Ruby Lake is the chief Latino neighborhood situated in Riverbend City. Ruby Lake was affected by chemical spillage that occurred during the train disruption and resulted into spillage of the chemical. However, members of Ruby Lake did not take in the matter lightly after evacuation. It was clear that the Ruby plan for emergency preparedness was out of date. Thus, Ruby Lake neighborhood lacked a needs assessment which was a major issue. The last needs assessment that was carried out was in the last ten years when the neighborhood had just begun to transform. It was transforming to Latino from a Polish neighborhood. Therefore, the needs of the community had changed dramatically.
Literature Review
It is important to carry out community participation (Feinberg, 2016). Community participation requires the engagement of members of Ruby Lake, the city's diversity liaison, the mayor and the community activist to be part and parcel of the discussion process. Thus, there is engagement in addressing the issue of evacuation as a community. An effective community involvement goes beyond physical engagement to incorporate generation of ideas, contribution to making decisions as well as responsibility sharing (Jacquez et al. 2013). However, the city's diversity liaison communicated by sending a revere call, 911 to Ruby Lake residents informing them about evacuation. Nonetheless, the process was conducted in English while the neighborhood is a cosmopolitan city. Among the features that drive people to be engaged in the process is the need to play active roles in enhancing their lives, and fulfilling the social and religious obligations. But, one of the most serious problems we are experiencing is a crime as well as gang activity. There has been an up surge in theft cases though violent crime is still ranking low. There is the need of deploying more police officers in Ruby Lake neighborhood. One important factor is to implement the Shoals strategy in curbing gang activities by closely monitoring gang members. More police officers are supposed to be added along the streets. In this way, members of Ruby Lake neighborhood feel a sense of belonging to their community.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Further, Ruby Lake lacks infrastructural development. The total class population exceeds the carrying capacity of the classroom which makes it difficult for teachers to attend to students effectively. Thus, the need to construct more classrooms is important. However, this comes with the gap of recruiting more teachers as well. According to Nicole Fernandez, an award-winning teacher at Ruby Lake Elementary, the rate of graduation has improved, although it still records the lowest rates of graduation in the city. Moreover, the city lacks such social amenities that would assist in the after school activities thus steering the young individuals away from criminal activities while they build on their academic skills. According to Jacquez et al. (2013) people are motivated to participate in these roles and wanting in-kind or cash rewards. It is only the financial resources the community members need to construct facilities.
The social, ecological theory of health conceptualizes widely as well as focuses on several features that may impact on health (Feinberg, 2016). The extensive model includes mental, physical and social wellbeing. The model understands health as being influenced by the relations between the person, the community or the group and the social, physical and political surroundings. Both the model and community participation approach acknowledge the multifaceted roles played by context in the advancement of health issues and in the achievement or failure of efforts to address the issues (Feinberg, 2016). Health professionals, community leaders and researchers of Ruby Lake neighborhood need to apply the model to assist in identifying factors at varied levels, that is, at personal, interpersonal, community and society levels and varied levels that lead to poor health (Feinberg, 2016). Thus, develop models to prevention of diseases and health promotion and entails action at the levels. This can be achieved through collaboration with Gardens and Groceries organization, in collaboration with Healthy People Now! This model aims at mainstreaming mechanisms to change the social and physical environments as opposed to modifying solely personal health behaviors.
The CDC approach allows community participation partnerships to establish an understandable list of factors contributing to poor health as well as developing a range of mechanism to health issues that entails actions at several levels to offer and emphasize change. For instance, endeavors to reduce childhood obesity in Ruby Lake may include, at a personal level, conducting education programs to assist individuals to make informed decisions towards improving nutritional intake, increasing the physical activities and controlling their weight. Besides, at an interpersonal level, the community can initiate walking clubs to work with the organizations towards introducing healthy menus as well as cooking methods (Mikesell et al. 2013).
Further, Gardens and Groceries in partnership with Healthy People Now! can come in to encourage community gardening. At the community level, people can work with the grocery stores as well as convenient stores to assist them to increase the quantity of fresh vegetables and fruits they carry. They can also develop farmers markets that allow food stamps to cater for the low-income residents. The community can work with the city to find walking trails, indoor sites, and parks where individuals can go to walk as well as publicize the places. There is also the need of venues of exercises which can be built by lobbying for construction sites. Whatever individuals' motivation, achieving meaningful community engagement and having a successful, maintained initiative requires engagement leaders to respect, listen and learn from members of the community. A lack of co-learning and common respect can lead to time wastage, lack of trust, wastage of resources, and effectiveness (Mikesell et al. 2013).
Methodology
The methods employed in the research project about the residents of Ruby Lake involved interactive sessions, survey, and administration of the questionnaire. Members of Ruby Lake neighborhood were able to discuss at a community level with the city's diversity liaison, the mayor and the community activist. Further, the Needs Assessment Committee used a neighborhood demographic sheet as well as a report to that identified major outcomes of Ruby Lake survey. Lastly, questionnaires were administered to the members of the community to identify needs.
