Evaluating and Continuing the

Alaska FOCUS© on Safety Curriculum

Samantha HolmbergSouthcentral Foundation

McGrath Health Educator I

Purpose of the ProjectPurpose of the Project

Evaluate the Alaska FOCUSEvaluate the Alaska FOCUS©© on Safety curriculum, on Safety curriculum,

designed to promote injury prevention for Alaskan youthdesigned to promote injury prevention for Alaskan youth

Deliver 7 risk factor modules designed for Grades K-8Deliver 7 risk factor modules designed for Grades K-8thth

but delivered to Grades K-12but delivered to Grades K-12

Continue curriculum evaluations in McGrath, Nikolai and Continue curriculum evaluations in McGrath, Nikolai and

Takotna; populations 412, 100, and 50, respectivelyTakotna; populations 412, 100, and 50, respectively

Safety Product distribution: Safety Product distribution: vocal smoke alarms, CO detectors, vocal smoke alarms, CO detectors,

cable gun locks, reflective tapecable gun locks, reflective tape

Iditarod Area School DistrictIditarod Area School District

Obtain full support from District Obtain full support from District SuperintendentSuperintendent

District purchased curriculum for 7 schoolsDistrict purchased curriculum for 7 schools

Conduct teacher training at in-serviceConduct teacher training at in-service

Establish a working relationship with Establish a working relationship with teachers and maintain close contactteachers and maintain close contact

Maintain a clear vision of deliveranceMaintain a clear vision of deliverance

Teacher Responsibilities

Maintain a collaborative approach for an over all Maintain a collaborative approach for an over all

effectiveness of this curriculum effectiveness of this curriculum

Identify resources in the communityIdentify resources in the community

Test student knowledge before and afterTest student knowledge before and after

Conduct observational and home surveys Conduct observational and home surveys

Teach monthly risk factor modulesTeach monthly risk factor modules

Identify ResourcesIdentify Resources

Identify local Elders to help teach and emphasize cultural Identify local Elders to help teach and emphasize cultural

practices pertaining to safetypractices pertaining to safety

Identify local experts for each injury prevention topic: Identify local experts for each injury prevention topic:

Fire Chief, Health Aides, Village Public Safety OfficerFire Chief, Health Aides, Village Public Safety Officer

Availability and installation of safety products:Availability and installation of safety products:

vocal smoke alarms, CO monitors, cable gun locks, vocal smoke alarms, CO monitors, cable gun locks,

reflective tape reflective tape

Monthly Awareness ModulesMonthly Awareness Modules

Sept.

Firearm and Pedestrian Safety Oct. Fire Safety

Dec. Snowmachine Safety

Nov. Hypothermia and

Ice Safety

Monthly Awareness ModulesMonthly Awareness Modules

Feb. Poison Poison SafetySafety

Jan. Fall Prevention

March Water Safety April ATV Safety

Product DistributionProduct Distribution

Contact State and local agencies to help Contact State and local agencies to help fund or provide safety productsfund or provide safety products

Search and apply for Mini GrantsSearch and apply for Mini Grants State of Alaska – Vocal Smoke AlarmsState of Alaska – Vocal Smoke Alarms Alaska State Troopers – Gun LocksAlaska State Troopers – Gun Locks ANTHC – Reflective TapeANTHC – Reflective Tape Denali Safety Council Mini-Grant Denali Safety Council Mini-Grant

Utilize all grant opportunitiesUtilize all grant opportunities

                                                              

September ~ September ~ Firearm/Hunting SafetyFirearm/Hunting Safety

Alaska State Alaska State Troopers donated gun Troopers donated gun lockslocks

Alaska State Trooper Alaska State Trooper Brett Gibbens Brett Gibbens distributed gun locksdistributed gun locks Local resourceLocal resource PresentationPresentation

