Assessment Focus The focus of the assessment is the city of Houston, Texas, and the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Population Characteristics Houston, TX is currently one of the most populated cities in the United States, with 2,151,475 residents. As of 2010, 199,906 residents were 25-29 years old. The median age of males was 31 and females – 33 years. Among 1,612,930 residents 16 years and over, almost half were male and another half – female; by the age of 65, only 80,397 of the 189,942 residents would be male, which means that men in Houston face higher mortality and lower life expectancy than women. Almost 920 thousand residents in 2010 were Hispanic or Latino. 537,000 residents were Caucasian white (The Houston City, 2012). Compared to the U.S., high school graduation rates in Houston are lower (77% compared to 85%, accordingly) (The University of Texas, 2009). Education attainment indicators vary significantly, depending on race and ethnicity. The civilian labor force in Texas accounted for only 5.1% against the U.S.-based 6.4%, with the median household income being $40,856 (University of Texas, 2009). Compared to 1980, when Houston had 1,595,138 residents, the city population had increased by almost 30% (The City of Houston, 2012). Neighborhood Environment The main features affecting the population’s health are socioeconomic and demographic, mainly the level of income, immigration status, language proficiency, and environmental factors, such as pollution, recreation, and access to health care. Of the total 782,643 households in Houston in 2010, 481,570 were comprised by family households with their own children under 18 years (The City of Houston, 2012). Non-family households represented only 301,073, 242,380 householders living alone at that time (The City of Houston, 2012). Energy has historically been Houston’s main industry, and thousands of energy-related companies are currently located in this area. Houston has a well-developed system of sanitation and environmental protection: the city’s Parks and Recreation Department monitors 366 parks and 200 greenspaces within the Houston territory (The City of Houston, 2012). At the same time, numerous land inequities in Houston continue to persist: lead poisoning, Toxics Release Inventory facilities, hazardous waste sites, and landfills have serious negative impacts on public health (Houston Department of Health and Human Services, 2008). Educational opportunities are vast, and the Houston Independent School District includes 288 schools, 210,000 students, and 13,000 teachers (The City of Houston, 2012). Local residents have access to all major means of communication, and the city’s Mayor Annise D. Parker is also the community’s main leader. Health Information In 2012, mortality in the Houston area was 7,099 compared to 5,466 at the national level. 19% of residents died due to poor health. 17% of residents were found to be obese, 29% were smoking, and 23% claimed to be physically inactive. 14 cases of motor vehicle crash deaths were registered. 34% of children lived in single-parent households, and 25% of residents did not receive adequate social support (County Health Rankings, 2013). One of the most problematic aspects was the low rate of cancer screening among adults; in the meantime, one of the most frequently cited neighborhood problems was the presence of stray animals affecting 40%