Data Analysis
Ruby Lake neighborhood is situated close to the south side and south-west of down town of the Riverbend City. According to the last census carried out, Ruby Lake had a population of 7324 and comprised of 75 percent Latino population. A survey was conducted to establish the needs of Ruby Lake neighborhood. Thus, a Needs Assessment Committee was established. The committee collaborated with the Office of Mayor to develop needs assessment survey for residents of Ruby Lake. The survey composed of 50 questions as well as four open-ended questions regarding the neighborhood and their needs. The survey questions were completed by total residents of 541 with ages 16 years and above.
According to the survey, pregnancy was the single major issue among the residents. 75 percent of those who participated in the survey reported that they were anxious about the pregnancy. With regards to statistics, teenage pregnancy is a big problem in Ruby Lake. In the past two years, the rate of birth for 15-17 years girls in Ruby Lake recorded the highest percentage in Riverbend City. That is 94 for every 1000 births. Similarly, the rate in the citywide was 44.5 for every 1000 births.
The rate of high school graduation scored 64 percent among the survey contributors. They were either very concerned or concerned regarding high school graduation trends. Even though there had been an improvement in high school graduation from 56 percent in the past five years to 65 percent last year for individuals with 25 years of age and above. Citywide, Ruby Lake rates lowest in the rates of graduation.
A further 61 percent of the participants reported very concerned with the unemployment rate. 70 percent of Ruby Lake residents mentioned they were totally unsatisfied with employment openings in the surrounding area. They statistic were closely similar when questioned on the availability of employment among youths. Several comments on the survey identified the closure of Schneider Chemical firm that winded up in the last 18 months. The closure of the firm resulted in 713 job losses.
The members of Ruby Lake mentioned that they were totally unsatisfied with the safety of the neighborhood. In the section of the open-ended survey, 59 percent of the attempted questions stated crime-linked issues. 40 percent of the contributors stated concerns regarding gangs. Above 80 percent of the residents stated that after school programs were essential. Nonetheless, only 11 percent of the participants mentioned they were satisfied with the existing after school programs. But, most important, there are no such programs in place in the Ruby Lake neighborhood (Eime et al. 2013). Students who take part mainly go to Lonnie Weissenberger Middle Schol and Washington Allston Elementary School. Both schools are situated in the North of Ruby Lake neighborhood. Lastly, regarding access healthy foods recorded 35 percent. Residents were asked on the accessibility of good grocery outlets, and 35 percent of the participants showed that they were very satisfied. Large groceries do not exist in Ruby Lake neighborhood.
Discussion and Conclusion
From the health reports at Ruby Lake neighborhood, teen pregnancy has been a problem. Currently, the neighborhood records the highest percentage in Riverbend City. Since pregnancies compound to other issues, such as low rates of graduation and drop out it has to be tackled first. Consequently, it results in high rates of unemployment as ladies cannot get employment without a certification of their studies. Despite the after school programs being expensive, it is a top priority to be addressed. This requires liaison (DeGue et al. 2014) with the city to achieve the objectives. After school programs assist in solving many incidents such as improving graduation rates and to prepare young students for college and job market (Braun et al. 2013). They as well eradicate the rates of youth crime by occupying young individuals. Further, there is the necessity to do away with criminals and the need to initiate anti-gang strategy keep businesses and the population safe. It is only under such circumstances that the community can thrive.
Infrastructure too is important in the priority list of Ruby Lake. Bridges are important in connecting people across the divides, and better roads facilitate trade and development at required time. Improved infrastructure saves time and enhances the efficiency of production of goods and services. Better infrastructure as well attracts foreign investments. Further, people need to observe diet. Ruby Lake should have a community garden that provides individuals with opportunities to grow their own food even if they stay in an apartment. The community is supposed to eat healthy towards preventing diseases and not the reason they have one. Last but not least, job training programs is a community investment. When there are more people in the neighborhood who are paid highly, that means more financial stability and circulation of money as well. Also, job training programs have the potential to bring more businesses
References
Braun, E., Kavaratzis, M., & Zenker, S. (2013). My city-my brand: the different roles of residents in place branding. Journal of Place Management and Development , 6 (1), 18-28.
DeGue, S., Valle, L. A., Holt, M. K., Massetti, G. M., Matjasko, J. L., & Tharp, A. T. (2014). A systematic review of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration. Aggression and Violent Behavior , 19 (4), 346-362.
Eime, R. M., Young, J. A., Harvey, J. T., Charity, M. J., & Payne, W. R. (2013). A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity , 10 (1), 1.
Feinberg, J. L., Bowman, C., & Lipman, T. H. (2016). Dance for health: The importance of community engagement and project sustainability. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice , 7 (1), p89.
Jacquez, F., Vaughn, L. M., & Wagner, E. (2013). Youth as Partners, Participants or Passive Recipients: A Review of Children and Adolescents in Community‐Based Participatory Research (CBPR). American Journal of Community Psychology , 51 (1-2), 176-189.
Mikesell, L., Bromley, E., & Khodyakov, D. (2013). Ethical community-engaged research: a literature review. American journal of public health , 103 (12), e7-e14.
