Description of the Salisbury Community - Report Example

NEEDS AND STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT Student’s Name Professor Course Date Description of the Salisbury Community The city of Salisbury is a local government area (LGA) which is located in South Australia, in the northern fringes of Adelaide. It encompasses an area of about 158.1 km2 (61 sq miles) and has an estimated population of about 130,022 people (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). The “City of Tea Tree Gully borders the city of Salisbury on the east whereas the City of Playford borders it in the north. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield borders Salisbury on the south whereas the Gulf St Vincent borders Salisbury on the west. The City has rural localities and suburbs, for instance, “Bolivar, Cavan, Brahma Lodge, Burton, Direk, Edinburgh, Dry Creek, Globe Derby Park, Green Fields, Mawson Lakes, Elizabeth Vale, Ingle Farm, Gulfview Heights, Para Hills, Para Vista, Para Hills West, Parafield, Paralowie, Parafield Gardens, Salisbury, Pooraka, Salisbury East, Salisbury Downs, Salisbury North, Salisbury Park, Salisbury Heights, Salisbury Plain, St Kilda, Valley View, Salisbury South, Waterloo Corner and Walkley Heights” (“City of Salisbury,” 2012, par. 1). The city is largely residential however; it has significant commercial, rural, and industrial areas. It has an airport, numerous parks, walking trails, reserves, as well as wetlands. The city also horticultural ventures, mostly vegetable growing, situated on the urban development western fringes. The City is well known for its technology, industry, as well as environmental ventures and has gotten international recognition for developing wetlands technology, particularly in Edinburg and Parafield Airport. There are numerous community facilities such as recreational centers, community centers, memorial park, reserves, parks and venues for hire in the City of Salisbury. The city environment consists of waste, wetlands and water, urban development and transport, sustainability and climate change, wholesale Plant Nursery, trees as well as emergency management. The community of the Salisbury has various centers and activities such as volunteering, seniors, community centers’, youth, sports disability, healthy living, sports, access, youth, learning and creation activities. The city of Salisbury has a large proportion of young people and a considerable number of people over 60 years (City of Salisbury, 2012). According to the “Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006), 43.8% of all families in Salisbury were those with child (ren) whereas 20.2% were single parent families.” About 71.9% of all the households in Salisbury were family households. The enumerate data for families with child (ren) below 15 years were 9,608, families with children 15 years and above were 4,708. The total number of couples with child (ren) was 14,316. The families headed by single parents that had children aged below 15 years were 3,966 whereas those with children aged 15 years and above were 2,645. The total single parent family in Salisbury is 6,611. The couples without any children in Salisbury are 11,275 whereas other families are 477 bringing the total families in Salisbury to 32,679. The 2006 census also revealed that there are 2,046 Torres Strait and Aboriginal Islanders living in Salisbury. About 26% of the population (30,492) was born overseas. Of the people born overseas, about 3% are from United States or Canada, 4% is from Africa or Middle East, 3% from South pacific or New Zealand, 23% from Asia, 26% from Europe, and 39% from Ireland or the United Kingdom. The City of Salisbury has a Council whose principal role is providing for management and government of its area at the local level. The council is required to Act as a responsible, informed, and representative decision make in the community interests. Offer and organize various public facilities and services as well as development of the community and its resources in an ecologically sustainable and socially just way. To develop and encourage initiatives within the Salisbury community in order to improve the quality of life To represent the community interests to the larger community To perform, exercise as well as discharge functions, powers and duties of the local government (City of Salisbury, 2012). 9.7% of the City of Salisbury population is aged 5 to 11 years whereas 8.7% of the population is aged 12 to 17 years. Nature of the Childhood Obesity The prevalence of obesity in Australia has been rising steadily for the last thirty years. The “National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity” Survey 2007, showed that nearly a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese (National Preventative Health Taskforce, 2008). Around 600,000 children (a quarter of Australian Children) of age 5-17 years were obese or overweight in 2007-2008 which was 4% point up from 1995. Regarding obesity cases only, the rate for children in the same age bracket increased to 7.5% in 2007-2008 from 5.2% from 1995. According to AIHW (2004), studied have pointed to the fact that once children become obese, they have high chances of staying obese even as adults and have increased chances of developing related medical conditions. A quarter South Australian children are overweight or obese ,moreover there are indicators that this number are still growing at an annual rate of 1% which shows that half of all the young Australians will be obese by 2025”. The overweight/obese problem is of considerable public health matter owing to its connection to an array of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, various cancers, and cardiovascular disease. There are communities whose children are more at risk of becoming obese than others, for instance aboriginal community with lower education, low incomes, less secure employment are more prone. For the period 1985-1995, obesity as well as overweight problems in Australian children increased twofold whereas the obesity levels tripled for both sexes and all age groups. In South Australia, the obesity or overweight prevalence increased considerably. Vaska & Volmer (2004) study pointed out that that the number of overweight or obese four-year-old girls rose to 22% from 13% between 1995-2002 while the number of overweight or obese boys rose to 18% from 10%. Obese children are often at risk of numerous psychological problems, which are short term, and various long-term physical disorders. Some of the short-term problems that obese children face at an early age are poor self-esteem, isolation, and bullying. Nonetheless, the long-term disorders that the children suffer from, as they grow older are Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Some of these disorders are very serious and at times even lead to death. As a result, it is very significant to implement prevention measures before problems related with obesity become worse in the Salisbury community. The two factors, which have contributed to the rise in the number of obese children, are eating unhealthy diets as well as lack of exercise. The Department of health (2006) proposed that being overweight or obese is caused by ‘under activity’ and ‘over-eating’ where energy used is surpassed by the one consumed. This points that encouraging children to consumer a healthy diet and to be physically