The purpose of this paper is to address t hree identifiable potential health problems in Kenosha and to provide a theoretical framework through which the potential health problems of homeless people in the community can be addressed .
Community
A community can be defined in various ways. For the purpose of this paper the community surveyed is defined as a group of people possessing varied characteristics but connected by geographical settings.
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Community Health
Community health is defined as “the health status of a defined group of people and the actions and conditions, both private and public (governmental), to promote, protect, and preserve their health” ( Goodmanet al., 2014 , p. 59 ). Community health emphasizes the physical and psychological welfare of people within a given locality. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017), through their efforts within communities, community health workers are able to encourage healthy living, avert chronic diseases, and bring about significant health benefits to a majority of the population within a community. The development of community health involves collaborations between governments, public health workers, well-wishers, and normal citizens. Therefore, collaboration within community health work is associated with positive community health outcomes.
Community as Client
The community is often viewed as a client of the community health nurse. The community health nurse begins services by conducting an assessment. A community assessment includes an initial determination of the purpose and scope of the assessment (Smathers, 2014). In this case, the purpose is to identify the health risks faced by members of a vulnerable population within Kenosha city while the study also considered the entire city’s population. Secondly, it is important to consider the objectives of the assessment. In this scenario, what is needed after the assessment is an address of the potential health problems the vulnerable population may be facing .
Community assessments additionally have to incorporate specific data collection methods, such as the windshield survey which was utilized. A windshield survey in healthcare is a familiarization assessment that enables researchers to evaluate and understand a specific community through secondary and primary data collection methods (Anderson & McFarlane, 2010). The data collected was presented in Appendix 1.1 which appears at the end of the document. Data analyzation and the preparation of an assessment report are also important stages of a community assessment. According to Evans ‐ Agnew, et al. (2017), a community assessment is an important aspect of community health because it can be used to mobilise community member to take action in improving identifiable health problems within a community.
Health Risks Identified in the Community
A summary of the windshield survey is in the Appendix. Three potential health problems have been identified and will be summarized in this section of this paper. In addition, one vulnerable population identified within the community is described. The three potential health problems identified are substance abuse, unequal access to health care, and environmental health disparities. On the other hand, the homeless people in Kenosha have been identified as a vulnerable population.
Substance abuse as a community health problem alludes to widespread alcohol and drug abuse. The city of Kenosha has an opioid abuse problem. The city borders Lake Michigan whose shore line and beaches are riddled with needles from opioid users. Opioid abusers may engage in the illegal use of heroine, imitated drugs like fentanyl, as well as pain killers that are illegally accessed such oxycodone and morphine. Opioids are designed to work in conjunction with the opioid receptors in the human brain and body. Due to the fact that they can be used as pain killers, drug abusers are more concerned with the feelings of euphoria that they exude. Opioid abuse can lead to addiction, overdose, or death of the user.
In Kenosha, health inequality correlates with income inequality. According to Pickett and Wilkinson (2015), Americans with better access to income opportunities also have better access to healthcare services compared to those on the lower income bracket. Health inequality in the city stems from the fact that there is a large number of homeless people and working citizens living in low income neighborhoods where housing costs are subsidized. Income inequality is also evident through the high numbers of people under SNAP benefits in the city. Uneven access to healthcare needs means that there are residents with little or no access to advanced healthcare needs and this lowers community health outcomes both in the short-term and long-term.
Environmental health disparities in Kenosha are indicated by the presence of used syringes that litter the streets of littering the streets of poor and polluted neighborhoods. Wealthier neighborhoods, however, are less polluted. Environmental health is associated with positive community health outcomes. The presence of these needles deteriorates the air and water quality of these populations. Communities that are more polluted are at risk of sickness and disease than those whose environment is well-protected and managed. Therefore, there is a need to address Kenosha’s environmental health disparities as a community health problem.
It is also important to note that the homeless are the city’s vulnerable population. The homeless population is vulnerable because these individuals are exposed to negative health-related outcomes. The homeless have no access to economic opportunities, proper housing, education, and medical attention.
Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator
The 3 potential health problems for the vulnerable population discussed in the previous section align with Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicators. These indicators are substance abuse, access to health services, and environmental quality.
Theoretical Framework
In addressing the potential health needs that the homeless people in Kenosha may be facing, the application of a prevention framework to address homelessness as a population health issue is proposed . Nicholas and Henwood (2018) propose the use of tertiary, secondary, and primary preventions to address homelessness. Tertiary intervention is used to alleviate chronic homelessness (homeless for more than 4 years) where collaborations with the federal government enables the provision of permanent and affordable housing that incorporates support services. On the other hand, secondary prevention is used to help those who have been homeless for less than 1 year and involves assisting these people locate and settle in affordable rental houses, while primary prevention seeks to prevent homelessness by addressing risk factors such as the effects of early childhood trauma and provision of social services referrals. Although the prevention strategy dictate a collaboration of efforts, community health workers can take up a proactive role by spearheading a Homeless Suitcase Clinic (HHSC) project as proposed by Kiser and Hulton (2018). During a HHSC project, community health workers provide ‘suitcase’ clinic that address mental health, podiatry, and dental health issues.
