COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT:
PEDIATRIC POPULATION

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PHASE ONE: Defining the Community

In this paper, the specific population to be assessed is the pediatric population. This
community assessment aims to evaluate the pediatric population because it has been said "the
children are the future of the country." Thus, it is needed to assess how much they can contribute
to the community as well as the type of services they can offer even in minute ways possible.
Likewise, there is a need to know whether they are receiving the kind of benefits that suit them
so that their potentials and capabilities may be realized. Also, the need for other people to know
about the importance of the pediatric population is relatively growing and because of that, a
community assessment should be conducted concerning the youth especially those in foster
homes. The pediatric population exists in a certain neighborhood because foster homes (where
pediatric population is often taken care of) are located in particular communities wherein there is
no need for these children to be singled out or experience indifference from the healthy
environment. As far as I know, there are no geographic boundaries separating the pediatric
population from the rest of the community's population. It hasn't been exclusive from the other
people in this type of society needs to appreciate and feel a sense of belongingness from its
community. Likewise, the community isn't limited to a particular setting. The group being
pertained to is the pediatric population from Florida.
A community assessment is an activity where there is a collaborative partnership in
gathering data on current concerns, conditions, and strengths of families, children, and the
community. The data that would be collected through this assessment may come from various
sources like relatives. These are brought about by many techniques, like focus groups,
interviews, and the scanning of several demographic data that are collected by local agencies.
Community assessments' focal points are on local activities, assets, and resources as well as

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emerging needs, gaps, or barriers. This process of the appraisal and identification of the
information acquired will result in a clear understanding of the context in which families thrive
and the issues undergone by the concerned families that they want to address. This will also point
out unrealized strengths that are yet to be developed, point out which resources that could
contribute to comprehensive strategies, strengthen community members and families by
providing each of them a role in designing and implementing these policies, and make
collaborative and efficient strategies that keep families and children for responding to realistic
conditions. (Putting the Pieces Together Comprehensive School-Linked Strategies for Children
and Families)
PHASE TWO: Assessment
A. Data Gathering
Demographics of the Community. As for the data gathered for this community
assessment, one source illustrates that the state of Florida has an estimated overall population of
19,893,297 as of the year 2014; almost 300,000 more than the previous year (2013). Some 5.5%
of which are people under five (5) years of age (as of the year 2013) while 20.6% of which are
people under eighteen (18) years (as of the year 2013) and 18.7% of which are people aging
sixty-five (65) and over (as of 2013). The female population as of the year 2013 acquire 51.1%.
(State & County Quickfacts, 2015) Meanwhile, another source tells us that people aging below
eighteen (18) from the year 2009 up to 2013 amount to 3,997,283, 3,999,532, 4,002,550,
4,012,421, and 4,026,674, respectively. All throughout 2009 to 2013, this portion of the entire
population of the state of Florida has maintained its percentage of 21%. Persons eighteen (18)
years old and above (from 2009 to 2013) acquire 14,655,361, 14,846,522, 15,080,932,

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15,308,328, and 15,526,186 of the entire Florida population, respectively; garnering a percentage
of 79. Thus, this source depicts that the entire population in Florida in the years 2009, 2010,
2011, 2012, and 2013 are 18,652,644, 18,846,054, 19,083,482, 19,320,749, and 19,552,860,
respectively; therefore showing a relative increase in number each year. (Total Population by
Child and Adult Populations, 2014)
Previously Conducted Surveys. There is this thing called the Youth Risk Behavior Survey
(YRBS). This YRBS is a statewide and school-based survey that is confidential and caters to
Florida's public high school students. This YRBS monitors health-risk behaviors that may
substantially contribute to death, disability, and other social problems being faced by the youth
contributing to patterns in adulthood. The very first YRBS in Florida was administered in "oddnumbered" years by the Florida Departments of Health and Education. In the state of Florida's
data collection, county-level data are not considered, but there are six counties of Florida that are
funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for county-level data collection
Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, and Palm Beach. Also, the YRBS
became part and parcel of the Florida Youth Survey (FYS) including the Middle School Health
Behavior Survey (MSHBS), Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), and the Florida Youth Substance
Abuse Survey (FYSAS). The YRBS has been aided by several agencies; two of which are
Florida Departments of Education, Children and Families, and Juvenile Justice and the Division
of Adolescent and School Health (DASH). (Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS))
If there is Youth Risk Behavior Survey, there's also this thing called Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance System (YRBSS), and it monitors six types of health-risk behaviors just like YRBS
in every state does. These six health-risk behaviors of the youth are alcohol and other drug use,
tobacco use, inadequate physical activity, sexual behaviors that may contribute to sexually