Trooper Gibbens

September ~ Pedestrian Safety September ~ Pedestrian Safety

ANTHC provided ANTHC provided reflective tapereflective tape

Held several iron on Held several iron on workshops workshops

Utilize the School Utilize the School Student Council Student Council

Connie Trinidad

October ~ Fire SafetyOctober ~ Fire Safety

McGrath Volunteer Fire McGrath Volunteer Fire Fighters volunteered Fighters volunteered

to to install vocal smoke install vocal smoke detectors detectors

State of Alaska-DHSS State of Alaska-DHSS Mary Krom partnered Mary Krom partnered with this project for with this project for statistical data and statistical data and piloted the vocal piloted the vocal

smoke smoke detectors detectors Fire Chief ~ Mike Bye

Asset: Utilizes local resources

November ~November ~ Cold Water/Ice/Hypothermia Cold Water/Ice/Hypothermia

Kuskokwim Valley Kuskokwim Valley Rescue Squad, Kim Rescue Squad, Kim Wortman and Erin Wortman and Erin Norback were trained in Norback were trained in Seward to become ETTSeward to become ETT

Upon completion they Upon completion they developed a power point developed a power point presentation on Cold presentation on Cold Water/Ice/Hypothermia to Water/Ice/Hypothermia to K-5th gradersK-5th graders

Erin Norback, Kim Wortman and Julie Mueller

Asset: Strengthening the bond between local mentors – young leaders

December ~ Snowmachine Safety December ~ Snowmachine Safety

Alaska Division of Parks and Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation ~ Outdoor Recreation ~ Snowmobile Trails ProgramSnowmobile Trails Program

““On Track for Life” On Track for Life” Modified Kenai Peninsula Modified Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids Coalition Safe Kids Coalition Received 05/06 GrantReceived 05/06 Grant

Denali Safety Council Denali Safety Council Gordon Glaser Gordon Glaser

Observational StudiesObservational Studies

Left over snowmachine Left over snowmachine helmets were handed out to helmets were handed out to those who didn’t receive one those who didn’t receive one last year last year

Duane, Erin and Molly Norback

January ~ Fall SafetyJanuary ~ Fall Safety

No products were No products were handed outhanded out

TO DO LISTTO DO LIST

Student safety surveyStudent safety survey Elder/Youth connection Elder/Youth connection

Product orders Product orders

February ~ Poison SafetyFebruary ~ Poison Safety

Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide detectors were detectors were purchased by the purchased by the State of Alaska – State of Alaska – DHSS, Mary Krom DHSS, Mary Krom

McGrath Volunteer McGrath Volunteer Fire Dept. installed in Fire Dept. installed in homes with homes with presentations in the presentations in the classroomclassroom

Mike and Lemar Bye

March ~ Cold Water SafetyMarch ~ Cold Water Safety

Kids Don’t Float Program Peer Education ~Kids Don’t Float Program Peer Education ~

Trish Herrmann, Park Specialist for State Trish Herrmann, Park Specialist for State of of Alaska-Department of Natural Resources Alaska-Department of Natural Resources

*Camp Fire USA (2005)*Camp Fire USA (2005)

April ~ ATV SafetyApril ~ ATV Safety

ATV helmets were available to those who took the ATV ATV helmets were available to those who took the ATV class offered by Mike Bye (Innoko Fish and Wildlife) class offered by Mike Bye (Innoko Fish and Wildlife)

George Jackson

End of Year ~ Safety FairEnd of Year ~ Safety Fair

End of year Safety Fair End of year Safety Fair

Student chooses the most Student chooses the most

favorable safety learning favorable safety learning

lessonlesson

Fire Truck and AmbulanceFire Truck and Ambulance

PotluckPotluck

Elder involvementElder involvement

Joan O’Neal, Daedre Gibbens, Lemar Bye and Derek Magnuson

Damion Magnuson

MethodsMethods

Pre and post K-12 safety knowledge tests conducted Pre and post K-12 safety knowledge tests conducted

in the 3 schoolsin the 3 schools

Pre and Post Home Safety Surveys conducted in 3 Pre and Post Home Safety Surveys conducted in 3

villagesvillages

Pre and Post Observational Helmet surveysPre and Post Observational Helmet surveys

Focus Groups conducted in all 3 villages for Grades Focus Groups conducted in all 3 villages for Grades

6-12. Each group held during school hours and 6-12. Each group held during school hours and

focused on gathering information on youth attitudes, focused on gathering information on youth attitudes,

beliefs and behaviors pertaining to helmet usagebeliefs and behaviors pertaining to helmet usage

