Module 4: Windshield Survey Tool Assignment

Social Workers must be able to knowledgeably plan services for individuals, families, and the community. To effectively plan, it is essential that you are aware of the resources specific to the community a client resides in to allow for the identification of health-related resources and to understand gaps in services: Module 4: Windshield Survey Tool Assignment.

A windshield survey is conducted from a car and provides a visual overview of a community. Conditions and trends in the community that could affect the health of the population should be noted. This data provides background and context for working with individuals and families in their community. Information gathered from this survey should be added to this template.

For this assignment, you will conduct a windshield or walking survey. Use the table to help guide your survey. You will submit the completed table with the information you gather. If data is collected (statistical, informational, geographic), be sure to include that information on the reference page, in addition to citing the textbook.

Boundaries

Are the boundaries geographical, political, or economic?

Do neighborhoods have names?

Are there sub-communities?

How are these identified?

Portland, Indiana, is located in Jay County, Indiana. The city covers about 4.9 square miles. Portland’s boundaries are primarily geographical and political, with economic interactions extending beyond these boundaries through regional trade and commerce. When examining the neighborhood and sub-community, Portland is home to many neighborhoods and communities, among them College Corner, City Center, Celina and Portland West.

These areas have residents who have lower-middle income and a significant portion of this population is employed in manufacturing and labor occupations. The median price of real estate is about $99,267, which is a sign that this is a rural neighborhood. There are other nearby cities like Greenville, Muncie, and Decatur. Each of these has unique attractions and lifestyles.

Housing and Zoning

What is the age of the buildings? Are the residences single family or multifamily dwellings?

The city has a mixture of historic and modern-day buildings. There are notable sites and iconic buildings like the Portland Commercial Historic District and Jay County Courthouse. Residential types at Portland are mostly homes for single families, and also there are some multifamily dwellings.

About 67 percent of housing units are personally owned and only 33 percent are rentals. These statistics show that more people own houses, which may mean that a good number of residents have income that is above average.

Signs of Decay

Is the area well maintained or in disrepair? Is there garbage strewn? Are there trashed/abandoned cars, places for rodents or other wildlife to hide, vacant lots?

Signs of decay are very minimal because the city is very well maintained. Garbage collection in this area begins with a 96-gallon mobile garbage bin that is collected, and they pay monthly sanitation fees of about $5.50 monthly. All waste is put in plastic bags before they are collected.

The county also has recycling services that Jay County Solid Waste Management manages. Overall, the city is well-maintained. However, there is a 7.6% housing vacancy rate, which may indicate some properties in disrepair.

Parks and Recreational Areas

Are there play areas for children and adults? Are they safe and maintained? Is there a Community Center? Who uses them?

Portland hosts several parks and recreational facilities, notably, the Hudson family park, for instance, Milton-Miller Park, and the Portland Water parks are an example of outstanding parks in this area. Hudson Family Park is the largest, and due to its size, it also offers outdoor activities like dog parks, an amphitheater, and a sledding hill. Portland West Park has a six-lane pool, lazy river, tube slides and shallow play areas.

Common Areas

Where do people collect for social gatherings; where do they “hang out”? Are they for particular groups or are they open to all? Are there signs posted?

Community gatherings often occur at local churches, civic clubs, and during recreational programs. The city emphasizes the active participation of its citizens in these venues. The social gathering taking place in local churches is mainly for Christian faithful and the churches have signs. Those who are not Christian often gather in civic clubs. The clubs also have signs posted.

Stores

What stores (grocery, retail, drug, dry cleaning, etc.) are in the area? How do residents travel to them?

Portland offers a variety of retail options, including grocery stores, retail shops, and service-oriented businesses. Portland has several retail options, shops, grocery stores and dry cleaning. Walmart Supercenter, for instance, is located at 950 W Votaw St, Family Dollar is located at 1303 N Meridian, and CVS Pharmacy: Found at 120 S Meridian St. There is also the Wash Hse Laundry A Div of Dok located at 120 E Votaw St.

The laundry offers self-service laundry facilities. Then there is the White Spot Coin Laundry & Dry Cleaning offering the same services. Residents typically travel by personal vehicles to access these amenities, as public transportation options are limited.

Transportation

How do most people get around the area? Is there public transportation? If so, what kind, and does it appear to be used? Who uses it? What is the condition of the streets, roads, highways?