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transmitted diseases (STDs), unintended pregnancy, and worse, HIV infection, unhealthy dietary
behaviors, and behaviors that may contribute to unintentional violence and injuries. Just like
YRBS, the YRBSS gauges the occurrence of asthma and obesity among the youth and young
adults. (Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 2015)
The most recent survey summary shown on the internet is the Youth Risk Behavior
Survey results from the year 2013 which was completed by 6,089 students in seventy-three (73)
public high schools in the state of Florida during springtime. Statistics shows that the schools'
response rate was 91% while the students' response rate was 75%. Thus, there was a total
response percentage of only 69%. The survey was represented by all pupils in grades 9 to 12
comprised of 49.3% female and 50.7% male. There were 26.9% who were in grade 9, 25.7% in
grade 10, 24.2% in grade 11, 22.8% in grade 12, and 0.4% in other categories. In terms of race,
2.0% of the respondents were Asian, 22.8% were Black, 27.7% were Hispanic/Latino, and 43.7%
were White. Some 0.9% of the respondents were from other races while 2.9% were from
multiple races. (2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results, 2013) According to Healthy People
2020, one of its goals it to improve the health, well-being, and safety of adolescents as well as
young adults. Furthermore, it has been said that teenagers (people aging 10 to 19) and young
adults (people aging 20 to 24) make up 21% of the United States' total population. The patterns
of behavior that established during these developmental stages help define the youth's current
health status as well as the risk factors in developing chronic diseases when they reach
adulthood. (Adolescent Health)
Contrary to the perception that adolescence and young adulthood are the healthy times of
one's life, there are still various social and health problems that start during these years
homicide, suicide, substance use and abuse, teen and unplanned pregnancies, homelessness,

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smoking, sexually transmitted infections like HIV, and motor vehicle crashes especially those
caused by alcohol intake while driving. Adolescents and young adults are in their developmental
transitions; therefore, they are relatively susceptible and rather sensitive to external influences
and other factors, including peers, school, policies, neighborhood, family, and societal cues.
These factors could either challenge or support their well-being and health. (Adolescent Health)
B. Data Generation.
Using the windshield survey, it can be observed that in some places, there have been existing
antique or old-aged houses that have been passed on from one generation to another because
apparently, Westerners are fond of bringing life to antique things like houses and furniture. It can
also be observed that parks and other recreational areas are sometimes just a stone's throw away
because they are accessible to the public, especially children and other retiring individuals who
love to spend their leisure time in recreational places like parks, etc. As regards the amount of
space between homes and businesses, some houses are near to each other while others are
relatively far from each other. It entirely depends on the preferences of their owners. Commonly,
people's modes of transportation in the community are either by walking or by using their
vehicles. In terms of the quality of streets and sidewalks in the state, it can be observed that they
are made of asphalt and the sidewalks are cemented with little allowance for growing plants.
Furthermore, there are several stores and other business establishments in the streets with many
people walking along the busy streets. The streets are filled with marquees, billboards, and other
media displays. Their places of worship are situated in such areas where one can feel serenity
and peace.

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In engaging in participant observation, it can be inferred that the developmental level of

the pediatric population is relatively stable because there are certain individuals belonging to the
community that are rather more knowledgeable by experience as opposed to those who have less
experience in terms of gauging their transitional self-development. Likewise, the effectiveness of
these people's peer-to-peer interactions are relatively high because these people (their peers) are
influential to them. This can be observed in the environment. At the same time that there is
strong peer-to-peer interaction, there is also a great respect for peers and others. Thus, the safety
of the environment is ensured.
The data generated by conducting informant interviews show that one of the strengths/
assets of the community is its international trade wherein 40% of all exports of the United States
to Latin and South America pass through Florida. Another product of the state is its tourism
where it has 87.3 million visitors in 2011 because it has been considered the top travel
destination in the world. Its tourism industry contributes $67 billion to Florida's economy.
Another asset of the state is its space industry that represents $4.1 billion of Florida's economy.
Its agriculture also leads the southeast in farm income with a produce of about 67% of the United
States oranges and accounts for about 40% of the world's total orange juice supply. (Florida
Quick Facts)
Although there may be flourishing strengths in the state of Florida, it can't help but be
pointed out that it has inadequacies in its meat and poultry production which is why the United
States Government Accountability Office (GAO) took action. It has been some response to the
request of the Congress that Florida's meat and poultry inspection program be reviewed. GAO
focused on Florida's deficiencies found by the Department of Agriculture and on the state's
actions as regards to these and many other deficiencies found by the agency's personnel.

