Community Simulation Activity: Three Problems for Sentinel City

Running head: COMMUNITY SIMULATION ACTIVITY 1
Part C: Community Diagnosis
Three Problems for Sentinel City
The Healthy People 2020 is a health initiative that was launched by the United States
Department of Health and Human Services in 2010 with the aim to improve the overall health
of the American people. The Health People initiative is guided by four comprehensive goals
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2013):
i. Attainment of quality and prolonged lives characterized by prevention of disease,
injury, and premature death.
ii. Ensuring health equity prevails, eliminating disparities, and improving the health of
individuals across the lifespan.
iii. Building healthy social and physical environments to promote the attainment of good
health; and
iv. Advocating for quality life, healthy development across the lifespan, and attainment
of healthy behaviors for all.
Three Health Concerns in Sentinel City
In reference to the above-mentioned four overarching goals that are highly branched to
include 42 topic areas, the three problems identified within Sentinel City include:
a. Negative Lifestyle
Negative lifestyle is aligned to the Health People 2020 in the domain of health-related
quality of life and wellbeing where an individual’s way of living has a substantial influence
on his or her physical, social, and mental functioning as influenced by the environment
(Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], 2020). There is a high
number of restaurants and outside home eateries as well as the presence of individuals with
large body sizes, all suggesting that the social, physical, and mental health of an individual
can be made better by promotion of healthy behaviors to enhance quality of life across the

COMMUNITY SIMULATION ACTIVITY 2
lifespan. Food quality in restaurants does not really give importance to nutritive value
because taste and presentation are given more importance; hence the physical health which
eventually affects the social and mental health is affected (Namkung & Jang, 2007). The food
might be high in calories and some of the harmful nutrients, such as sodium and cholesterol.
Movement is limited in Industrial Heights compared to the other districts; yet,
mobility and associated physical activity are important in the attainment of physical health.
There is an indication that abortion goes on in Industrial Heights suggesting cultural
connotations linked to pregnancy because it is only in Industrial Heights, which is
predominantly African-American, that pregnancy is an issue. Once again, the goal of healthy
behavior is emphasized because sexuality seems to be a problem as seen in the billboard
hanging suggesting the normalcy of pregnancy termination that affects the physical, mental,
and social domains of a quality life. The community members’ perceptions of unexpected
pregnancy is life-threatening and attaining quality life is thwarted. Also, there is the issue of
drug issue within the city as shown by billboards. Drugs impede the attainment of quality life
and overall wellbeing (ODPHP, 2020).
b. Inequality in Availability of Social and Health Services
The distribution of health resources is not equal because Industrial Heights has the
least resources which could be explained by the fact it has the lowest median household
income. Whereas in Nightingale, Acer Tech and Casper Park Districts have more social
amenities, Industrial Heights has fewer resources which is not in alignment with the Healthy
People 2020 goal of enhancing access to “comprehensive and quality” health care services
(ODPHP, 2020). While there should be products and services to promote healthy behavior for
all, most of the health promotion billboards are better distributed in Nightingale, Acer Tech,
and Casper Park districts and sparsely placed in Industrial Heights. Also, there are no senior
living homes in Industrial Heights, and there is only one healthcare facility: Better Health

COMMUNITY SIMULATION ACTIVITY 3
Clinic, which is seemingly a small facility whose capacity to address the health needs of the
people at Industrial Height, farthest from Sentinel Hospital, is not guaranteed. Such limitation
explains why pregnancy is an issue in the district. Apart from Better Health Clinic, there is no
other health facility in the district. In addition, there are no drug stores and dentist services in
close proximity within Industrial Heights and such lack tends to compromise the health of the
people within the district.
c. Unhealthy Environment
Rodents can be seen jumping and running in areas where there are heaps of garbage
or waste contrary to the advocacy by the Health People 2020 goals to create a safe
environment free of toxic substances and hazardous wastes (ODPHP, 2020). This element is
further exacerbated by the presence of stray animals, like the stray dog near the soup kitchen.
Such stray dogs are usually not well cared for in the context of vaccination; hence, if it
accidentally attacks and bites a person, it could cause infection that could be prevented if the
dog was under someone’s care. There are damaged vehicles lying on the roads. There is no
clear indication of how the city manages its wastes, which are the major environmental issue
(ODPHP, 2020).
Community Resources
The presence of healthcare services, for example, the Sentinel Hospital and Better
Health Clinic presumably play a significant role in promoting health behavior to avoid
overburdening the healthcare system with preventable conditions. There are recreation spaces
where individuals can engage in physical activity; the school has a playing ground and the
city has spaces either in front or behind the buildings where individuals can use to engage in
activities either as individuals if safe or as groups. The presence of a communication medium
is a strong attribute for the city because it can be used to engage individuals in health
promotion campaigns in Industrial Heights to help the people gain inform. The radio station