For this assignment, identify an area of focus in community health within your own community.
Using Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns framework (p. 130 in your e-text), assess the health risks in your community.
In your community assessment paper, include the following:
- Identify
resources in your community that would enable you to complete a
community assessment and submit a summary of your findings (1–2
paragraphs). - Refer
to Table 8-3: Examples of Community Strengths and Concerns, and assess
the strengths and concerns of your community (2–3 paragraphs). - Identify
potential barriers to implementing community health plans in your
community and brainstorm ways of addressing these barriers (2–3
paragraphs).
Plan ahead:
Next week, as Part B of this assignment, you will select one (1)
identified risk from this assessment to develop a community-focused
strategic plan to address that health risk. It is recommended that you
look ahead to next week’s assignment so that you can begin framing your
chosen community health focus.
Your paper should be 2–3 pages in length, not including the cover and reference pages. Use APA throughout.
You must include 2–3 sources that are APA cited and referenced in your paper. (Sources may include community resources such as flyers, brochures, interviews, news stories, and local research data from credible sources.)
Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be graded.
link for Table 8-3: Examples of Community Strengths and Concerns
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Community health is a crucial aspect of public health that helps in addressing the health needs of people living in a particular geographical area. A community health assessment is an important tool that helps in identifying the health risks and needs of a community. Using Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns framework, this assignment will assess the health risks in the community and evaluate the community’s strengths and concerns. The assignment will also identify potential barriers to implementing community health plans and brainstorm ways to address these barriers.
Answer:
Identifying resources in the community that would enable the completion of a community assessment is the first step in assessing the health risks in the community. Community resources such as hospitals, clinics, local health departments, community health centers, and non-profit organizations can be utilized to gather information on the health status of the community. Additionally, community resources such as flyers, brochures, interviews, news stories, and local research data from credible sources can be used as sources of information. After conducting the community assessment, it was discovered that the community faces multiple health risks, including insufficient physical activity, poor nutrition, substance abuse, and mental health challenges.
Referencing Table 8-3: Examples of Community Strengths and Concerns, the strengths and concerns of the community were assessed. The community has several strengths, including having a diverse population, a supportive immigrant community, and a high level of community involvement. However, considerable concerns were identified, including the high incidence of chronic diseases, inadequate access to healthcare services, and insufficient social support. The community’s strengths and concerns provide essential information that can be useful in designing effective community health plans targeting the identified risks.
Identifying potential barriers to implementing community health plans and brainstorming ways to address these barriers is the final step in assessing the health risks in the community. Potential barriers to implementing community health plans may include inadequate funding, lack of community engagement, inadequate support from policymakers, and limited access to health resources. To address these barriers, collaboration with community leaders, policymakers, and healthcare providers is required. Providing education and awareness through community forums, workshops, and seminars can also help in overcoming these challenges. Conducting community-based research can help in providing data-driven evidence that can be used to secure funding for community health plans.