active generates superior control of this issue; these two aspects bring about preservation of a healthy weight, which is critical for health growth as well as development as children and throughout life. They offer a basis for coping with the daily life stressors, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and improve the children general sense of well-being. In addition, a community whereby more children are very active and whereby they enjoy healthy food with family and friends has other numerous benefits beyond those of the individuals. Active and healthy children learn better, build stronger communities, and better places for living. There is thus need to develop a community-wide intervention for promoting healthy eating for prevention of childhood obesity, in the local government area of Salisbury. Resources and Relationships within the Community There are programs, organizations, services, and structures, which can contribute to a nutrition intervention. There are also potential partners and stakeholders who can contribute to a nutrition intervention and take part in the community wide intervention for promoting healthy eating for prevention of childhood obesity. OPAL (Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle) OPAL is one of the most important programs in Salisbury, which tackles the issue of obesity in the community. OPAL is a joint Local, Federal, State, and government healthy weight program for people aged 1-18 in the community. It is a plan that entails all people in the community working collectively in an effort to craft all types of ways to practice and benefit from eating healthy foods and to enjoy being physically active (City of Salisbury, 2012). OPAL program stakeholders can thus contribute to a nutritional community wide intervention for reducing childhood obesity. The stakeholders can support the community through coordination of activities and initiating changes to community services to ensure that children have healthy food choices. Through OPAL information regarding healthy food options for children can be provided to the parents to assist them make healthy choices. OPAL supports children to stay healthy and be active through their families and communities. This program is managed by the Salisbury local government and cooperates with people to generate chances for eating healthy foods and being physically active (City of Salisbury, 2012). The program offers new information yearly regarding healthy diets and physical activities. OPAL healthy messages consist of ‘Water. The Original Cool Drink’ ‘Make it a Fresh Snack’ ‘Think Feet First, cycle, scoot to school’ and ‘Give the Screen a rest. Active Play is best’. These projects can also be employed to progress the community wide interventions for reducing the number of obese children in the society. The program offers the City of Salisbury children the best opportunity for living a healthy life; reside in a community where many methods of being physically active are accessible; learn safe attractive pathways for cycling or walking to school or work. OPAL also endeavors to develop family handiness in preparing delicious and healthy foods for the family; recognize healthy foods and to remain in good health and have sufficient energy for undertaking the activities that they enjoy. The community wide intervention proposed by this study will enable children to eat healthy foods so that they can lead a healthy life and this will be possible through programs and stakeholders of OPAL. The initiative will enable the children to have more energy, to be more confident-have self-esteem, to sleep better and to have improved healthy with reduced possibility of diseases such as, cardiovascular diseases, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, various cancers, and type 2 diabetes. The initiatives proposed will help keep families healthy and this will in turn make the Salisbury community a better worthwhile place to reside- whereby residents have fewer lasting healthy conditions. OPAL is an obesity prevention program, which is community based and hence basing the community wide intervention will be successful. The Council The City of Salisbury Council is charged with roles such as acting as an informed and responsible decision maker in the interests of the community. The intervention proposed will thus have to meet the approval of the council who will approve that it is in the community interests. The council encourages and develops initiatives within the community and hence to improve the quality of life for the children, this community wide intervention will be one such intervention. The participation and endorsement of this initiative by the council will lead to its acceptance and effectiveness in the Salisbury community. The council will thus also be important in providing relevant data regarding children. Parents Parents are also an important stakeholder who will contribute to the successful of the community wide intervention. Parents are at the core of this intervention as they have a larger responsibility in the children lives and they can promote healthy diets and active lifestyles. Insufficient physical activity and unhealthy diets are the main causes of obesity and overweight in Salisbury community and since considerable time is spent at home, parents can ensure that the children consume healthy foods and engage in physical activities to burn up calories. The school The school is also an important stakeholder in this case- other than the time spent at home with parents, children spend this time in learning institutions. Schools can also be used to teach children on healthy diets and reduce sedentary behaviors. Some of the foods served in school canteens also contribute to the increase of obesity cases in the community. Institutions such as children centers and other education setting such as high schools and universities can also play an important part in reducing childhood obesity. Community Services Community services in Salisbury such as youth services, community houses, service meeting, and disability organizations, which endeavor to meet the needs of the communities, can also be used in promotion of healthy eating. The other major stakeholders for procuring healthy foods as well as supporting children to be physically active include sport and recreational centers and clubs as well as the health and fitness industry, public places such as museums, sparks and zoos and major events for campaigns. The workplaces and supermarkets are also an important for passing on information on healthy diets. Action areas in the Community Wide intervention and relevance of these stakeholders The action areas in this intervention entail The first action area entail mobilizing the community in order to take action regarding promotion of healthy dietary habits and active lives amongst children and recognizing their achievements. The council will play an imperative task in mobilizing the community and recognition of the public achievements in reducing childhood obesity. The second action area entails ensuring that the places where the children live, learn, play, eat make it easy for them to eat a healthy diet and be active. The important stakeholders in this action area are parents and schools as children spend most of their time either with their parents or in school. Parents and schools will be engaged in this intervention and their