Running head: WINDSHIELD SURVEY 1

Windshield survey

Jeanette Voelker

Ferris State University

Nurs 340
WINDSHIELD SURVEY 2

Windshield survey

This Windshield survey discuss the community of White Cloud, Michigan. I

will explain the demographics of White Cloud and its community as a whole as it

can relate to the health of the people who reside here. I will share with you some

of my observations while completing the windshield survey as well as identify an

at-risk population within White Cloud. Discussion on what I feel is a prevalent

disease that affects this area will then follow as well as how I feel healthcare to this

area can be improved.

Community

White Cloud, Michigan is a small town located within the county of

Newaygo, Michigan. The population has declined in White Cloud over the years,

according to the United States Census Bureau in 2016 the estimated population of

White cloud was 1,377, a decline of about 2.2% from 2010 when the population

was documented at 1408. The average household size is 2.9 persons and the

average famiy size is 3.2 persons. Small older homes are established within the

city limits as you travel outside the limits you find larger properties with houses or

modular homes. As I drive through town I notice that several of the homes could

use some updating on the outside. Homes have play sets for children and serveral

old cars sit in other yards. These vehicles appear to possibly not run, or are being
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worked on. As you travel outside the City limits several small hobby farms are

also noted. Horses, Chickens and cows graise through the fenced in areas of these

homes

White Cloud is a total of 2.2 square miles within the city limits. The

majority of this is land with a small boundary of water using 0.05% of this area.

M-20 and M-37 are the two main roads that travel through this city. M-20 extends

west from US 131 into White Cloud, then continues just south of town into

Fremont, Michigan. You can also drive north or south on M-37 through White

Cloud from Grant and Kent City to the South and to the north you will drive

through Baldwin, Bitely and can go straight through to Traverse City if needed.

In the City limits you will find small thrift stores which appear to be family

owned. There is also a Hardware store, a post office, a pet grooming salon and a

few law offices. The Newaygo County Sheriff, courthouse, and county buildings

also reside in the city of White Cloud. Local sheriff vehicles are noted driving

through town quite frequently. There is a local Housemans grocery store and

several smaller restaurants that advertise for home cooked meals. Outside of town

there is a local bar that is observed to have several motorcycles in the parking lot,

with baseball fields in the background of the establishment. I do not notice any

signs of public transportation in this area, people are seen walking to and from the
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local grocery store and gas station. A few smaller churches are located just outside

the city and have large numbers of vehicles in the parking areas on Sunday.

A small park like setting sits at the intersection of M-20 and M-37 which has

a community board for advertisements of community events as well as for items

for sale. As you travel south of the city there is a county roadside park for

travelers to utilize outhouse like buildings, picnic tables and trails.

At risk population

There are several populations I noted during this survey to be at risk of

different health issues. The most prevalent population I noted was the elderly.

Several men and women were seen walking around town carrying grocery bags. I

even noticed a man in an electric wheelchair riding down the sidewalk who in fact

was smoking a cigarette. I would say that health care for these individuals is

difficult to find due to lack of transportation. There are not any local physician

offices in the area for this population to visit, it also appears that transportation is

an issue for some of population.The other population I see that is at risk would be

the younger children. According to the US census Bureau the median income for a

household within the city limits was $2,313 which also puts about 21.8% of the

population below the poverty line. Children raised in homes that fall below this

line tend to have public health care. With lack of healthcare facilities in the area,

healthcare for these children falls short.

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Accordig to the District Health Department 10 (DHD10. 2017) Diabetes is

prevalent within the count of Newaygo. In 2017 Diabetes prevalence was 10.6%

within the community. Diabetes prevalence is defined as adults older than 20

years of age with a diagnosis of Diabetes. Adults who smoke are an even higher

prevalence of 20.8%. Through my assessment of the area three top health issues of

White Cloud and Newaygo county would be 1) Access to health care, 2) Diabetes ,

and 3) COPD.

Objecties and Goals

According to Healthy people 2020, the overarching goals are as follows:

1) Attain high-quality, longer lives free of preventable disease, disability,

injury, and premature death.

2) Achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve the health of all

groups.

3) Create social and physical environments that promote good health for all.

4) Promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors

across all life stages. (Healthy people 2020. 2017)

Areas of concern for White Cloud and Newaygo counties would be 1) lack

of community transportation in order to live a life that is full and free of chronic

disease. In order to promote a healthy and long quality of life, I feel that this

community would benefit from the use of some public education, community
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resources for transportation are in order for those unable to transport themselves, as

well as placing healthcare facilities in the area.

