Sustaining a Pediatric Injury Prevention Program Through Educational Curriculum Dissemination

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Safety
• Educational Program Implementation

Background:

• Pedestrian injuries are a significant concern for children.
• Effective safety programs are needed in school settings.
• Understanding program implementation is crucial for sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the implementation, dissemination, and sustainability of a pediatric pedestrian safety program.
• To assess the utilization of the program by education practitioners.
• To identify factors contributing to the program's success and longevity.

Main Methods:

• Programmatic phase review.
• Analysis of grant funding, publications, and partnerships.
• Review of curriculum completion data and teacher trainings.
• Analysis of 31 WalkSafe Curriculum Dissemination Surveys.

Main Results:

• Sustained partnerships with the school district, trauma centers, and stakeholders.
• Grant funding facilitated program development, growth, and continuation.
• Surveys indicated the curriculum is user-friendly, age-appropriate, and identified future sustainability measures.

Conclusions:

• A multicomponent approach is essential for piloting and sustaining evidence-based pedestrian safety programs in schools.
• Sustainable partnerships, policy support, grant funding, community involvement, and adaptability are vital.
• Long-term program presence requires continuous engagement with schools and communities.