RUA: Care of Populations
The City of Clarkston
NR 442
By: Makenzi Ableman, Heather Bowdoin,
Kristyn Hicks, JaKierria Sherman, Tykema
Washington, Marceline Wirsiy (Group #6)
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Description of the Clarkston
Clarkston is a city in Dekalb County known as the “Ellis Island” of the south. It is the
most diverse square mile in America, hosting cultures from 50 different countries. This
is evident as you walk through the city along the railroad tracks that divide it into two
sides. The railroad was a convenient route straight to Atlanta, awarding this small city
the title of one of the “first true suburban communities of the south”. There are several
small grocery stores that represent the multicultural environment. Healthcare is
accessible to anyone and there are government assistance programs for low income
families. There is a walking trail, park, library, and several churches in the area as well.
The housing closest to the middle of the town looked to be low income accessible
apartments, with single family homes located further out.
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Community Assessment-
Windshield Survey
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Windshield
Survey
Continued
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Windshield
Survey
Continued
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Demographic Information
● Total Population: 14,455
● Median age: 26
● Male to Female ratio: 96.7:100
● Education: 24.0% Hold a bachelor’s degree or
higher
● Housing: 5,398 total units
● Families living in apartments: 3,807
● Total median income per household: $51,122
● Employment: 65.3%
● Health: 18.6% without health care coverage
● Race and ethnicity: 63.68% Black or African
American, 23.11% Asian, 8.39% White, 4.82%
All others
● Total population increase from 2010-2020: 21%
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Demographic Data Tables
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Geographic Data
● Clarkston, GA is located 17.7 miles from Atlanta, in Dekalb
County.
● The city is small, 1 sq mile long, with a dense population.
● The primary industry is healthcare, education, and social
assistance.
● It is known as the most diverse sq mile in America.
● The city is divided by a railroad.
● There is a large park located in the center with walking trails
available.
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Aggregate Population
● Aggregate Population: Low income multicultural families that qualify for government assistance
programs
● Definition: The city of Clarkson is known for being one of the most diverse cities in Georgia.
This provides for a melting pot of different cultures, religions, nationalities, and beliefs.
However it also presents with some difficulties and challenges due to determinants such as
education, language/ communication barriers, and financial deficits.
● How to overcome the issue: There are many different identified programs that were observed
through the window survey completed that offered different government assistance programs for
those who need it. For example: On the front of the Clarkson Community center there was
information regarding aid for those who need it. There were also resources listed that helped
with education deficits and a class that helped with language development.
● Ways to help the community:
– Community garden accessible by walking
– Education fairs
– Telehealth
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GateKeepers and Key informants
● Clarkson community center: Offers different resources to promote learning through the
identification of deficits in the population
● Health care clinic: One example of a clinic that we saw is called the Ethnē clinic, that was
full of different ethnicities seeking healthcare.
● Local pharmacy: Includes all medication for people to gain access to medications to
promote health and control disease.
● Dental: offered by the same health clinic, and other offices around the area to cater to all
populations.
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Major health issues:
● Chronic conditions:
○ High cholesterol: most prevalent, 29% of adults
○ Arthritis: 18%
○ Asthma: 9%
○ Diabetes: 9%
“In the community survey, a larger percentage of Black/African American respondents, lower income respondents, and
South DeKalb reported poor or very poor overall health (22% vs. 25% vs. 23%) compared to all respondents (20%).
(Healthy Community, CS Q1)”
● Health literacy: the power of health literacy can remove barriers associated with acquiring healthcare
○ Health care providers: 36%
○ Websites: 28%
○ Social Media: 9%
○ Friends/family: 5%
“Community survey results show that a larger percentage of Black/African American respondents, lower income
respondents, and South DeKalb respondents receive most of their health information from health care providers (44% vs.
