Community Assessment: Montclair, New Jersey - Essay Example

Community Assessment: Montclair, New Jersey By comparing to national rate, the morbidity and mortality rate in Montclair community is considerably high. The population rate among the Montclair community has been decreasing systematically over the years. The 2010 census confirmed a decrease in population from 38, 977 people in 2000 to 37,699 people in ten years period. The mortality rate is also reported to be high among people aged between 25-44 years. The primary causes of death in Montclair community is excessive drug abuse, lack of adequate healthcare facilities, poor sanitation and other social amenities, HIV/AIDS epidemic and other chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The state or national mortality and morbidity rate is current at 2.1% compared to 3.4% in Montclair Township community (Baron, 2005). The community has several well structured hospitals including Mountainside Referral Hospital, middle class healthcare centers, dispensaries, and community based health organization. The Montclair township health system is also adequately equipped with trained doctors’ nurses, psychiatrists, counselors and psychologists. The Mountainside Hospital is as well commonly known for offering effective and timely Intensive Care Unit services and other specialized services including counseling and guidance services as well as long-term care services that incorporate hospitalization, home based clinics and monthly clinics. However, the available health care services are still insufficient to cater for the health needs of the entire community. Geographically, the community’s main hospital, the Mountainside Hospital is relatively far from a good number of Montclair community members. The high distance is attributed by lack of reliable transportation means as well as limited sufficient transport networks. Additionally, in Montclair health systems, there exist a significant gap between the available health services and the community health needs. The community does not have adequate health personnel to address the sky-rocketing mental cases brought about by increased cases of drug abuse. However, to counter the deficit, the community members have instituted various community health groups to address the multifaceted community health needs and for countering the emerging elderly people health needs. The community based health facilities offers physical and psychological aids to ailing old people and mentally ill patients in the society. To address emergence services in the community, the Montclair Township has provided several ambulances (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2003). The Montclair Township ambulances are expected to offer instant health services and transport services to ailing people in the community. The community’s professionals have formed several voluntary healthcare entities to tackle healthcare issues in the community. Additionally, the core roles of the health department in the community is to offer emergency and long term health services to community members, educate community members on health issues and conducting healthcare related research on the community’s emerging healthcare issues. Despite the existence of several health care programs, the community members have failed to make proper use of the available healthcare services and programs (Koro, 2004). These health statistics indicate that, the community has worked extensively and collaboratively in addressing health issues in the community. However, there are some health areas that require significant improvement to meet the community health needs. Lack of adequate information on the dangers associated with excessive use of drugs as well as lack of adequate prevention measures against chronic diseases are the main leading factors for increased mortality and morbidity rates in the community. Education The Montclair community has a popular public library, Montclair Public Library. The library is accessible to handicapped people as it has special routes for physically challenged people. The library ground floor is specifically preserved for handicapped scholars in the society. Some of the services offered in the library include: provision of learning materials, typing and printing services, e-learning services, and publishing services. Additionally, the Montclair community has 76 schools, 24 of which are pre schools that caters for twelfth grade, five middle private schools that offers 5-8 grade instruction, four high schools that offers 9-11 grade, eight public high schools for 9-11 grade, and 26 private middle schools that offers 5-8 grade. The community members who are at the age of 25 years receive middle school level of education. Montclair is also a home for several special schools that offer specialized training handicapped people. Some of these schools include: Locardaire Academy and Montclair Kimberley academy. Most of schools program does not coincide with the community culture and linguistic diversities. From the statistics, it is clear that, the Montclair Township has several valuable learning institutions that cater for academic and professional needs of the community members including physically challenged people. The availability of learning institutions has as a result played a critical role in improving the community’s leaving standards. However, the administrators should consider increasing the number of learning institutions to minimize congestion in the existing learning institutions Safety and Transport The rate of violence has decreased systematically over the last five years. This is due to the rise in the number of security personnel in the area as well as increased commitment of community members in dealing with security issues in their neighborhoods. In the last five years, the Montclair community has been recognized as national example in security improvement. Compared to other communities in the area, the Montclair community has shown significant improvement in safety and security management. Additionally, by comparing to national security average, the Montclair security is slightly below the national average. Fire and security departments have quick response mechanisms to fire outbreaks and other security issues. The security service department has suitable equipments to facilitate in