The primary mode of transportation is personal vehicles. While it boasts an extensive network of major roadways, specific public transportation services within Portland are not well-documented.

Communication

Is there evidence of local and national newspapers to other media? Are there informational posters on streets, busses, billboards, etc.?

Portland has many local media stations that offer entertainment, news, and communicate information. Commercial Review, for instance, is a newspaper that covers Jay County and its environs. There is also the “Jay Country 101” which is a local broadcasting station offering local news and sports news. WPGW (1440 AM) is its sister station, which offers community information.

Then there is the WZJR (91.7 FM) that serves the East Central Indiana region. These media outlets play a vital role in keeping the residents of Portland informed and entertained.

There are informational posters because Portland, Indiana has different outdoor advertising features like billboards, signage, and other information displays that are found throughout the city. In most cases, these billboards and other outdoor features used for information are placed in high traffic areas because they are strategic.

Service Centers

What services are available in the community – health care, social services, schools, employment offices etc.?

The community is served by various institutions, including healthcare facilities like Jay County Hospital, educational institutions such as Jay County High School, and social services provided by local government and non-profit organizations.

People in the Community

Who is in the area during the day? What evidence is thereof particular “classes” of people – upper, middle, working, lower?

The city of Portland has people commuting to work, and so during the day, it has a mixed population of commuters. It is estimated that at that time the population will increase by about 30 percent. The evidence of different classes of people in this city is seen in the different jobs that people do. Some work in the labor industry.

The income can also be used to show the difference in classes, like the median household income is about $45,431, and more than 14 percent live below the poverty line. These are indicators of different social classes.

Industries

What are the major industries located in the area? What types of occupations are evident?

Portland, Indiana has major industries ranging from manufacturing industries and transportation industries. There are also retail employment sectors. Some of these include the FCC Indiana, which specializes in the production of automotive components, and Tyson Mexican Original, which produces Mexican food. There is also the MSSL Wiring System that manufactures wires and electrical components for vehicles.

The area also has Priority Plastics that manufacture plastic items. The region has a diverse occupational landscape, with manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education, and agriculture being key sectors. Manufacturing and labor-intensive roles are prevalent in automotive parts production, food processing, and plastic packaging.

Retail and service industries, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and agriculture contribute to local employment. These sectors collectively shape Portland’s economic landscape, offering diverse employment opportunities to its residents.

Protective Services

Where are fire and police stations located? Is there evidence of police and fire protection in the area?

Portland houses essential protective services, including fire and police stations, ensuring public safety. The main fire station is located at 1616 N. Franklin St., Portland, IN 47371.

At the same time, the main police station is at 319 N. Meridian St., Portland, IN 47371. Then there is also the Jay County Sheriff’s Office which is serving the entire county area.

Ethnicity

What is the predominant ethnic group? Are there residents from a variety of ethnic backgrounds or is the community mostly one group? Which one? Are there stores, restaurants, churches, schools, or languages that indicate a particular ethnic group(s)?

The population in Portland, Indiana, is diverse, even though the majority are White, making up 87 percent. The African Americans are less than 0.5 percent, the Asians are about 0.8 percent, and other ethnicities are 4 percent. Portland, Indiana, also showcases its cultural diversity through various establishments and institutions.

Churches like First Baptist Church have a Chinese Sunday School, schools like Jay County Christian Academy offer faith-based education, restaurants like East India Co. offer Indian cuisine, and grocery stores like Veranda Asian Market cater to the Asian community. English is the predominant language, but Chinese and Hindi languages also exist

Religion

What churches and church-run schools are in the area (denomination)? How many are there of each denomination?

There are different churches in the city with several denominations. This indicates that the city has religious diversity. There is one notable church run school called Jay County Christian Academy (JCCA)

Health and Morbidity

Is there evidence of any health problems such as drug/alcohol abuse, communicable or chronic diseases, mental illness (etc)?

The most outstanding health issues are chronic illnesses among people aged 65 years and above. Obesity and poor nutrition are also a concern.

Politics

Is there evidence of political activity? Are there any signs that indicate a predominant political party (parties)or concern(s)?

Portland’s political environment is moderately conservative. In the last presidential election, 75.2% of Jay County voters supported the Republican candidate, while 22.8% voted for the Democratic candidate.

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