Indian Health Services Injury Prevention Program/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Background

Program Goals:

A comprehensive strategy for training injury control professionals for services in Native American Communities; to produce dedicated individuals with strong backgrounds in general injury epidemiology and highly specialized skills appropriate to different areas and types of intervention.

Intent:

Unintentional injuries

Risk Factors Addressed:

General health needs of aboriginal populations through information and education (i.e., use of safety-device initiatives such as “floatcoats”, child vehicle restraint systems, bike helmet use, etc.)

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

All ages of Aboriginal Americans - American Indians/Alaskan natives (AI/AN) specifically ages 1-44

Other Population Characteristics:

Native Americans’ death rate from unintentional injury approximately twice that of other Americans
High levels of poverty, low SES status, poorer health overall

Resources

Year Developed:

1987

Collaborative Organization(s):

Federal Department of Health and Human Services: Office of the Director, Office of Self Determination, and Office of Public Health

Funding Resource(s):

Federal Department of Health and Human Services

Implementation

Context/Setting:

Community

Strategies Used:

Education; Enactment

Activities Used:

Courses and other training forums offered under the auspices of the program circulate throughout the U.S
The 151 Service Units of the IHS are divided into twelve geographical service Areas
Area offices employ IPP manager and other Injury prevention staff
A monthly conference call is made between leading representatives of the twelve Areas

Program Evaluation:

Participant and external qualitative evaluations of courses, operations and particular interventions, conforming to the standards of the Government Performance and Results Act
Long term evaluations conducted through the IPRC at University of North Carolina
Annual reports detailing activities and progress in reducing injury

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R. & Lewko, J. (2004). Preventing Neurotrauma: A Casebook of Evidence-Based Practices. Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation.

Original Source:

Robertson, L.S. (1986). Community injury control programs of the Indian Health Service: An early assessment. Public Health Reports, 101, 632-637.

Supplementary Material:

www.ihs.gov

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

Alan Dellapenna
Deputy Director/Injury Prevention Program Manager
Division of Environmental Health Services
OEHE-EHS TMP 610
801 Thompson, Suite 120
Rockville, Maryland 20852 USA
Tel: (301) 443-0097
Fax: (301) 443-7358
Email: ADellape@hqe.ihs.gov

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Training model has attracted the attention of other educational programs and institutions with interests in Aboriginal education, infrastructure building, and injury prevention.
Replication of efforts and models 

Short-term outcomes:

Numerous individual fellowship programs launched as result of IHSIPP training
88% satisfaction with program, 52% report positive action as result of training projects, 37% program participants report having written further articles on injury prevention

Other Benefits:

Fostering a culture of best practice and evaluation in the community reflected in the design, management and refinement of new and ongoing projects and studies

Other

Date of Review:

2004

Classification:

Best Practice