and contain too many fats. The consumption levels should also be counterchecked to ensure that one does not eat too much food for every meal they take during the day. 

The target population for this intervention program is adults who fall in the category of 35 years and above because the prevalence of obesity among them is higher. In addition to this, they also have a tendency of developing health conditions that come as a result of obesity and as such, this project would be most suited to meet their needs and solve the health issue. 

The intervention program will be very effective because it will be aligned to the goals that have been set in HP 2020. By implementing it, Queens would be able to improve the overall, health and fitness of its residents through daily physical activity. This would then reduce the number of individuals who suffer from hypertension, and weight-related diseases such as diabetes. As stated in HP 2020, Queens would also be able to improve the public health sector of the community and promote the prevention of chronic diseases through the consumption of healthy diets and maintenance of quality lifestyles. For this project, it would be adamant to involve the health care department in the community, meaning that some health facilities such as the Allen health care services and Jamaica Hospital medical center. In addition to this, the county, schools, and employers will also need to be contacted so that the project can be integrated into their curriculums and routines to ensure a smooth transition within the community. 

NURS 303 Caring in Communities 

Community Assessment and Project Planning - A Two Part Final Paper 

List Activities with Timetable 

Activities/Timetable

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

June

July

August

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Develop banners and posters on the hazards of obesity/ This should be updated after one month

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Get weight measuring instruments and issue programs to community members

✔

For children, walk to school. Those who are employed should walk to work

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Public education on the types of meals that should be consumed everyday

✔

Cleaning up of unhealthy diets

Rollout of weight-loss eating plan

✔

✔

Start of physical training for weigh loss in schools and other institutions

✔

Daily walks and run

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Daily walk and run

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Sessions with weight loss expert

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Assessment of weight lost during the entire project

✔

✔

✔

NURS 303 Caring in Communities 

Community Assessment and Project Planning - A Two Part Final Paper 

Evaluation 

Activities	Anticipated Outcomes	Outcome Measures
Perform individual assessment of obese individual	Patient to lose weight and maintain good health	Individual to have positive attitude towards weight loss
Conduct an assessment of daily food diets and review it	Change in eating patterns	Significant weight loss to be noted
Review and identify the cause of obesity in the person	Implement behavioral strategies that would help person to avoid overeating.	Better control of issues that make person to eat excessively
Identify scenarios when certain events or emotions affect eating patterns	Helps patient to eat as a result of the need for physiological need and not emotional stress	Development of support systems for behavior modification
Emphasize on the importance of not eating fat diets	Reduce daily intake of foods that are rich in fats	Lose one pound every week
Review the daily routine of person	Create a suitable weight loss schedule	Develop healthy lifestyle
Establish weekly goals or targets for the weight loss program	Increased likelihood of motivating person to lose weight	Involvement in daily running and walking routines
Discuss on the need to be self-disciplined when it comes to obesity management strategies	Improve overall weigh management techniques	Lower consumption rates especially for unhealthy foods.

NURS 303 Caring in Communities 

Community Assessment and Project Planning - A Two Part Final Paper 

Budget $50,000 

Item	Number	Total amount	Justification
Example  Instructional Design Technologist	x 30 hours x $40	$ 1200	Critical for the overall plan and structure of the project. Assesses all the variables and resources that would be needed to make it successful.
Banners	$70 each x 100	$ 7000	For advertising and communicating to community
Posters	$50 each x 100	$ 5000	For advertising and communicating to community
Post-test questionnaire	$2 x 100	$200	Gathering information on the success of the project
BMI testing	$50 per hour x 100	$5000	Useful for assessing whether people are losing weight at an appropriate rate
Physical activity session with consultant	$100 per hour x 60	$6000	Effective strategy for losing weight
Initial production and development	$ 50 per hour x 80	$4000	Must be availed for project to be initiated
Registered dietician	$80 per hour x 100	$8000	Offers health advise on best diets to take
Follow-up observation and testing	$40 per hour x 90	$3600	To assess the progress and impact of the project
Professional trainer	$100 per hour x 100	$10000	Helping individuals to engage in daily/regular physical routines
Total		$50000

References 

CDC GIS Site. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/gis.htm 

New York State. Retrieved from https://www.ny.gov/counties/queens 

United States Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data.html