39% vs. 40%) compared to all respondents (36%). (Provider Availability, CS Q2)
● Substance use: includes alcohol and tobacco use
○ 1 in 4 respondents reported using tobacco and a smaller population reported binge drinking, misusing
prescription drugs, or using illicit drugs
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COMMUNITY HEALTH DIAGNOSES
● The first community health diagnoses for Clarkston people is hypertension.
● Affected aggregate: Adult Clarkston’s Residents, especially those from
low-income backgrounds.
● Etiology statement: Limited access to healthy foods and high stress levels due
to socioeconomic challenges.
● Support for diagnosis: High incidence of high blood pressure among
low-income residents, compounded by limited access to affordable healthcare
services and nutritious food (Census Reporter, 2024).
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Community Health Diagnoses Continued
● The second diagnosis for this community would be Type 2 Diabetes
● Affected aggregate: Clarkston’s residents from ethnic minority group.
● Etiological Statement: Cultural dietary practices and lack of preventive
healthcare services
● Support for Diagnosis: Community health data shows diabetes cases in
the city (City of Clarkston, 2023).
● Existence of cultural dietary habits.
● Limited access to preventive care.
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Wellness Diagnosis
● The wellness diagnosis for this city would be enhanced community
engagement in physical activities.
● Affected Aggregate: All Clarkston residents.
● Etiological Statement: Availability of parks, walking trails, and
recreational facilities (City of Clarkston, 2023).
● This creates space for the community engaging in physical activities.
● Support for the Diagnosis: The presence of amenities, such as Milam Park,
ADA walking trails, and other recreational facilities encourages physical
activity among residents, promoting overall wellness.
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Physical Activities at Clarkston
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PRIORITY DIAGNOSIS PLAN: HYPERTENSION AND
TYPE TWO DIABETES
SHORT-TERM & LONG- TERM GOAL
Short-term Goal
● There is need to reduce blood pressure levels to less the current 130/80 mmHg within a set timeline of 6
weeks.
Action Steps
● Daily blood pressure monitoring
● Reduced sodium diet intake
● Inclusion of a 30 minutes moderate exercise (5 days a week)
Long- term Goal
● Aim to achieve a 5% reduction in baseline HbA1c levels and maintain controlled blood pressure within 6
months.
Action Steps
● Adherence to the formulated diabetes care plan.
● Adoption of regular check-ups and medical compliance.
● Encouraging healthy dietary adjustments and physical activity.
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CLIENT INVOLVEMENT & COMMUNITY IMPACT
Client involvement
● Collaborate with individual client to create a personalized dietary and exercise routines.
● Adoption of health journals for tracking the client’s blood pressure, glucose levels, and
physical activities.
● Conducting regular follow-up sessions tailor the plan based on the client’s progress.
Community impact
● Workshops for clients and families to educate on managing hypertension and diabetes.
● Share information through community events and digital platforms.
● Foster a supportive culture by encouraging clients to share progress and success stories.
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Interventions for Priority Diagnosis
● Telehealth and mobile clinics:
○ Category: Outreach; Level of Practice: Community
○ Level of Prevention: Secondary Prevention
○ Description: Establish telehealth and mobile clinics in underserved areas, providing convenient access to healthcare aiming to
identify and address health issues early through screenings, check-ups, and early intervention strategies
● Lifestyle Education Workshops:
○ Category: Health Teaching; Level of Practice: Individual/ Family
○ Level of Prevention: Primary Prevention
○ Description: conduct community-wide workshops focusing on nutrition, physical activity,
and stress management to promote healthy lifestyles to reduce and maintain hypertension and Type 2 DM.
● Financial Assistance Programs:
○ Category: Delegated Functions; Level of Prevention: Secondary Prevention
○ Level of Practice: Systems
○ Description: Aim to identify and address potential problems early on by providing financial support to individuals or families
at risk of experiencing a negative outcome, like food insecurity, before the issue becomes more severe. These initiatives
enable individuals to overcome economic challenges that may impede their ability to access resources for healthy living.
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Evaluation for Priority Diagnosis
● Measures used
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