Conclusion
As a community, Kenosha is an attractive destination for anyone who wishes to live or work in the area. The community has schools, hospitals, and financial zones that enable the economic and social empowerment of the populace. However, the community has a large number of homeless people but limited resources to help them. In addition, despite the fact that the city is clean and habitable, low income neighborhoods are littered with needles that pose health problems. The Healthy People Kenosha County 2020 Committees initiative can, however, provide a blueprint of the realisation of positive health outcomes of the community members. Finally, the homeless people as a vulnerable population can be helped through the application of prevention strategies and direct healthcare interventions by community health workers. These frameworks will ensure that their potential health problems are prevented.
References
Evans ‐ Agnew, R., Reyes, D., Primomo, J., Meyer, K., & Matlock ‐ Hightower, C. (2017). Community health needs assessments: Expanding the boundaries of nursing education in population health. Public Health Nursing , 34 (1), 69-77.
Goodman, R. A., Bunnell, R., & Posner, S. F. (2014). What is “community health”? Examining the meaning of an evolving field in public health. Preventive medicine , 67 , S58-S61.
Kiser, T., & Hulton, L. (2018). Addressing Health Care Needs in the Homeless Population: A New Approach Using Participatory Action Research. SAGE Open , 8 (3), 2158244018789750.
Nicholas, W. C., & Henwood, B. F. (2018). Applying a prevention framework to address homelessness as a population health issue. Journal of public health policy , 39 (3), 283-293.
Pickett, K. E., & Wilkinson, R. G. (2015). Income inequality and health: a causal review. Social science & medicine , 128 , 316-326.
Rector, C. (2018). Community and public health nursing: Promoting the public’s health (9 th ). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer .
Smathers, C. (2014, October 15). Community Assessment. Retrieved from https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/CDFS-7
Appendix 1.1
Windshield Survey
Be sure to include what you observed related to each category and any significant items that are missing in your community because these may be equally important in identifying a community health problem.
| Description | |
| Community vitality | Community vitality alludes to the ability of a given community to offer sustainability and provide opportunities for the communities that live within the community. The residents of Kenosha are empowered to attain their long-term objectives as a way of achieving positive life outcomes. Over the years, Kenosha County has and continues to attract residents from neighboring counties and states owing to improved transport infrastructure, cohesiveness, security, and an environment that fosters business development. |
| Indicators of social and economic conditions |
Kenosha has a thriving education system. There are elementary, kindergarten, and high school institutions. There are also tertiary education centers like the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. There are also malls, grocery stores, and other privately-owned business enterprises. However, there are a number of homeless shelters and listings. The city also has low income neighborhoods. The SNAP program is also active in Kenosha and caters for homeless and poor people in the city. It is also important to note that the number of homeless shelters cannot of yet accommodate the entire homeless population. |
| Health resources |
There are several healthcare facilities in Kenosha. There are hospitals which are well equipped to offer a wide range of services such as primary healthcare, mental health diagnosis and treatment, infectious disease interventions, and dental care. These hospitals also have nurses and physicians that are always available to address various health needs. There are also nursing homes such as that help the community avail essential services such as specialized treatment, daily support, security, consistent mealtimes, as well as cleaning and maintenance services to the aged. |
| Environmental conditions related to health | A clean and safe environment is linked to positive health outcomes. The streets of Kenosha County are by and large clean residents. However, it is common to find used syringes that litter the beach areas as well as the streets of low income neighborhoods. These syringes pose a health risk to the residents. |
| Social functioning | Social functioning describes the ability of an individual within a community to interact with those around them. Social functioning is denoted by the presence of diversity and social hangouts that nurture community strength. The community is diverse as there is a mixture of people from different races. There are also residents from all age groups and genders living and thriving in Kenosha. People can engage in various activities such as archery, golf, and camping. |
| Attitude toward healthcare | Healthcare is important in Kenosha. Generally, people can be seen walking into healthcare facilities to get access to medical attention and medication. The Healthy People Kenosha County 2020 Committees initiative also acts as a guiding principle as can be shown by the presence of community outreach programs that prioritize issues such as access to healthcare and healthy living. |
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Vulnerable Population Identified (Are there common genetic factors related to increased risk factors for various disease processes for this population?) |
The homeless are the vulnerable population. These individuals are exposed to negative health-related outcomes. The risk factors of homelessness in Kenosha are economic inequality and substance abuse. People who lack access to economic resources are at a disadvantage because they cannot access advanced healthcare. Additionally, drug abusers become homeless largely due to the inability to manage individual resources. Homeless people can be seen living under highway underpasses, abandoned properties, and homeless shelter. They can also be seen loitering the beach areas. |
