The Whitehall Community

1. The Whitehall Community By: Amanda Belcher, Laura Board and Josh Ramey

2. General Information • Community Type: Located in Metro area of Columbus • Geographic description: • Latitude: 39.966 N Longitude: 82.885 W Profile for Whitehall, Ohio, OH. (2007). Retrieved September 13, 2011, from http://www. epodunk.com/cgi.bin/genInfo.php?IocIndex=17598

3. Total Population Community Total Population: 18, 452 in July 2009 Median age: 34.6 years Unemployment rate: 7.5% in March 2011 Per Capital Income: $ 18, 663 in 2009 Per Family Income: $ 42, 449 (2005-2009) Families Below Poverty level (%): 11.1 in 2000 State Total Population: 11,536,504 in 2010 Median age: 36.2 years Unemployment rate: 9.0% in March 2011 Per Capital Income: $24,830 in past 12 months Per Family Income: $59,208 (2005-2009) Families Below Poverty level (%): 15.1in 2009 (Family Below Poverty Level is not a fair comparison)

4. Annual Household Income: • Community • Less than $14,999: 18.1 % 1388 No. • $15,000-24,999: 18.8 % 1443 No. • $25,000-49,999: 32.7 % 2339 No. • Total number of households: 7681 • State • Less than $14,999: 15.1 % 683,695 No. • $15,000-24,999: 12.2 % 555,649 No. • $25,000-49,999: 27.1 % 1,228,325 No.

5. Marital Status • Single: 30.8 % 4649 No. Male: 33.4% Female: 28.5% • Married: 41.3 % 6231 No. Male: 45.2% Female: 37.8% • Separated: 4 % 609 No. Male: 3.9% Female: 4.2% • Widowed: 6.9 % 1054 No. Male: 3.9% Female: 4.2% • Divorced: 16.9 % 2543 No. Male: 14.3% Female: 19.2 %

6. Racial/Ethnic Composition • Caucasion: 74.4 % 14285 No. • Black: 19.16 % 3678 No. • American Indian: 0.39 % 74 No. • Hispanic: 2.95 % 566 No. • Asian: 2.04 % 391 No. • Whitehall City, Ohio Statistics and Demographics. (2000). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http://whitehall.ohio.areaconnect.com/statistics. htm

8. Education • Number of persons currently enrolled: • Preschool and Kindergarten 60712.5 % • Elementary School 2,329 • High School 948 • Grades 1-12 = 3,277 67.3 % • College 98720.3 %

9. Mortality Data (2006-2008) for Franklin County • 1. Diseases of the Heart Total: 5,579 Percent: 200.1 • 2. Malignant NeoplasmsTotal: 5,607 Percent: 196.6 • 3. Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases Total: 1,475 Percent: 54.5 • 4. Cerebrovascular Disease Total: 1,301 Percent: 47.3 • 5. Accidental, Unintentional injuries Total: 1,303 Percent: 40.5 • 6. Alzheimer’s Disease Total: 677 Percent: 25.9 • 7. Diabetes Mellitus Total: 759 Percent: 26.4 • 8. Influenza and Pneumonia Total: 522 Percent: 19.0 • 9. Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome & NephrosisTotal: 467 Percent: 17.0 • 10. SepticemiaTotal: 322 Percent: 11.3

10. Leading Behavioral Risk Factors • 1. Current Cigarette Smokers Percent: 25.5 • 2. Binge Drinking Percent: 22.9 • 3. No Leisure Time Physical Activity Percent: 21.5 • 4. Fruit & Vegetable Consumption (5+ servings daily) • 5. Adult Overweight Percent: 36.7 • 6. Adult Obesity Percent: 21.1 • 7. Do not have health insurance (18-64) only Percent: 10.4 • 8. Have diabetes (does not include gestational diabetes) Percent: 7.5 • 9. Have high cholesterol Percent: 33.5 • 10. Have asthma Percent: 4.6 • 11. Have arthritis Percent: 25.2

11. Crime Rates

12. Windshield Survey- Community Core • History • Age of buildings & parks, size of houses. • Presence of monuments &historical markers. • Are all houses in a neighborhood of the same age & composition? • Is there space around the houses? • Are the houses in good repair? • Do the houses have central air? • What type of architecture is used? • How is the area changing?

