Windshield Survey-Coral Springs, Florida
Geographical Description
Coral Springs, which is officially known as the City of Coral Springs, is one of the cities in Broward County in the state of Florida, US. The city is located around 20 miles in the Northwest of Fort Lauderdale. In 1963, the city was officially chartered. It was master planned and developed primarily by Coral Ridge Properties. The name of the city was derived from the development company. Despite the name, the city nevertheless does not have a single natural spring; the state of Florida has its springs located in the North and Central areas (Maps, n.d).
The building codes in Coral Springs are notably very strict and are designed to help maintain the distinctive aesthetic appeal of the city. The effective fiscal management by the local government has maintained high bond ratings, which has seen the city win different accolades, including a low crime rate, overall liveability, and an orientation that is family-friendly. Coral Ridge Properties also established strict sign and landscaping laws for the city. The restrictions that the city has on exterior paint colors, commercial signs, recreational vehicle and boat storage, roofing materials, and specifications on landscaping are enforced strictly, and as a result, the value of the real estate in the city is significantly high in comparison to the rest of the county (Municode, n.d). Consequently, there are no signs of decay in this matriculate city.
Health Resources
Coral Springs is in Broward County, and the county health department oversees the health needs of the city. Services are targeted toward Adults, Adolescents/Youth/Teens, African Americans/Blacks, Gay Men, Risk Persons, the General Public, HIV Positive Persons, Hispanics/Latinos, LGBT, Men Who Have Sex with Men, Low-Income Persons, Persons with Hepatitis, Persons with STDs and Persons with HIV/AIDS. In comparison to the total population at Coral Springs (132,568 as of 2019, according to the US Census Bureau), the number of private practitioners is quite sufficient. There are approximately 415 private practices, which translates to around 320 persons for each practice. I saw approximately 29 practices, 13 dentists, and 9 hospitals and clinics.
The private practices, as well as the community hospitals, offer mental health services and are equipped with pharmacies as well. However, there were a number of pharmacy establishments (23 of them) that I saw. Most of the Health promotion services are done within the healthcare facilities. The billboards that I saw were mainly promoting products that are not health-related. However, I noticed that the fast-food restaurants had many billboards. I did not see any billboards or advertisements that promoted health.
Schools in Coral Springs are expected, as part of their learning, to offer healthy nutritional meals, support wellness, and have physical activities. There are not many occupational health services that are visible on the windshield, and this could be explained by the fact that most services are rendered in community hospitals, while private-owned services could be within buildings and out of sight for a person walking by. One will need to rely on a referral or a location finder to access an occupational therapist.
There are several volunteer organizations, and in this windshield survey, I passed by the Turning Point Transitional Services, which helps youth transition from foster care to live independent lives. Official services in the area include garbage and recycling, water services, and street sweeping programs, among others. There are also different self-help and support groups; I passed by the American Parkinson’s Disease Association on Coral Hills Dr. and the Bobby Resciniti Healing Hearts Foundation on Sample Road.
The majority of the religious institutions in Coral Springs are churches, and these were quite a number, among which was the Chinese Baptist Church in Coral Ridge Drive. I also passed by the Islamic Centre of Coral Springs, which is a place of worship and community for the Islamic faith believers. The stores in Coral Springs are of diverse sizes, with malls, farmers’ markets such as the one on Sample Road, drug stores, and eateries also quite a number. Fast food restaurants are as many as healthy food restaurants, with KFC, McDonald’s, and other fast food appearing more frequented by residents compared to the restaurants that had empty seats. Lastly, most people in Coral Springs drive around in their personal vehicles. Public transportation includes taxis, the Coral Springs community bus, and the Tri-Rail train services.
Citizen Safety and Protective Services
Coral Springs has 8 fire stations, and these are fire stations # 42, #43, #64, #71, #80, #95, #97, and #109. The fire stations have advanced life support suppression and transport rescue units that serve their neighborhoods. The City of Coral Springs Police Department serves approximately 221 police officers for 99 civilian members. The department dedicates itself to providing the highest level of professional service to the city’s visitors, residents, businesses, and citizens. Among the services offered by the department are the school resource officers and hiring an off-shift police officer, among other core services offered.