meeting the community’s security needs. However, the fire department has consistently received criticism from community members for missing the required fire extinguishing equipment and professionals. Additionally, the community under study has adequate ambulance vehicles. However, ambulance transport is highly concentrated in urban areas as opposed to a scarce number of ambulance vehicles in rural areas. The Montclair community has adequate public transport. The community relies on public buses, trains and air in their transportation. Public transport is also consistent and available throughout the day. However, the maintenance of Montclair township highways and streets is inadequate and inconsistent (Mensah, Mokdad and Ford, 2005). There are frequent traffic congestions that lead to slow economic growth and time wastage. The traffic department has also failed in educating the public on traffic safety. Many people in the community do not understand the most effective way of getting in or moving out of a train taxi, buses, and bikes. However, most people in the community understand the need and advantage of using pedestrian section of the road. Moreover, the Montclair community does their shopping in supermarkets, shopping malls, and neighborhood stores. Although not adequate, most of the community shopping facilities are accessible and adequately stoked with the essential goods and services. Based on this statistics, it is clear that, the economic and social development in Montclair is to a great extent brought about the prevailing social economic infrastructures in the areas. However, to meet global standards, the township has an obligation of involving all players in designing the community infrastructures. Communication The Montclair community members rely on local newspapers, billboards, and radio stations as their main sources of acquiring local, regional, and global information. The community has several radio and television stations that include: Montclair Times, Montclair State University radio station, JNTV, the Star-Ledger and the New York Times. The council meetings are as well broadcast through the Municipal Public Service Channel. The Mont-Clarion is as well the commonly known magazine among the Montclair community. In general, most of the community’s communication systems are incredibly reliable and effective. The population is as a result adequately informed on local and global happenings. Village Radio Montclair is one the commonly used radio stations in the region. However, to reduce the communication cost and to necessitate easy access to global information, the Montclair community members ought to incorporate social media services in their communication system. Recreation The Montclair communities have various sporting activities and recreation centers. The township has set aside several playing grounds. Montclair is also commonly known for its attractive nature reserves that include: Brook-dale, Rand Park, Ture Park, Essex Park, Anderson Park, Mountainside Park, Mill Reservation, Yantacaw Brook Park, and Bonsal Nature Park. The sport field in the area include: Montclair State University’s Sprague field and Essex Park Fields. The Montclair Township has committed itself towards maintaining attractive condition in their park, encouraging their popularity to local people and foreigners. Additionally, a good number of the community members are commonly known for visiting nature parks in their recreational activities. Moreover, due their weak physical conditions, disabled population, senior community members and children are encouraged to utilize the available tennis courts, skating rinks and swimming pools in their leisure activities. From this statistics, the popularity of Montclair is to a great extent advanced by its well maintained nature reserves. However, lack of technological improvement has discouraged foreign tourists from visiting the township parks. Religion The Montclair community is dominated by Christian religion with more than 90% of the local residents being Catholics. The community has also built various churches and other houses of worship. Most churches are also built next to public utilities such as public schools or playing grounds. There is also various Faith Based Organizations. A good number of the community Faith Based Organizations seek to address emerging social issues in the community that include: poverty, drug abuse, security, poor health services, and education. Additionally, churches and other houses of worship are also utilized for other purposes such as: holding meetings, seminars and for teaching and training (Phiefer, 2007). A part from being a Christian dominated society, the Montclair community has also incorporated other religions such as: Muslims and Hindus who have also built their own houses of worship and have their own Faith Based Organizations within the community (Ritch, and Benjamin, 2003). Although religion is essential in the community, most people do not rely on religion in their daily activities. This is mostly the case among Christian believers as opposed to Islamic and Hindus believers who greatly value their religions. The incorporation of various religions in Montclair community has significantly contributed towards social development in the area. The metropolitan nature of the community has as result incorporated new ideas and perceptions in the region, which are essential for social development References Baron D. (2005). New Jersey Health Statistics, 2002. Trenton, NJ: New Jersey. Department of Health and Senior Services, 23 (89)345-370. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003). Public health and aging: trends in aging -United States and worldwide. Journal of American Medicine, 12 (52), 101-206. Koro C. (2004). Glycolic control from 1988 to 2000 among U.S. adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 20, (27)17-20. Mensah G., Mokdad A., Ford E., (2005) State of disparities in Montclair state transport sector in the United States of America. Circulation Journal, 23 (111)1233–1241. Phiefer, C. (2007). Montclair Community Church - Religious Building in Montclair, Montclair County, New Jersey, United States. Journal of Mbendi Information Services Ritch, W., Benjamin, K. (2003). County Profiles I: Demographics of New Jersey Communities. New Brunswick, NJ: UMDNJ publishers Read More