13. Windshield Survey cont. • Demographics • Age & activities of people seen. • Racial/ethnic makeup. • Expensive cars & houses? • How would you describe the population? • Do people appear healthy? • Do you see evidence of drunkenness or drug dealing?

14. Windshield Survey cont. • Ethnicity • Indications of special ethnic activities? • Signs/newspapers in other languages? • Cultural groups noticeable? • Sections of ethnic food in grocery stores?

15. Windshield Survey • Values & Beliefs • Churches, mosques, temples • What religions do you see? • Are religious houses active on other days than the stated day of worship? • Editorials in the newspaper • Type of clothing people are wearing • Cleanliness of yards & streets • Flowers, gardens, art, music

16. Windshield Survey- Subsystems • Physical environment • Air quality, plants, streets • Rivers, lakes, & water, parks, & green space • Can you tell where the community & neighborhoods begin& end? • Do neighborhoods have names? • Size of community (sq. miles, blocks) • Did you find a map of the area? • How does the community look? • Are there a lot of abandoned cars & boarded up buildings?

17. Windshield Survey cont. • Health & Social Services • Hospitals, clinics, medical offices • Public health services, nursing homes, mental health clinics, EMS, healers of various sorts • Did you see social workers or public health personnel in your survey? • Is there a homeless shelter or food kitchen? • How far is it to the nearest hospital?

18. Windshield Survey cont. • Economy • Thriving or poor? • Work sites, factories, employment • Where do people shop? • What do the stores look like? Would you shop there? What types of stores are there? • Signs about food stamps in grocery stores? • - How do the prices compare to your stores? • Do you see check-cashing facilities? • Are there idle people on the streets you would expect to be working?

19. Windshield Survey cont. • Transportation and Safety • How do people get around? (car, walking) • Are the streets & sidewalks in good repair? • Is there a major highway nearby? • Is there public transportation? • Are there airports, train stations in the area? • Is the community handicapped accessible?

20. Windshield Survey cont. • Politics & government • Can you identify government buildings? • Are there signs of political campaigns? • Can you tell the predominant party affiliation? • Is information about public meetings available?

21. Windshield Survey cont. • Communication • Whom do you see on the street? • Are people talking to one another? • What papers do people read? • What radio/TV stations do they use? • Do you see any bulletin boards with local information? (e.g., at the library?)

22. Windshield Survey cont. • Education • Are there schools and colleges? • Can you tell what the drop-out rates are? • Are the buildings well-kept? • Are they embedded in neighborhoods or isolated by large roadways? • Are there signs that the buildings are used for community gatherings?

23. Windshield Survey cont. • Recreation • Is the green space public or private? • Are adults & children using the parks? • Are there recreational programs? • Are there neighborhood hangouts? • Are there bike trails? • Are there animals in the neighborhoods? • - Are they pets or watch-dogs?

24. Windshield Survey- Perceptions • How do people seem to feel about the community? • The general consensus in the community of Whitehall is that it is a close knit community. It seems that there are definitely some weaknesses that the people of Whitehall would like to see corrected but they have some significant strengths as well. Those in the community really seem to have a connection with Whitehall and value it’s role quite a bit.

25. Windshield Survey cont. • What do they identify as its strengths & weaknesses? • The strengths of Whitehall are how close the community as a whole is. They are willing to help one another and the community works together on things. Also, the community has some great programs that help those that are underprivileged. These include after hour tutoring to help kids with school and keep them out of trouble and places where they can get food when they otherwise may not be able to. Other strengths that will be evident in the future are the new school buildings that are currently being built. This will help provide an adequate environment for the young students of Whitehall.

26. Windshield Survey cont. • The weaknesses are poverty and nutrition. These go hand in hand. Many of the residents of Whitehall do not have a significant yearly income. This in turn does not allow them to access what others may be able to and of course does not allow for optimal nutrition. • Other weaknesses include the lack of resources for jobs in the area. This can only contribute to the problem of poverty and the compounding issues that follow it. There is very little room for growth in the community as well.

27. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership • How long have you been in your job? • 8 years with an additional 35 years of education. • What do you hope to accomplish as the Director of Community Partnership? • Focus on health and safety. Our C.A.R.E.S. committee is composed of 20-30 council members. We help with afterschool program advisory and sustainability. There is a big focus on nutrition and providing fresh produce to families. Additionally, we help to provide free physical, blood pressure, and cholesterol screenings.

28. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership Continued • Why do you want to work with the community/population? • I enjoy working with rural groups and want to make life as fulfilling for children as possible. • If there is one thing you could change about the community, what would it be? • I would like to change the attitude toward Whitehall from surrounding communities. • What do you perceive to be some strengths of this community? • Whitehall is a very tight knit, small community. Schools are the center and there are a lot of helpful churches. For example, Brick Church provides free lunches to kids during the week since there is a lot of poverty. Additionally, we are working toward reconstructing many of our schools in the area.

29. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership Continued • What do you think are some weaknesses of the community? • There is a lot of poverty and not much industry or room for growth. There are few mental health resources for children with severe mental health issues making it difficult to connect them with the resources they need. Furthermore, there are a lot of rental properties in the area that can potentially be strengths/weaknesses depending on if they are kept up or not. • How do you work with agencies related to community health issues? • The Mid-Ohio Food Bank provides free take home groceries. We also work closely with OhioHealth and Southeast Incorporated. We send kids to Buckeye Boys Ranch. Also, we work with the Huck House which is a treatment center for children recovering from substance abuse and the Youth Advocate Program.

30. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership Continued • Do you feel there is easy access to resources such as health care? • There are limited mental health services for kids. Additionally, there has been an increase in cultural barriers due to an increase in Hispanics, Ethiopians, and Eritrians in our school district. 420/3000 students do not speak English as their primary language which has created a need for translators. We now provide translation services for parent teacher conferences and for special education and individualized education plans (IEPs). • What community programs or activities are available to citizens that encourage better health? • Churches provide free tutoring after school to teach languages as part of their Mission Services. We also have garden projects to promote nutrition and the city also works hard to let seniors know of clinics close. OhioHealth also has free outreach programs that work to provide services to vulnerable populations in the community.

31. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership Continued • Do you feel children in this community are at a disadvantage/advantage compared to children in different communities? Why or why not? • Yes, due to poverty in the area. Children do not understand the value of education due to the growing cultural shift in society. For example, educators are frustrated that education comes second which can partially be attributed to a lack of support from parents. • Do you feel health education is lack in the community? • There are opportunities available but I feel the community is not fully taking advantage of these opportunities. We have National Night Out which is held on the first Tuesday in August at a local park to promote education about services available in the community. This past year, we had five thousand people attend.

32. Interview with Peggy Martinez – Director of Community Partnership Continued • In what ways do you feel we can help make a difference in the community? • I can try and connect you to elementary coordinators in the area who help run the after school programs. These are three hour programs that are held five days a week for children who are at risk academically and below grade level. It would be helpful if you could work with them on their developmental assets and also with helping them understand the value of education in order to have a good career.

33. Interview with Phil Allen- Director of Public Safety • How long have you been a part of Whitehall and what positions have you held? • Has lived in Whitehall for almost 50 years. Was an educator for 20 years in the local schools and moved to Director of Public Safety for Whitehall. Job includes overseeing the police and fire department details and working with community organizations to enhance the community. • What is your view on education in the area? • Mr. Allen feels education is not as bad as statically shown. Kids seem to move from school to school and tracking them becomes difficult. When you follow the kids to each school and track their progress individually they are actually quite successful.

34. Interview with Phil Allen- Director of Public Safety continued • What resources are available in the community and do you feel people utilize them? • The local clinics are used by the community often. It is very useful to have various hospitals close to Whitehall. National Night Out is a program that Whitehall uses to try and make the area more aware of the resources available to them as well. • What is beneficial about the community of Whitehall? • The community is very close . Many people know one another and they seem to stay in close contact. The people of Whitehall may also benefit from emergency services if they need them and don’t have the means to pay. Those without insurance who need a squad are not charged for it. Whitehall is known for their prompt and skilled fire and police forces. • What are some detrimental aspects of the community? • There are many residents who move frequently causing a great deal of the properties to be rental and so they are not kept to a very high standard. Also, there are many residents who use emergency services when they are not in a situation that prompts it.

