Introduction
This presentation outlines a community assessment conducted at South Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It would entail a description of the community; display and explanation of data; designing of a genogram; interpretation of important features portrayed in the diagram and making a community diagnosis.
A.1: Community Description-South Ozone Park, Jamaica, Queens, New York
South Ozone Park is geographically located at the southeastern boundary of Queens’ borough. This awesome development aroused out of low class housing projects in the 1990s. On the north of its magnificently transformed landscape is the John F. Kennedy Airport. These boundaries extend outwards from the Aqueduct Racetrack east, towards Van Wyck Expressway. Rockway Boulevard is its main traffic in and outlet (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
Social analysts have described South Ozone Park as being less affluent than Ozone Park in itself, sociologically, judging from the extreme differences in the two communities. Precisely, South Ozone Park is characterized by its population diversity. A distinct presence of African Americans, Trinidadians, Bangladeshis, Guyanese and Hispanics form the core of its population density profile (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
According to 2011 census figures, the total population of South Ozone Park is 44,354.Whites account for 7,823; blacks 16,912; Hispanics 9,865; Asian 11,610; Hawaiian 570; Indians 1,330 and other/classified races 11,251. Gender distribution is 21,457 males and 22,897 females (US Census Bureau, 2012).
These figures indicate a high presence of blacks, Asians and unclassified races. Also, there are more females than males in this community that has a history of predominantly Italian-American population. It has been discovered from my research assessment of South Ozone Park that the African-American as well Afro-Caribbean communities are densely populated in the easternmost districts; Hispanics and Indo Caribbean people are widespread throughout the entire geographical space (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
Importantly, the historic Italian-American population has now been pushed into a small portion south and westerly into the community, which was densely populated by them in the early development of Queens, New York, municipality. They are condensed in areas near the Conduit. The influx of immigrants has greatly revolutionized the population composition of this geographic location being now politically Democrat oriented. It now forms part of the Sixth Congressional district (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
There has been immense infrastructural and social development in this location within the past two decades to the extent that it rivals many of neighboring communities on the real estate market. Home values range from $400,000-$200,000. The present average cost for a house is $173,300.00. With an average household income of $47,584 more than 50% of the population owns their home (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
A health assessment of this community reveals that 53 % have private insurances; 34% have been insured by the estate through Medicaid and Medicare coverage and the remaining 13% are uninsured. Adequate Health facilities are available to service the community (Community Assessment, 2011).
Transportation is provided by New York City Transit through subway located at major intersections sand buses, Q6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Q7 services Rockaway Boulevard; Q 8&9 Lincoln Boulevard; Q10 Lefferts Boulevard and Q6 Suphtin Boulevard (New York City Transit, 2012). Other social service such health care is provided through Jamaica Hospital and many private health care institutions found scattered in the community. Six schools apart of public educational services can be located dispersed within the community (New York City Mayor Community, 2012).
A.2 Display of Data
Population Economic Assessment Status: South Ozone Park, Jamaica Queens New York.
Household income levels
The foregoing data suggests that the economic status of this South Ozone Park community is considerably high compared to neighboring cities and boroughs as it relates to unemployment rates and ownership of liquid assets in the form of real estate. Besides, the average household income data reflects a similar disposition towards prosperity. 44% of the population has an average income between $30,000--$74,000 per year.
Neighborhood/Community Safety Inventory
Crime analysts admitted that there were not distinct figures for South Ozone Park, but that they were included in the statistical data advertised for Queens Borough. Significantly, reports have been that South Ozone Park is noted for drug dealing, and gang activity. There is a constant police presence in Rockaway Boulevard near the Van Wyck Expressway and Suphtin Boulevard where a police officer was recently killed. Crimes high on the index lists are murder, robbery and assault (New York State Department, 2012).
Cultural Assessment Tool
Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Spiritual Baptists religious cultures pervade South Ozone Park. On an average they are scattered among business places on the main streets in the community at an average of one in every sixth place on a block.
Education
The community culture seems to be one that values education from pre K to college, especially, with the strong immigrant influence taking advantage of all available advancement opportunities.
Arts
Artifacts are contained in architecture; infrastructural work done to streets and community play grounds. Sport enterprises are also valuable cultural assets to this environment. This cultural assessment tools in the above diagram portray a rich cultural heritage contained in the community’s food; religion; education; arts and artifacts appreciation of who they are as a people.
Disaster Assessment and planning Guide
South Ozone Park’s disaster planning intervention operates within the Queens Borough protocol. A chain of command is executed in the event of emergencies either man made of natural. Housing infrastructure is code enforced to protect from fire and gas leaks in the 60 year old buildings still standing. There seems to be no potential danger requiring special intervention at the moment
Hospitals and businesses are required by community code enforcement regulations to submit a yearly disaster plan to the Department of health and Homeland Security. Queens New York, borough has a very efficient disaster preparedness plan for its citizens from which South Ozone Park residents stand to benefit tremendously (Green, 2002).
A.3 Community Genogram
A.4 Brief Interpretation of Diagram
Broken lines on the genogram denote areas of weaknesses or where improvement is required. Solid lines indicate where strengths are found within the community. Definitely, crime needs to be addressed from the standpoint of murder, burglary and assault occurrences.
The socio-economic according to the genogram 68% of residents are home owners earning an average income of $30-74,0000;health status wellness is depicted in the amount of privately insured residents and those with Medicaid and Medicare and coverage; there is rich cultural diversity and disaster preparedness is undertaken by the New York state boards which is the municipal government.
A.5 Community Diagnosis
The foregoing description of South Ozone Park predicts a thriving community. The health status profile indicates that even though a significant percentage is uninsured they do take advantage of Medicaid and Medicare facilities offered by the state. Illnesses affecting citizens are typical to their ethnicity and American health culture. Therefore, the diagnosis regarding health status is that residents are relatively healthy at their chronological age.
Socially, the socio-economic status is relatively above average when related to neighboring communities and boroughs. The unemployment rate is just 8%; 44% of its residents earn an average income of $30,000-$74,000 annually and 68% own the homes. However, the crime index for murder, assault and burglary is extremely high despite frequent police surveillance of the environment. From a community diagnosis perspective strategies ought to be implemented to address this dysfunctional behavior among its citizens.
Conclusion
This community assessment discovered strengths and weakness of South Ozone Park, Queens, New York Community. It can be concluded that despite the threatening crime index rate emerging from known gangs and drug trafficking activities it is a very prosperous community.
References
Community Assessment (2011). “Collaboration Center.” Retrieved September 11th, 2012 from http://findyouthinfo.gov/communityAssessment.shtml
Crime Snap Shot (2012) Queens New York. Retrieved September, 11th 2012
From http://www.homefacts.com/crime/New-York/Queens-County/Jamaica.html
New York City Mayor Community (2012). New York Community Boards. Retrieved September 11th 2012 from http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/queens.shtml
New York State Department of Health (2012) Socio Economic Status Indicators Queens County. Retrieved September 11th 2012
From http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/chac/chai/docs/ses_queens.htm
Green Walter (2002). The Incidence Command System for Public Health Disaster Responders. Richmond Virginia. University of Richmond