In conclusion, the White Cloud community shows many areas of needed

improvement for health care. The lack of heathcare facilities and transportation

limit individuals and families the needed healthcare to provide the needed care and

decrease the rising numbers of prevalent disease.

References

About Healthy People. (June 2017). Retrieved from

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/About-Healthy-People

District Health Department 10. Community Data (2016). Retrieved from

http://www.dhd10.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/DHD10_CHNA_2017.

White Cloud, Michigan. (2017, June 22). In Wikipedia, The Free

Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 22, 2017,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=White_Cloud,_Michigan&o
ldid=786856747
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NOTES
Boundaries Geographic boundaries:According to the US Census
Bureau, white cloud is a total of 2.0 square miles. The
majority of this is land with 0.05 square miles of water.
The bodies of water include the Whit river as well as Lake
White Cloud. M-20 is the main Highway that runs from
US 131 west to White Cloud then again from M37 it
connects White cloud to Fremont area.
Economic boundaries include the downtown White Cloud
area, with homes, local stores and the Newaygo County
Sheriff office as well as the courthouse and jail. There are
no names for the neighborhoods that are posted for
public view.
Housing and zoning Buildings in this area appear to be older, possible from
the late 1800s to the 1900s. The homes appear to have
been builty within the last 60-70 years, with some being
built within the last decade. There are several modular
homes and these appear to out number the stick built
homes. The homes appear to be mid to lower income
range homes, some needing definite repairs. No high
value homes in this area. Outside of the downtown area
are homes on several acres of land. Small hobby farms
are also located outside the city limits.
Signs of decay The appearance of the small town is more run down. The
homes within the local city limits are older, with broken
down cars, playsets and small amounts of trash around.
Outside of the city limits shows a higher amount of
broken down vehicles, old bicycles as well as fenced in
yards with dogs.
Parks and recreation areas There are a few smaller public parks downtown White
Cloud. Not many with play areas for children. Outside
the city limits there is a lot of forest area, where hunting
and fishing can take place. There are several trails for
snowmobiling, skiing and walking.
Common areas Bars seem to be the hang out spot for locals. There are
some local restaurants that the older population like to
hang out at. The main restaurant in town is Sallys for
local cuisine and social gatherings.
Stores ! Grocery store called Housemans, some small thrift
stores, a Wesco gas station, 1 pet salon and the local post
office.
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Transportation A lot of people ten to walk around town due to the

smaller size of the area. Motorcycles are frequent during
the summer and fall months. NO local transportation like
taxis, transit stations or bus stations.
Communication White cloud does not have a local newspaper. The
Pioneer out of Big Rapids does service this community.
There is a local park in the center of town that has several
notices placed there for communication purposes.
Service Centers Newaygo county court hous, sheriff and county buildings
reside in the center of White Cloud. There you can find
all of the county service buildings. White Cloud does
have an elementary, middle and high school for the local
children. The post office is located down town as well as
a library.
People in the Community Depending on the time of day, I noted that there was not
a lot of people walking around so much in the morning
hours, but as the day went on particulary in the
afternoon I seen more school age children walking
around, as well s some of the older adults walking with
their dogs.
Industries There are a few local factories in this area, as well as
several thrift stores, a local gas station, subway. The
town does not have a lot of shopping centers most
people in the area go to the local centers in nearby
towns. The Newaygo county road commission is a few
short miles north of the White Cloud area where a lot of
residents have employment.
Manufacturing (24%)
Construction (19%)
Administrative and support and waste management
services (18%)
Retail trade (9%)
Health care and social assistance (6%)
Real estate and rental and leasing (5%)
Educational services (4%)

Protective SErvices County and local police agencies are noticed throughout
the area due to the county buildings in this town. There
is a fire station as well as a DNR office.
Ethnicity Accordig to the US census Bureau the racial makeup of the
city was 83.7% White, 7.0% African American, 0.6% Native
American, 0.5% Asian, 3.1% from other races, and 5.2%
from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were
6.5% of the population
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Religion There is not a lot of people in the area who attend

church. According to the Census 71% claim no religion.
14% state they are potestant and the number decrease
with Catholic and other religions.
Health and Morbidity As noted in the county report the 3 top health related
issues are
Politics In 2016 the presidential election white cloud
represented the Republican party more than the
Democratic and thrid parties.