A windshield tour is when health education specialists drive around selected communities, looking throughtheir car windshields to familiarize themselves with the area. Many students walk through their community, sometimes informally chatting with residents and visiting shops. The purposes of the windshield tour are to observe conditions within the community, look for verification of secondary data to identify local resources and activities not captured through more formal means, and differentiate different segments of the population inthe community. For our purposes, you will conduct a tour for at least 1 hour using the directions below.
Directions:
1. Choose a community that you are not completely familiar with. Try to get outside of your box. Decide on a time (preferably during daylight hours) when you can travel to the community. To avoid traffic delays, choose off-peak daytime or weekend hours whenever possible. It is highly recommended that you invite a family member or friend to go with you, so that you can see more and reflect. They can drive while you look for the resources listed on the checklist. This can also be done alone, if necessary; however, it is not recommended.
2. Drive to your community site with driving directions, a map, and a checklist.
3. Take notes about what you see, hear, and feel during the exercise.
4. Follow these suggested rules for public safety:
A. Stay alert always.
B. Be aware of your instincts (if you have a gut feeling of impending danger, take precautions or simply suspend your activity).
C. Try to blend into the community as much as possible (wear clothing that affords you comfort, flexibility, and agility; walk confidently; leave large amounts of cash or large bills at home).
This is your worksheet conducting a windshield tour of the community. Locate the following resources within a 0.5-mile radius of your community site. (Use the attached worksheet).
Community Resource
Number
Observations and Description
Schools public
Schools private
Churches (denominations)
Recreation centers
Daycare centers
Community centers
Grocery stores
Supermarkets
Farmer’s market
Pharmacies
Nearest hospital(s)
Clinics or community health centers
Private physician’s offices
Barber/beauty shops or, nail salons
Liquor stores
Housing units (e.g., public housing, rental units, private homes, condos, etc.)
Other resources (e.g., billboard advertising, etc.)
Write a 2-page summary (double-spaced) of your observation. Be as descriptive as possible; use adjectives. Include any conversations with residents, your feelings, and any thoughts about the community health issues that may be present in that area. Write the paper using the first person tense.
Windshield Tour Worksheet
Name(s) ____________________________________ Site _____________________________ Date ___________
A windshield tour is when health education specialists drive around selected communities looking through their car windshield s to familiarize themselves with the area. Many students walk through their community, sometimes informally chatting with residents and visiting shops. The purposes of the windshield tour are to observe conditions within the community, look for verification of secondary data to identify local resources and activities not captured through more formal means, and differentiate different segments of the population in the community. For our purposes, you will conduct a tour for at least 1 hour, using the directions below.
Directions:
1. Choose a community that you are not completely familiar with. Try to get outside of your box. Decide on a time (preferably during daylight hours) when you can travel to the community. To avoid traffic delays, choose off-peak daytime or weekend hours whenever possible. It is highly recommended that you invite a family member or friend to go with you, so that you can see more and reflect. They can drive while you look for the resources listed on the checklist. This can also be done alone, if necessary; however, it is not recommended.
2. Drive to your community site with driving directions, a map, and a checklist.
3. Take notes about what you see, hear, and feel during the exercise.
4. Follow these suggested rules for public safety:
A. Stay alert always.
B. Be aware of your instincts (if you have a gut feeling of impending danger, take precautions or simply suspend your activity).
C. Try to blend into the community as much as possible (wear clothing that affords you comfort, flexibility, and agility; walk confidently; leave large amounts of cash or large bills at home).
Use the worksheet on the next page to conduct a windshield tour of the community. Locate the resources within a 0.5-mile radius of your community site.
Then, write a 2-page summary (double spaced) of your observation. Include any conversations with residents, your feelings and any thoughts about the community health issues that may be present in that area.
Community Resource
Number
Observations and Description
Schools (public)
Schools (private)
Churches (denominations)
Recreation centers
Daycare centers
Community centers
Grocery stores
Supermarkets
Farmer’s market
Pharmacies
Nearest hospital(s)
Clinics or community health centers
Private physician’s offices
Barber/beauty shops or, nail salons
Liquor stores
Housing units (e.g., public housing, rental units, private homes, condos, etc.)
Other resources (e.g., billboard advertising, etc.)
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