Community Assessment:
Prior to entering this program, I considered
community assessments to be a mere compilation of surveys followed by a report
of the community’s health data findings. This program broadened my knowledge
and appreciation of how community assessments help us, as public health
professionals, define the health status of a community. Challenges and
successes experienced by community members when accessing health care and addressing
health concerns are identified, which are later used as evidence to demonstrate
need for interventions targeting specific health concerns. Factors and
resources contributing to poor health are recognized as barriers that we should
strive to eliminate or overcome, while those assets and resources contributing
to good health are mobilized to further progress the community’s health. We
ultimately use the data findings to assist us in developing strategies and
making informed decisions about health policies that would effectively improve
the health of the community being studied.
To me, interpreting the health of a community is much like interpreting the meaning of a piece of artwork. At first glance without having spent time exploring the art’s possible meanings or speaking with the artist directly, we may incorrectly assume what message the art or artist is aiming to convey. It is not until we understand the emotions the artist had while making the piece and why certain materials and colors were used over others that we truly understand the message. The same is true with community assessments. Both quantitative and qualitative data are needed to effectively and accurately describe a community’s health. Community members must be engaged in the process.
Through personal experience conducting a community health assessment, I became increasingly aware of the interdependence that quantitative and qualitative data have, as well as the various methods of collecting health data.
To me, interpreting the health of a community is much like interpreting the meaning of a piece of artwork. At first glance without having spent time exploring the art’s possible meanings or speaking with the artist directly, we may incorrectly assume what message the art or artist is aiming to convey. It is not until we understand the emotions the artist had while making the piece and why certain materials and colors were used over others that we truly understand the message. The same is true with community assessments. Both quantitative and qualitative data are needed to effectively and accurately describe a community’s health. Community members must be engaged in the process.
Through personal experience conducting a community health assessment, I became increasingly aware of the interdependence that quantitative and qualitative data have, as well as the various methods of collecting health data.
Rosewood Community Health Assessment
I worked alongside four colleagues to complete a health
assessment on the Rosewood neighborhood of Greensboro, NC. The
community is mostly comprised of Montagnard refugees who moved to the United
States to escape persecution in their homelands of Vietnam. Despite the
fact that Rosewood residents are described as being of low socioeconomic status
and having low levels of education, they have a cheerful spirit and strong
sense of “community”. We found that several of the residents still maintain
their original religious and cultural practices. Many of them maintain backyard
vegetable gardens and weave colorful fabrics. There is a centrally located
community park within Rosewood, where children are often found playing after
school.
To begin we gathered geographic and demographic information about the neighborhood via the internet, in addition to windshield walking tours. These tours consisted of us walking and driving through the neighborhood at varying times of the day to broaden our insight of the residents’ day to day life. Resources within a 5 mile radius of the community were identified and later added to Google maps to illustrate their proximity to the community. Further information was gathered from community members and stakeholders by way of key-informant interviews. The data findings were then complied and into the following documents.
To begin we gathered geographic and demographic information about the neighborhood via the internet, in addition to windshield walking tours. These tours consisted of us walking and driving through the neighborhood at varying times of the day to broaden our insight of the residents’ day to day life. Resources within a 5 mile radius of the community were identified and later added to Google maps to illustrate their proximity to the community. Further information was gathered from community members and stakeholders by way of key-informant interviews. The data findings were then complied and into the following documents.