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(Agriculture and Food: Changes Underway To Correct Inadequacies in Florida's Meat and
Poultry Inspection Program, 1983)
The Food Safety and Inspection Service is the one to inspect interstate meat and poultry
plants so as to ensure the accuracy in labeling of the products produced; thus, ensuring public
health and safety. Furthermore, it monitors the state inspection programs taking into
consideration that these must be at least equal to those of the Federal Government. GAO has
noted that Florida's service ratings in the last three years have been consistently lower than that
of other state programs'. Even more so, it has not shown significant improvement trend. Some of
the lapses found out were the violations of individual Federal acts that pertain to interstate
export, misbranding and mislabeling of products, and improper use of USDA and State
inspection marks. (Agriculture and Food: Changes Underway To Correct Inadequacies in
Florida's Meat and Poultry Inspection Program, 1983)
In the use of focus groups, it has been found out that after the Cobalt Citizen Satisfaction
Index (CCSS) conducted, citizens of the state of Florida are most satisfied with Library (77.2%),
Fire Department (77.1%), and Shopping Opportunities (76.8%). On the other hand, the
components that appeared to be in need of most improvement are Economic Health (41.9%),
Local Government Management (53.4%), and Public Schools (54.0%). The citizens rated their
local government low because most of them were dissatisfied with the communication with the
public (53.4%) and with how they believe their tax dollars are being spent (41.8%). Garnering
the lowest rate for economic health was the quality of jobs with a percentage of only 34.8.
(Citizen Satisfaction with Local Communities Suffers because of Economy; But Upside
Opportunities are Significant, 2009) As regards transportation issues within the community, I

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don't think there is an existing concern that is relatively alarming to the public. I also believe the
community's safety is well ensured by the state.
C. Data Interpretation.
After all the data had gathered through thorough research, surveys, and applications, the data
collected weren't very similar to that of the data generated. However, these data can both be used
for the completion of the community assessment of the state of Florida. There have been
significant data that must not be disregarded just like the citizen satisfaction survey results
conducted by the Cobalt Citizen Satisfaction Index and the Global Accountability Office (GAO)
because both agencies have generated vital information and data that can be used as basis for
further studies and may serve as guides for community leadership.
At the end of the assessment, I have inferred that the areas needing much improvement
are the economic aspects of the community and the status of the pediatric population of Florida
as regards juvenile problems and other concerns.

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10

References

2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results. (2013). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from
www.floridahealth.gov: http://www.floridahealth.gov/statistics-and-data/survey-data/youth-riskbehavior-survey/_documents/reports/2013/cdc-survey.pdf
Adolescent Health. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from www.healthypeople.gov:
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Adolescent-Health
Agriculture and Food: Changes Underway To Correct Inadequacies in Florida's Meat
and Poultry Inspection Program. (1983, January 31). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from
www.gao.gov: http://www.gao.gov/products/RCED-83-70
Citizen Satisfaction with Local Communities Suffers because of Economy; But Upside
Opportunities

are

Significant.

(2009,

May

19).

Retrieved

May

28,

2015,

from

www.cfigroup.com: http://www.cfigroup.com/news/pressreleases/2009_Florida_General_
PressRelease.pdf
Florida Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from www.stateofflorida.com:
http://www.stateofflorida.com/facts.aspx
Putting the Pieces Together Comprehensive School-Linked Strategies for Children and
Families.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

May

27,

2015,

from

www.ncrel.org:

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/css/ppt/chap2.htm
State & County Quickfacts. (2015, April 22). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from
quickfacts.census.gov: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12000.html

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11

Total Population by Child and Adult Populations. (2014, July). Retrieved May 28, 2015,
from datacenter.kidscount.org: http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/99-total-population-bychild-and-adult#detailed/2/2-52/false/36,868,867,133,38/39,40,41/416,417
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). (2015, May 15). Retrieved May 28,
2015, from www.cdc.gov: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm
Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from
www.floridahealth.gov: http://www.floridahealth.gov/statistics-and-data/survey-data/youth-riskbehavior-survey/index.html