Running head: WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMUNITY

Windshield Survey of Heartside Community

Kimberly McPike
Ferris State University

Windshield Survey Components

Housing and Zoning
No homes were observed, but multiple apartment complexes and abandoned buildings
with boarded doors and broken windows were seen in the area.
Transportation
Interstate 131 can be viewed next to the commons of the community. The general mode
of transportation observed to be walking, busing, and vehicles by those who work in the
downtown area.
Race and Ethnicity

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMNUNITY

The race mainly consists of African Americans, Caucasians, and some Latinos.

Open Space
The only open spaces noted in the busy downtown area are Heartside, Veterans
Memorial, and Pekick Park. Due to No Loitering signs displayed on all, if not most of the
buildings, Heartside Park serves as the largest and the main commons for the people of the
community.
Religion and Politics
Multiple churches were viewed at almost every block of the neighborhood, such as
LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Cathedral of Saint Andrew, and Grand Rapids
Seventh Day Adventist Church. No evidence of a predominant party affiliation was noted.
Boundaries
A couple of small signs of Downtown Heartside were noted, but not easily visible. It
was easier to identify the community through the names of the medical clinics and service
centers.
Stores and Street People
A plethora of stores, health clinics, restaurants, bars, galleries, and studios, including the
new indoor downtown market were detected within the community. People in the community
appeared to be not well groomed, malnourished, and intoxicated with clothing that was wrinkled
and dirty. Most individuals appeared to have extra clothing tied around their waist or were
carrying a backpack with them.
Health and Morbidity
In observation of the community, alcoholism, drug addiction, mental illness, and probable
communicable diseases were noted. For example: a few small brown bags containing liquor

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMNUNITY

were seen, along with visible track marks on their arms, and individuals conversing amongst

themselves. A multiple of health and mental clinics located within the Heartside community
along with Saint Marys Hospital serves the people of the community.
Commons
The neighborhood commons is the Heartside Park on Ionia Street. The park has a
basketball court, small water fountain play area for the kids, picnic tables, pavilions, and
restrooms. The park is hidden, very territorial, catering to groups that appear to be homeless and
just need a place to hang out.
Signs of Decay
Aside from a couple of abandoned buildings, there were also a few buildings that were in
various stages of remodeling and repair. At a glimpse the area looks well-kept, clean, and artsy,
but in reality it is unorganized with various hidden health clinics intertwined within the other
service centers for the community. Although the services are convenient and accessible to the
people of the community, many individuals do not utilize the services, which brings about the
concern for safety of the community and visitors.
Media
The only media observed through the drive-by windshield survey was street art on the
walls of the neighborhood buildings and parks.
Windshield Survey of Heartside Community
Community, Community Health, and Population vs Individual Care
According to Harkness and DeMarco (2012) a community is defined as a group of
people sharing common interests, needs, resources, and environment; an interrelating and
interacting group of people with shared needs and interests (p.175). Furthermore, community

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMNUNITY

4
health nursing is the use of systematic processes to deliver care to individual people, families,
and community groups with a focus on promoting, preserving, protecting, and maintaining
health (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p. 9). Additionally, community-oriented nursing is
providing care to individuals within the community and public health nursing is caring for the
entire community and population as a whole (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012).
Healthy People 2020 Health Indicator
A health indicator selected for this population group is substance abuse as identified by
Healthy People 2020. It states that adolescents using alcohol or drugs in the past 30 days have
improved by 1%, making it 17.4% from 2008-2012 and binge drinking in the past 30 days for the
ages of 18 years and up showed no change of 27.1% from 2008-2012 (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 2014).

Four Health Risk Aspects of the Community

Health Behaviors
Due to the stressful living environment such as poverty and being homeless, it is more
prevalent that the misuse of medications and alcohol are abused, which over time can lead to
hypertension, alcohol poisoning, liver disease, certain cancers, and even death. Another health
risks behavior is unsafe sex practice which could lead to unplanned pregnancies and an increased
risk in sexual transmitted diseases. In instances with teenage pregnancies, they are more likely
to not complete high school, live in poverty and rely on public assistance such as food stamps
and subsidized housing. Economically, this causes a strain on the United States healthcare
system.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMNUNITY

Clinical Care

In this community healthcare is available but not easily accessible or manageable due to
the uncertainty of the individuals living conditions and mental stability. Healthcare and
providers are in close proximity and is affordable with assistance but the concerns lies with the
issues of seeking health assistance and maintaining compliancy with treatment and care.
Social and Economic Factors
The chronic stress associated with living in poverty and in an unsafe neighborhood can
hasten aging and health destruction. Unsafe neighborhoods can cause stress, anxiety, and
depression, which can lead to a fear of violence with people staying indoors and not being
physically active within the community. For example, the individuals may not interact with their
neighbors or even to go out for a walk.
Education is another health risk that was identified for improvement in this community.
Through education better employment opportunities are attainable, which can lead to a higher
income, and a greater sense of self-worth.
Physical Environment
A home is a place of shelter that can protect us from extreme weather and promotes a safe
environment where individuals and families can live, learn, grow, and bond. However, housing
is a health risk for this community because it is not affordable and those with lower incomes are
more likely to live in unhealthy or unsafe housing conditions. Overall, this windshield survey of
the Heartside Community was an eye opener to the many services that are available to assist the
community. Yet, it appears the individuals in the community are not utilizing the available
resources in obtaining their optimal mental and physical health.

WINDSHIELD SURVEY OF HEARTSIDE COMMNUNITY

References

Harkness, G. A., & DeMarco, R. F. (2012). Community and Public Health Nursing; Evidence for
Practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2014). Healthy People 2020 Leading Health
Indicators: Progress Update. Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/lhi/progressUpdate.aspx