Devlog#2 Week 6 Prototype #1

Name:

Profile

Distribution of  Hearts 50/100?

Carlos

Carlos is a 42 year old male who is widowed and single, with 2 daughters  ages 9 and 12.

His wife died 3 years ago after a 2 year battle against cancer.(-5) Even though they had insurance, medical bills, funeral expenses and decrease in income (his wife had been the top earner in the family prior to her illness) left him struggling to pay bills and falling into credit card debt. (-10)

He went to college for a few years ( +10) but took a break to work full time and earn some money. Then he met his wife, they got married and had the girls and he never made it back. He was able to get a job as a foreman  for a local manufacturer but recently the company shut down his local branch. 

He was thankfully offered an opportunity to transfer to another location, but this meant re-locating 90 miles away. His job does have insurance and benefits so he chose to move but being away from family and friends has been hard on him and the girls.

He sold their family home and was able to find an apartment in the city that felt reasonably safe although the schools are not the best and he really misses having the support of family and friends to help him out. He knows they are eating out too much since he does not have the time to cook regular meals and it has certainly impacted his waistline and probably his health but who has time to go in for a check up. He is wearing himself just trying to keep going.

Pieces: 1 car, 1 house 

Economic Stability:10/20

Access to Healthcare: 8/20

Education:14/20

Social and Community Context: 6/20

Neighborhood/Built Environment:12/20

Dinah is a 31 year old, single mother with a 3 year old son. 

Dinah is unemployed but gets a Social Security check for $700 per month. She lives in an apartment community for low income families.The area has a moderately high level of crime but they know many of their neighbors.

An employer is offering to add money to your HSA by completing group challenges such as lunchtime walks and seminars. If you are employed, gain 2 economic points and 1 health point.

A storm takes down the power in your area which impacts local businesses, homes and shelters. If you have a job you lose 2 economic points for lost wages, if you have a home you lose 1 economic point for food spoiled from lack of refrigeration. If you are homeless you lose 2 health points for having no shelter.

Tax time! If you have a job deduct an economic point to pay taxes, if you have a home deduct 2 economic points to pay property taxes. If you are unemployed or homeless, no impact.

A large grocery store near you has shut down. This means loss of jobs, less access to healthy food and an increase in crime. Lose 2 health points, 2 community points and 2 economic points and 3 neighborhood points.

The local transit system has had to cut the stops nearest to your home. If you have a car and a job, lose 1 neighborhood point. If you do not have a car, lose 2 access to healthcare points 2 social points and 2 neighborhood points.

The local school is closing. Deduct 3 environment points. If you have children, deduct one education point per child and 1 economic point as you will now have to spend more time and money to get them to school.

You come in the morning and someone has sideswiped the cars on your street. If you own a car you can choose to lose 2 economic points to get it fixed or leave it and lose access to healthcare and access to education points

Life unexpectedly and drastically hit your family. The loss of a loved one due to COVID-19 complications. With only a small life insurance policy payout and some retirement savings, you contemplate selling your home

Join a community garden! Make friends, help the community and get access to free veggies in season. 1 economic point 4 social points 3 community points 3 health points.

Your grandmother is moving into a senior living facility so she gives you her car! 2 economic points, 2 access to health care points

Your local library is offering training courses for a popular software program. Earn 2 education points and 1 economic point for increasing your job marketability.

Start a neighborhood parents co-op where people can exchange kids clothes, toys.

Bedtime stories: Reading and/or sharing verbal stories with children helps promote language skills, brain development. Read to a family or community member to earn education and social points.

A neighbor asks to take care of their pet for a week. Gain economic and social points.

You may qualify for a homeowners exemption - for properties that were not sold to new owners in the last year. If approved reduction in property taxes up to 20%, annual renewal application required. Veterans 50% reduction, no annual renewals necessary, lifetime once applied.

Organize a Toys for Tots chapter in your community to distribute toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.

Volunteer a voters registration drive.

Mental Health:  Poverty in childhood and among adults can cause poor mental health through social stresses, stigma and trauma.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7525587/  

Fostering positive relationships at home, at work, or in a person’s community can improve public well-being.

The Healthy People campaign aims to help people get the social support and care they might need. For example, it is working to reduce anxiety and depression by providing more support to children and those caring for people with disabilities, among other groups. ( https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/social-and-community-context )

As a social services provider, what programs are you aware of to provide emotional and social support. What types of initiatives or activities might you put into place to help people in your community with mental health issues?

What do you think success looks like for your character profile in one of five determinant areas?