Public health and community health providers need to apply their competencies and monitor the existing health conditions in different regions. They need to collaborate with social workers and clinicians to support the wellbeing of more community members. The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed assessment of Miami City, Florida. The findings can guide different professionals to introduce health promotion strategies to improve the health outcomes of the targeted beneficiaries.
The selected interviewee works as a public health provider in Miami City. This urban community has a population of around half a million people (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020). It lies strategically at the heart of Miami-Dade County. In terms of boundaries, Kay Bicayne lies on the South, Coral Gables on the West, and Miami Beach on the East. The land size is around 150 square miles. As the capital of Miami-Dade, this city records numerous economic activities that are intended to support the performance of the entire county.
The people living in Miami are diverse since they belong to diverse racial backgrounds. The majority of them are whites and Hispanics at around 72 percent while African Americans comprise around 19 percent (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020). The geopolitical and geographical aspects are hard to understand since the people are found dispersed across the city irrespective of their cultural backgrounds. The city fairs well in terms of educational attainment with 27 percent having higher education. Over 80 percent of the population has attained High School education. The majority of the citizens, at around 72 percent, have good income and live above the poverty line.
Despite the ethnic differences recorded in Miami, the majority of the citizens know how to coexist. They use English to communicate and take their racial backgrounds seriously. They engage in common practices and celebrations. They interact freely and consider some of the phenomenological features that can support their goals in the community. Cases of disagreements or discrimination are usually low in this community.
Human beings are social in nature and will relate with each other positively to pursue their common goals. In Miami City, this trend is noticeable whereby individuals share responsibilities irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds and social values (Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, 2019). However, they still focus on their family units and consider actions that can make their specific racial groups more successful.
The community members of Miami collaborate to pursue their common goals. Some of them include better policies and governance, availability of health services, and reduction of crime. They interact freely to engage in cleanup exercises to reduce the negative impacts of pollution. They support campaigns aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of all individuals. Such essential measures are capable of transforming the life experiences of different citizens in this urban region.
The existence of barriers and challenges tend to affect people’s life and health experiences. Some of the common ones include joblessness, inequality, and lack of education. Such forces have resulted in poverty and homelessness. The leading social determinants of health include the use of traditional medical practices, eating habits and behaviors, and family units. Some people spend their money on traveling and alcohol use.
The availability of resources will dictate how members of a given society solve their common problems. In Miami, different agencies, organizations, and individuals will come together and contribute funds to solve some of the existing issues. The government supports different insurance programs to ensure that positive health results are recorded, such as Medicaid and Medicare. The consideration of these strategies explains why the majority of the people record improved health experiences and outcomes in the selected community.
Partnership programs are common in this city and they make it possible for the beneficiaries to solve some of the issues affecting them, such as homelessness, poverty, and alcoholism. They liaise with police officers and NGOs to minimize cases of domestic violence. Religious and youth-based organizations are sources of inspiration and partnership in the community.
The selected respondent for this exercise identified obesity as a major health challenge affecting Miami City at 22 percent. Immunizations were available and provided in a timely manner. Dental and safety programs were also common. Human services professionals and health providers were always engaged to meet the demands of more citizens and promote referral procedures. Miami City faces diverse challenges that affect people’s experiences and health outcomes. Some of them include air, water, and noise pollution. Pesticide uses are not notified to members of the public. However, people are required to wash their hands with soap while institutions should maintain the highest safety standards. Falls are common while some people lead sedentary lifestyles. The respondent indicated that the majority of Miamians had access to YMCA facilities. The primary means of transportation included cars and buses. The city was characterized by increased noise levels, longer working hours, and medical conditions that affected people’s access to rest (Javanparast et al., 2018). Health programs are also common for HIV, growth and development, and birth control. The city government implements appropriate initiatives to prevent violence, minimize cases of poverty, and improve the welfare of the targeted beneficiaries.
Despite the opportunities and positive experiences recorded in Miami, around 22 percent of the population is still obese (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2020). A powerful health promotion strategy is needed to protect these patients and encourage them to eat healthy foods and engage in physical activities. This move will make it easier for them to overcome these diseases: diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and cancer.
In conclusion, this presentation has identified Miami as a health community due to the role of different health professionals and agencies. Miami-Dade County has put in place the relevant measures to improve people’s health experiences. However, a new promotion strategy is essential to address the problem of obesity. The ultimate aim is to ensure that more Miamians lead better and healthy lives.
Reference
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. (2020). Florida. Web.
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. 2019 Community Health Assessment Miami-Dade County, Florida. Web.
Florida Health. (2017). Florida’s state health assessment. Web.
Haughton, J., Ayala, G., Burke, K. H., Elder, J. P., Montañez, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2015). Community health workers promoting physical activity: Targeting multiple levels of the social-ecological model. The Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 38(4), 309-320. Web.
Javanparast, S., Windle, A., Freeman, T., & Baum, F. (2018). Community health worker programs to improve healthcare access and equity: Are they only relevant to low- and middle-income countries? International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 7(10), 943-954. Web.
Miami Matters. (2020). Adults who are obese. Web.
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Policy briefs. 2020, Web.