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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Region 10 of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encompasses the states
of Alaska, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The land areas of these four
states comprise 23 percent of the total land area of the United States,
while the population of the region represents only 3.8 percent of the
U.S. total. Not only are the distances great, but the overall low population
density and smaller economic base means that no single agency has the
resources to conduct and manage injury prevention programs statewide.
As a result, individuals committed to injury prevention often come from
a variety of agencies that may or may not have the resources to effectively
coordinate programs. Moreover, valuable prevention resources may be
expended on injury prevention activities that are relatively ineffective
in reducing injury. Credible opportunities for training in the region
are scarce and there are significant geographic, as well as financial
barriers to access.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Injury Control Traffic
Safety Symposium concept was developed in 1998 by the Harborview Injury
Prevention and Research Center to help reduce the incidence and severity
of trauma related to injuries, particularly involving traffic safety.
This goal is to be accomplished through these objectives:
- Increasing the capacity
for traffic safety advocates, healthcare practitioners and other injury
prevention professionals throughout the region
- Conducting "train-the-trainer"
injury prevention conferences tailored to regional priorities
- Incorporating effective
training techniques as part of the course content and provide opportunities
for practicing the delivery of injury prevention information
- Requiring trainees to
conduct subsequent training sessions after completing the initial
conference
- Providing for a follow-up
evaluation procedure for the trainees
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Harborview
Injury Prevention and Research Center conducts two, three-day "train-the-
trainer" conferences annually, to build capacity among professionals
throughout the region who are responsible for initiating and managing
effective traffic safety and injury prevention programs. In order for
the Injury Control Traffic Safety Symposium to be successful, only the
states' most accomplished professionals in their field are asked to
present during the three days of the conference. Moreover, quality control
is assured for future events by requiring participants to complete an
evaluation.
Trainees are
expected to conduct at least two additional training events in their
home state within the six-month period following their initial training.
Trainees conducting these subsequent training events are required to
provide an evaluation component that will allow project staff to evaluate
the success of follow-on training efforts.
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