The City of Coral Springs does not have a shelter for abused women, and victims of abuse have to go to the nearest towns. One of the most renowned shelters for abused persons is the Salvation Army shelter in West Broward Boulevard. This is critical as the city needs accessible places to help victims of abuse. Other shelters are the Aid to Victims of Domestic Violence Palm Beach County and the Association for Abused Women & Children, Inc. – West Palm Beach, among others. Also, Coral Springs has organized neighborhood watch programs that are concerned with preserving the safety of neighborhoods.
Services Offered by Senior Citizens
Coral Springs has 50 city parks that cover 100s of acres. The open spaces make it an ideal retirement place for elderly persons who love nature. There are a number of assisted living centers in Coral Springs, such as the Park Summit, located close to restaurants, historic sites, performing arts, golf courses, outdoor activities, entertainment, and shopping. There is no onsite location for Meals on Wheels, though the senior citizens are served by the South Florida Meals on Wheels, which is funded by the State of Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs, Aging and Disability Resource Centre of Broward County, and The Jim Moran Foundation as well as with the funds availed by the Fair Share dollars, Federal Older American’s Act, and from Private Donations.
The Parks and Recreation Department of Coral Springs offers a broad range of programs for persons of all ages. The city has playgrounds, open spaces, and passive parks. In the windshield survey, I visited the Coral Springs Gymnasium and the Aquatic Complex. The city also has a tennis center and offers bus transportation services for the elderly.
Community Welfare Services
The Food Assistance Program helps in ensuring that eligible low-income individuals and families are able to access a nutritious diet. The food assistance program benefits aim at supplementing other household income and are only used for food purchases. Florida Kid Care is another program that offers low-cost and affordable health insurance for children in Florida who do not have insurance. In addition, there is the state-owned Florida Medicaid partnership that provides selected categories of health coverage for low-income residents. The purpose of Medicaid is to improve the health of people, including those living in Coral Springs, who might otherwise go without medical care.
Summary and Conclusion
The windshield survey showed that Coral Springs is generally healthy. The area is clean, and the city is safe to live in. However, what is worrying is that the city does not appear to have sufficient support for the abused in society. This implies that a certain percentage of the population is ignored or is not given the attention it needs. Abuse of a spouse or child can be traced back to mental health issues and should not be neglected. When abuse goes unattended in the family setting, it can escalate into something serious, including crime and murder in the community. Coral Springs, though safe, could very well be a breeding ground for mentally ill persons, and the lack of support centers could be perceived as the community being detached from the fact that mental illness is a real issue. That said, this community needs to embark on mental health awareness for its residents. When mental health is discussed openly, in public forums, or broadcasted via media, it may help people come out and seek help, discuss their issues, and together help each other to live not just in a safe city but in safe homes as well.
References
Maps (n.d). Coral Springs. https://www.mapsof.net/coral-springs
Municode (n.d). Coral Springs, Fl. https://library.municode.com/fl/coral_springs/codes/land_development_code?nodeId=CH2BURE
US Census Bureau (n.d).Quick Facts: Coral Springs, Fl. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/coralspringscityflorida
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Question 
Windshield Survey: This is NOT an exam; it is a scholarly assignment; a narrative using APA format is required.
The Windshield Survey is comprised of general qualitative observations that give you a snapshot of the community that you can capture as you drive/walk through the community. The demographic data can be obtained online, through the public library, county or township administration buildings. This assignment is about your community; thus, use your Community Assessment Reference Guide to collect the data from your ZIP code. Please address the following in a narrative format following APA guidelines; a heading is required for each section:
Windshield Survey-Coral Springs, Florida
1. Health Resources
a. Type of services available: health department, private MD, dentist, hospital clinic,
b. pharmacy, health promotion, mental health
c. School and occupational health services
d. Official and voluntary services
e. Self-help and support groups
f. Service organizations, faith-based programs
g. Stores (grocery, retail, drug, dry cleaning, etc.
h. Transportation
2. Citizen safety and protective services
a. Police and fire
b. Shelters for victims of abuse
c. Others: neighborhood watch etc.
Boundaries, geographical, political, or economic, how is it seen?
Housing a zoning
Sign of decay
3. Services provided by senior citizens senior centers, meals on Wheels, transportation, daycare, and term care.
a. Parks and recreational areas
4. Community welfare services beyond city/state aid as provisions for emergency food, shelter, and clothing.
The conclusion is your assessment of your finding- healthy or not?
Community: CORAL SPRINGS FLORIDA. ZIP CODE: 33067