roles will entail giving children healthy foods. The third action area entails promotion of implementation of policies, which improve the social, built, and natural environment, which support the City of Salisbury children to consume healthy foods and to be physically active. It is hard to make healthy choices concerning children when there are many barriers, such as vending machines in schools stocked with chocolate bars and sugary drinks. There is need to create environments which encourage and support healthy behaviors for the intervention to be successful. Changes in policy should be integrated into normal children environment and practices. The council can put into practice such healthy food practices in schools, for instance by banning junk food in cafeterias, this is one of the best mechanisms for creating healthier environments and achieving extensive changes in unhealthy eating habits among children The fourth action entails provision of a wide range of programs, information, as well as services to assist children to consume healthy foods , be more physically active and to have a healthy weight through paying specific attention to the children most at risk of becoming obese. The intervention will target the entire population with the intention of reaching the wider community. Individual children, families, as well as communities, particularly those more at risk will require added support to eat a healthy diet, to be active and to maintain a healthy weight. According to Penm (2008), indigenous Australians are prone to be obese 1.9 times as non-indigenous Australians, 1.2 times prone to be overweight, and over three times prone to be morbidly obese. Indigenous Australians are thus more prone to be obese than non-indigenous Australians. There is thus need to offer additional support for indigenous Australians children. There is also need for innovative, evidence-based services, and programs, which can help to support the parents and children understanding regarding why it is critical to change their diets, change their attitude and address risk factors for obesity. Children have different diets, physical activities as well as weight issues and needs as different stages and there is need to facilitate the availability of constant information. There is also need for identifying people with biomedical and behavioral risk factors and referral ways for support, advice, and management of the problem. Salisbury has many locations, for instance community centers, childcare centers, youth groups, learning institutions, cultural programs, sports, and recreation organizations through which the proposed intervention can pass health dietary messages. There is also need to work with the primary healthcare system and GPS to ensure that positive health messages are continuously offered to parents and tailored towards individual needs. Physical activity is also a critical aspect of good health and establishment of this link in the community will lead the parents to achieve better health outcomes for their children. OPAL is one of the good programs established for reducing childhood obesity nevertheless there is need for other programs as the number of obese children is rising every year. There is also need to supporting enjoyable children activities for instance walking and dancing to assist as many children in the community. The fifth action area is ensuring that there are a wide range of enablers in Salisbury through strong partnership with parents and school, coordination methods for ensuring that children consume fruits and vegetables. Vegetable and fruits have high quantity of water, fiber, as well as a low energy mass (Riley & McCarthy, 2007), therefore they are an important approach for preventing obesity in the City of Salisbury when it comes to children Reference List Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2004-05, no. 4715.0, ABS, Canberra. Australian Institute of Health Policy Studies, 2008, National Prevention Summit, Available at: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010, Australia’s health 2010. Australia’s health series no. 12. Cat. no. AUS 122. Canberra: AIHW Australian Society for the Study of Obesity, Obesity in Australian Children: definition and prevalence, viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.asso.org.au/freestyler/gui/ files//factsheet_children_prevalence.pdf Childhood (5-12 years). viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.aihw.gov.au/workarea/downloadasset.aspx?id=6442459897 City of Salisbury 2012, OPAL Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle, viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/Our_City/Community/Healthy_Living/OPAL_Obesity_ revention_and_Lifestyle City of Salisbury 2012, Council, viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/Council City of Salisbury 2012, Our City, viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/Our_City City of Salisbury 2012, Services, viewed September 13, 2012, http://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/Services Department of Health 2006, Healthy Weight Fact Sheet 1: What does the data say about weight, nutrition and physical activity, Government of South Australia. National Preventative Health Taskforce, 2008, Australia: the healthiest country by 2020 A discussion paper, viewed at: Penn, E 2008. Cardiovasculardisease and its associated risk factors in aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2004–05, Cardiovascular disease series no. 29. Cat. No. CVD 41, AIHW, Canberra. Riley, M & McCarthy, L 2007, ‘Indigenous communities’, Chapter 8 in Public Health Nutrition: From Principles to Practice, eds M Lawrence and Tony Worsley, Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest, NSW. The Eat Well be Active strategy for South Australia 2011-2016, Government of South Australia 2011. Vaska V & Volkmer R 2004,‘Increasing Prevalence of Obesity in South Australian 4-year-olds: 1995-2002’, J. Paediatr. Child Health, vol 40, p. 353. Appendix City of Salisbury Needs & Strength Assessment Survey The following survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. Please tick all the boxes, which apply to your response 1. How old are you? 15-25 years 36-45 years above 56 years 26- 35 years 46-55 years 2. Do you live in the City of Salisbury Yes No, Please Specify where you live ……………………….. 3. Are you an indigenous or non-indigenous Australian Indigenous Non-indigenous 4. Are your children weights above the recommended weight? Yes No 5. If Yes, What do you believe has led to this? 6. Are there sufficient programs in the City of Salisbury to deal with the issue of Childhood Obesity Yes No How many do you know and are they effective 7. What do you think has led to the increased cases of childhood obesity in Salisbury 8. Do you feed your children a healthy diet? Yes No 9. Are fruits and vegetables part of the diet offered to the children? Yes No 10. Are you aware of the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables? Yes No 11. Are your children physically active/do they partake in any physical activity? Yes No 12. What foods are offered in the schools that your children go to? 13. What do you think could be done in the community to reduce the number of obese children 14. Do you know that you have an important role in reducing obesity cases in the City of Salisbury Yes No Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey! Read More

