Neighborhood Public Policy

Neighborhood Public Policy
Janet S. Batchelor, RN
NUR 408 Epidemiology: Global and Public Health
June 23, 2014
Felita J. Patterson, MPH, RN

Neighborhood Public Policy
Marcus Young and Angie Young have recently been in the Neighborhood News.   Marcus, a seven year old was frightened by a dog while riding his bike, and while trying to get away, he rode his bike off the sidewalk. Marcus was hit by a speeding car.   In an interview with the Neighborhood News (Johnson, 2014),   Angie Young, Marcus’ mother expressed feelings the residential streets were not safe and needed speed bumps to help enforce the speed limits.   Angie spearheaded a campaign to have people in the community sign a petition to enforce speed bumps on residential streets.  
Public Health or Public Safety Issue
Marcus’ accident was a public safety and a public health issue.   Public safety issues relate to the protection and welfare of the general public from events or actions (disasters, crimes, motor vehicle accidents) that could affect the safety of the community and the members of the community.   Marcus sustained fractured bones and lacerations when he was injured by the speeding car.   Public health issues relate to any event or action that could cause or jeopardize the health of any member of the community.   Motor vehicle accidents are public safety issues.   According to the “Determinants of Health – Healthy People 2020” (2010) “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among those age 5 to 34 in the U.S.”.   The financial costs are staggering with an estimated 99 billion dollars associated to medical cost and productivity losses from MVA related injuries.
How Legislative Process Influences Public Health
Angie Young used legislative process to influence public health.   First, Angie notified her Congresswoman of her son’s accident and of her request for placement of speed bumps to control the speeding vehicles on her residential street.   Secondly, Angie initiated the petition declaring a...