Windshield Survey of

Zeeland
By: Andrew Smith
Katie Miller
Lindsay Bolhuis
Gail Luskin

Windshield Survey
Observation of a community while driving a
car or riding public transportation to collect
data for a community assessment.
(Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p.175)

Introduction
Ottawa County - Zeeland
o
o
o
o

Located NE of Holland and SW of Grand Rapids

Settled in 1874 by Jannes Vande Luyster
County named for the group of Ottawa Indians who
helped the settlers adapt to the region
Current Population - 5,504 (2010)

Why Zeeland?
o

Home to a few members of our class

Definitions
Community - A group of people sharing common interests, needs,
resources, and environment; an interrelating and interacting group of
people with shared needs and interests. (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012,
p.175)
Community Health - What society does collectively to ensure that
conditions exist in which people can be healthy. (Based off of definition
for Public Health) (Harkness & DeMarco, 2012, p.3)
Community as client - Helping a community by focusing on each
individuals health.

Healthy People 2020

Goal: Promote health and reduce chronic disease risk
through the consumption of healthy and nutritious diets
and achievement and maintenance of healthy body
weights
Nursing Role:
Education related to proper nutrition and weight.
Regularly assess BMI

Health Risks in Community

Childhood Obesity
o
o

13.4% of 853 3rd grade students surveyed were

obese (2014)
Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor in the U.S.

Uninsured Population
o
o

The percentage of uninsured residents age 18 to 64 is

13%
Rate for those with less than a high school diploma is
35%

Health Risks in Community

(continued)

Tobacco Use Among Youth

o 9.9% of 4,786 students surveyed had smoked cigarettes
on one or more of last 30 days ((Ottawa County
Department of Public Health, 2013, p. 22)
o This percentage is lower than in years previous
Reportable Diseases
o Higher rates of disease than State of MI for legionellosis,
giardi, histoplasmosis, campylobacter, pertussis, and flulike diseases
o Occurrence of STDs in Ottawa County is lower than the
state.

Windshield Survey: Housing & Zoning

Windshield Survey: Open Space

Windshield Survey: Boundaries

Windshield Survey:
Commons/Gathering Areas

Windshield Survey: Manufacturing

Windshield Survey: Municipal

Buildings

Windshield Survey: Stores & Street

People

Windshield Survey: Education

Windshield Survey: Religion & Politics

Windshield Survey: Health & Morbidity

Windshield Survey: Signs of Decay

Windshield Survey:
Entertainment/Recreation

Analysis
Strengths o Many resources for community members, has both areas for
recreation and business, modern hospital, and multiple sites of
religious worship.
Weaknesses o Unused and dilapidated buildings, and many health risks for
youth.
Suggestions o Developing after school programs on eating healthy and
exercising.
o Refurbishing unused buildings for community meeting places.

Conclusion
The City of Zeeland is a beautiful place to
live and offers many resources to its
community.
Low crime and good maintenance of the
community makes this a great area to raise
children.
Zeeland is a good example of urbanization
and growth.

References
Data & Statistics. (2014). Department of Public Health. Retrieved from:
http://www.miottawa.org
Harkness, G. & De Marco, R. (2012). Community and Public Health
Nursing: Evidence for Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins.
History. (2014). Zeeland. Retrieved from: http://ci.zeeland.mi.us
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People
2020. Retrieved from:
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/nutrition-an
d-weight-status