The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68137

Carolyn E. Crump, PhD¹, Margaret Cannon, MPH², and Robert J. Letourneau, MPH². (1) Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, CB#7506, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7506, 919-966-5598, ccrump@sph.unc.edu, (2) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, CB#7506, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7506

This presentation describes the conceptual framework guiding capacity building activities for injury prevention (IP) programs serving American Indian/Alaska Native communities. Faculty/staff at The University of North Carolina (UNC) are providing technical assistance (TA) and monitoring services for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreements Program (TIPCAP). The monitoring and TA activities include conference calls, site visits, review of progress reports, project newsletters, and annual training workshops. UNC faculty/staff are assessing progress and tailoring TA to sites based on best practices across five dimensions: 1) intervention effectiveness (e.g., approaches, settings, target audience, collaborating partners, and evaluation); 2) program management (e.g., coalitions, data collection, marketing/advocacy, progress reporting, coordinator training/experience); 3) program support (e.g., training, support provided from internal/external entities); 4) perceptions of skills (e.g., ability to plan, implement, and evaluate programs); and 5) contextual factors (e.g., infrastructure, setting, communities/Tribes served). Variables and sub-variables for each of the dimensions were identified based on public health best practices, effective injury prevention interventions, and capacity building literature. The framework facilitates delivery of tailored TA from UNC team members, the provision of consistent reinforcement and recommendations from UNC/project officers, and the development of program tools (e.g., project reporting templates, planning/evaluation worksheets, seatbelt observational protocol). Limitations of the framework (e.g., time to develop) will be discussed. Implications for using similar frameworks to organize and provide clear, consistent, and comprehensive support to local injury prevention programs will be discussed to assist other public health program monitors in providing tailored monitoring and technical assistance services.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Describe the conceptual framework guiding capacity building for local level injury prevention programs in American Indian/Alaska Native communities.
• Understand the application of this framework for providing tailored technical assistance to program sites.
• Discuss implications for adaptation and use of this framework for other injury prevention or health promotion programs.

Keywords: Evaluation, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Authors are funded by the Indian Health Service to design conceptual framework for the 25 tribes described in presentation.