35. Interview with Phil Allen- Director of Public Safety continued • Where would you like to see the community in the future? In 3 years, 5 years? 10 years?

36. Interview with Chris Eli Eley (all responses paraphrased) • How do you feel about the safety of the community? • It is a fairly safe community but you still have your occasional teenage mischief. It seems that there aren't enough activities in the community, they get bored, and start trouble

37. If you could change something about the community what would it be and why? • There would be more jobs. There are so many families that are well under the poverty line while working multiple jobs. The area should also be 'brought back to life.' It needs more vibrance.

38. What do you see as the main issues facing the community? • Poverty is the main issue of the area. Nearly 75%% of students qualify for the reduced lunch program. Many families are considered of the working poor. Within the school some issues are teen pregnancy and substance abuse.

39. What do you see as the strengths of the community? • The community is very tight- knit. A bond was on the ballet last November to build new school buildings throughout the district and it passed 60/40. Not very often do bonds pass by such a majority.

40. What are some health concerns of the community? • The first that comes to mind is a nutritional deficit Many children do not seem to be getting proper nutrition and their meals at school may be all they eat for the day. Obesity is not a big problem within the school. Bedbugs are another big issue right now. If a child comes to school with bedbugs they are given a change of clothes, a meeting is held with the family, and a plan is created to help rid the home.

41. What community programs or activities are available that can encourage better health? • A great program we had within the school was a pregnancy educational and support group. Men and women we taught about safe sex. Students with children spoke with pregnant teens about the difficulties of being such a young mom. Students were also offered an alternative education program that allows them to work to support their child while finishing their high school diploma. Unfortunately this program was discontinued due to lack of funds. We are currently trying to get it back together.

42. How do you work with agencies related to community health issues? • We work with the community mental health agency. We refer kids that need mental health evaluations or substance abuse counseling. We also work with Food For Thought. It is a program through the Police Department. The agency holds a dinner for the attendees and a lecture is given about drug abuse, partner abuse, and domestic violence.

43. Do you think the community as a whole would be willing to help with the problems that are present? • Yes, the community would be willing to work together to attack a common problem. This is a very tight-knit group of people.

44. Are there any programs that you would like to see developed to encourage better health among students? • Any activities that involve people coming into the school to work with the kids is a great opportunity. We are working on bringing back the pregnancy counseling program. We are also looking into starting a bullying support group for victims.

45. In what ways do you feel we can help make a difference in the community? • We need more support financially and need the neighborhoods cleaned up. There also isn't much to do. There was a bowling alley in town that recently closed so there isn't much to do.

46. Where would you like to see the community in 5 yrs? • Our High School was recently rated as, “Excellent” on OGT scores. We would like to see the scores continue to rise. • We have a high transient rate between schools and would like to increase the number of students who stay in the school system. • We would like to see city beautification. The strip around the school was recently redone but we'd love to see more of Whitehall updated.

47. We would like to see more holistic businesses rather than check-cashing facilities. • We would also like to see more activities in the area. Since the bowling alley closed there isn't much for the kids to do after school.

48. References Ohio.gov Department of Health. (2010). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http:// dwhouse.odh.ohio.gov/ Profile for Whitehall, Ohio, OH. (2007). Retrieved September 13, 2011, from http://www. epodunk.com/cgi.bin/genInfo.php?IocIndex=17598 U.S. Census Bureau State & County Quickfacts. (2010). Retrieved September 13, 2011, from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd.states/39000.html Whitehall City, Ohio Statistics and Demographics. (2000). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http://whitehall.ohio.areaconnect.com/statistics. htm Whitehall, Ohio. (2003-2011). Retrieved September 15, 2011, from http://www.city-data. com Whitehall Ohio, Income and Careers. (2011). Retrieved September 13, 2011, from http:// www.usa.com/whitehall-oh-income-and-careers.htm