PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1994, six towns in south-central Connecticut (Ansonia, Derby,
Seymour, Shelton, Beacon Falls, and Oxford), faced with strong population
growth and transportation issues, joined together to form the Healthy
Valley Council. The Council, consisting of a diverse group of nearly
200 stakeholders, provided a grassroots community effort to evaluate
and improve the quality of life for residents of the Lower Naugatuck
Valley. A community health profile conducted in 1996, indicated that
the fatality rate for unintentional injuries, mostly resulting from
motor vehicle crashes, was well above the statewide average. Anecdotal
data revealed that young children and teens were most at risk for injury
or death. In fact, the Lower Naugatuck Valley's largest high school
experienced at least one teen fatality every year. In 1996, the injury
crash rate per 100,000 for New Haven County was 1,190, compared to a
statewide average of 995.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to reduce motor vehicle crash injuries throughout
the Lower Naugatuck Valley, a Safe Communities Program coalition was
formed in 1997, with leadership from the Seymour Volunteer Ambulance
Association. Objectives of the effort were to:
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Implement a comprehensive community health profile to determine
at-risk behaviors and injury rates
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Conduct a survey of residents and community leaders regarding quality-of-life
issues, including the prevalence of traffic crash injuries
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Develop a permanent and self-sustaining vehicle to assure long-term
project impact, and promote long-term injury prevention
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Coalition planners determined that self sufficiency was a key
priority for the Lower Naugatuck Valley Safe Communities Program. As
a result, the group successfully lobbied the State Health Department
to allow emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, who charge local
communities for their services, include injury prevention activities
as an expense when setting their rates. The Safe Communities Program
received funding from the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven
for injury prevention activities over a three- year period. As the funding
period ended, the Seymour Ambulance Service was able to raise its rates
to participating towns, helping to make the program fully self-supporting.
Because of this self-sufficiency mechanism, the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Safe Communities Program provided the following activities:
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Programs on bicycle safety, prom night mock crashes, and child
safety seat seat clinics
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Distribution of more than 10,000 back-to-school pedestrian and
school bus safety flyers
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Establishment of life jacket loaner stations along local rivers
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CPR and first aid classes reaching more than 800 middle school
students
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A gunlock distribution program, and regional safety summit
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Playground and school bus stop safety inspection programs initiated
in response to community concerns
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Establishment of a local chapter of the Connecticut Safe Kids
Coalition
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