Your Community State the name and location of your community.
History of your Community Tell the history of your area-when did it become a town/city/township? How was it started? What did the people do for work during that time? How old is the area?
Housing and Zoning Describe the types of housing available. What is the age of the houses? Of apartment buildings? Of what materials are they constructed? Are they detached or connected to others? What is their general condition?
Open Space Describe the open space. What is the quality of the space – green parks or parking lots? Do houses have patches of grass or garden? Do you see trees? Who uses the open space? Parks? Are they in use? Do you see people walking with pets? Exercising?
Boundaries What signs are there for where your town begins and ends? Are the boundaries natural – a river, a different terrain; physical- a highway, railroad; economic- difference is the real estate or presence of industrial or commercial units along with residential? Does the neighborhood have an identity, a name? Do you see it displayed? Are there unofficial names for the area?
Transportation How do people get in and out of the neighborhood-car, bus, bike, walk, etc.? Are the streets and roads conductive to good transportation and also to the community life? Is there a major highway near the neighborhood? Whom does it serve? Describe the public transportation system that serves the neighborhood: bus lines, train/trolley/regional rail?
Safety Services Name & describe the local police department. Name & describe the local fire station. Describe safety measures in your town-traffic intersection cameras, surveillance cameras on streets? Other things for safety?
Service Centers Do you see social agencies? Alcohol or other rehabs? Daycare centers? Are there adequate doctors’ and dentists’ offices? Clinics? Where is the closest hospital? Where is the closest welfare agency? Social security office? Library? Post office?
Senior/over 55 communities? Nursing homes?
Stores Where do residents shop- shopping centers, neighborhood stores? Out of the area?
Are there large chain groceries-name two; strip malls?
Are restaurants present? Curbside pick up? Delivery?
Fast food chain restaurants?
CBD stores or other marijuana stores present?
Amazon delivery trucks?
Schools Summarize the schools in your area-number, number of students, graduation rates, testing rates, attending college rates, and other stats you can find at http://www.usa.com/
Is the elementary, middle and high schools in person during this pandemic? Is there activity at the schools? Are there crossing guards? Are there slow areas for school safety? How are they marked?
Demographics Look up demographic statistics for your town on http://www.usa.com/ List percentages of gender, age groups, ethnicities, employment, education levels.
Do you see any disabled persons in the neighborhood? Is the area accessible? Describe.
Signs of growth or decline Is your town growing or losing population? Are new homes coming into the area? Do you see: trash, abandoned cars, political posters, neighborhood-meeting posters, real estate signs, abandoned houses, town watch signs, mixed zoning usage? Do you see new shopping areas or new housing? New schools? Look up the real estate rating. Is the population growing or decreasing? What are the reasons?
Ethnicity Are there ethnic stores? Are any signs in another language? What are the nationalities of the people who live in your community?
Religion Of what religion(s) are the residents? What denominations are the churches/mosques/temples? Do you know of any services the churches/mosques/temples offer?
Health and Mortality Search the internet for health statistics for your area-local, county or state level. Look for statistics on the top 10 leading causes of death, accidents, communicable diseases, alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, etc. in your area.
Give county COVID-19 statistics.
Give name of two closest COVID-19 testing sites.
Is your area receiving vaccines?
Politics List local politician (mayor/council member/ward member), township managers, whoever oversees your area.
List state house of representative for your area
List the state senate members.
List federal House and Senate representatives for your area.
Governor
Media What media serves your area? DISH, Verizon, Xfinity? Others?
Does the area have a cable channel? A Facebook page? What other social media reports of in your area?
What newspapers do residents read?
Needs Assessment List two strengths of the community related to public health and state your reasons.
List two weaknesses of the community related to public health and state your reasons.