The City of Salisbury has a Council whose principal role is providing for management and government of its area at the local level. The council is required to Act as a responsible, informed, and representative decision make in the community interests. Offer and organize various public facilities and services as well as development of the community and its resources in an ecologically sustainable and socially just way. To develop and encourage initiatives within the Salisbury community in order to improve the quality of life To represent the community interests to the larger community To perform, exercise as well as discharge functions, powers and duties of the local government (City of Salisbury, 2012). 9.7% of the City of Salisbury population is aged 5 to 11 years whereas 8.

7% of the population is aged 12 to 17 years. Nature of the Childhood Obesity The prevalence of obesity in Australia has been rising steadily for the last thirty years. The “National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity” Survey 2007, showed that nearly a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese (National Preventative Health Taskforce, 2008). Around 600,000 children (a quarter of Australian Children) of age 5-17 years were obese or overweight in 2007-2008 which was 4% point up from 1995.

Regarding obesity cases only, the rate for children in the same age bracket increased to 7.5% in 2007-2008 from 5.2% from 1995. According to AIHW (2004), studied have pointed to the fact that once children become obese, they have high chances of staying obese even as adults and have increased chances of developing related medical conditions. A quarter South Australian children are overweight or obese ,moreover there are indicators that this number are still growing at an annual rate of 1% which shows that half of all the young Australians will be obese by 2025”.

The overweight/obese problem is of considerable public health matter owing to its connection to an array of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, various cancers, and cardiovascular disease. There are communities whose children are more at risk of becoming obese than others, for instance aboriginal community with lower education, low incomes, less secure employment are more prone. For the period 1985-1995, obesity as well as overweight problems in Australian children increased twofold whereas the obesity levels tripled for both sexes and all age groups.

In South Australia, the obesity or overweight prevalence increased considerably. Vaska & Volmer (2004) study pointed out that that the number of overweight or obese four-year-old girls rose to 22% from 13% between 1995-2002 while the number of overweight or obese boys rose to 18% from 10%. Obese children are often at risk of numerous psychological problems, which are short term, and various long-term physical disorders. Some of the short-term problems that obese children face at an early age are poor self-esteem, isolation, and bullying.

Nonetheless, the long-term disorders that the children suffer from, as they grow older are Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Some of these disorders are very serious and at times even lead to death. As a result, it is very significant to implement prevention measures before problems related with obesity become worse in the Salisbury community. The two factors, which have contributed to the rise in the number of obese children, are eating unhealthy diets as well as lack of exercise.

The Department of health (2006) proposed that being overweight or obese is caused by ‘under activity’ and ‘over-eating’ where energy used is surpassed by the one consumed. This points that encouraging children to consumer a healthy diet and to be physically active generates superior control of this issue; these two aspects bring about preservation of a healthy weight, which is critical for health growth as well as development as children and throughout life.

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