ResultsResults

Home surveys: McGrath 72%, Nikolai 75%, Home surveys: McGrath 72%, Nikolai 75%,

Takotna 75% with the following results:Takotna 75% with the following results:

Smoke Alarms in place: Smoke Alarms in place: Pre 93% Pre 93% Post 100%Post 100%

Working Smoke Alarms:Working Smoke Alarms: Pre 70% Pre 70% Post 96%Post 96%

Fire Escape Plan:Fire Escape Plan: Pre 59% Pre 59% Post 78%Post 78%

Practice Plan:Practice Plan: Pre 4% Pre 4% Post 37%Post 37%

Student Knowledge Test ResultsStudent Knowledge Test Results Student Knowledge Test Results in

McGrath, Nikolai and Takotna2006/2007

69%

59%

71%73%

88%

79%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

McGrath Nikolai Takotna

PRE

POST

Results, continuedResults, continued

Medicine out of reach:Medicine out of reach: Pre 63%Pre 63% Post 85%Post 85%

Know Poison Hotline:Know Poison Hotline: Pre 70%Pre 70% Post 59%Post 59%

Ever used Hotline:Ever used Hotline: Pre 19%Pre 19% Post 33%Post 33%

Knowledge of thin ice:Knowledge of thin ice: Pre 15%Pre 15% Post 59%Post 59%

Wear appropriate clothing:Wear appropriate clothing: Pre 96%Pre 96% Post 96% Post 96%

ATV Helmet usageATV Helmet usage No significant changeNo significant change

Results, continuedResults, continued

Snowmachine helmet usage: no significant Snowmachine helmet usage: no significant

change except for students that wore their change except for students that wore their

helmets ½ of the time (Pre) now wear their helmets ½ of the time (Pre) now wear their

helmets all the timehelmets all the time (post) as reported by (post) as reported by

parentsparents

Personal Floatation Device: time of year Personal Floatation Device: time of year

prevents Post observational surveys.prevents Post observational surveys.

Curriculum Goals & Objectives Curriculum Goals & Objectives 07/0807/08

First and foremost is that this curriculum is First and foremost is that this curriculum is aligned with State Standardsaligned with State Standards

Continue observational studiesContinue observational studies

Monthly themes are the sameMonthly themes are the same

Testing knowledgeTesting knowledge

Teacher evaluations on curriculum contentTeacher evaluations on curriculum content

Student survey’s on attitudes, behaviors and Student survey’s on attitudes, behaviors and beliefs beliefs

End of year Safety FairEnd of year Safety Fair

Observational Surveys Observational Surveys

Purpose: Collect supportive and Purpose: Collect supportive and solid data on normssolid data on norms

Selected sites are important to Selected sites are important to maintain consistency and proper maintain consistency and proper data collectiondata collection

Total of 6 hours a monthTotal of 6 hours a month Students benefitsStudents benefits Community benefitsCommunity benefits

Video CorrespondenceVideo Correspondence

Depends on participationDepends on participation Each month video conferences will be offered Each month video conferences will be offered Target student population Target student population

99thth grade – 12 grade – 12thth grade grade Deliverance from High School to younger peers Deliverance from High School to younger peers

Monthly themes followedMonthly themes followed Once – Twice a monthOnce – Twice a month Delivery/Student expectations Delivery/Student expectations High School Student deliveranceHigh School Student deliverance

Thru video conference?Thru video conference?Thru direct individual school contact?Thru direct individual school contact?

Overview of Teacher InvolvementOverview of Teacher Involvement

Test Knowledge in September & AprilTest Knowledge in September & April

Student Survey before & after of each Student Survey before & after of each risk factor monthly themerisk factor monthly theme

Classroom projectsClassroom projects

(Optional) High School Student video (Optional) High School Student video instructions to K-8instructions to K-8thth grade grade implementationimplementation

EvaluationsEvaluations

Teacher EvaluationTeacher Evaluation Data collection on content and deliverance Data collection on content and deliverance

Student EvaluationStudent Evaluation Data collection on attitudes, behaviors and Data collection on attitudes, behaviors and

beliefsbeliefs

Follow-up Product EvaluationsFollow-up Product Evaluations McGrath, Nikolai And TakotnaMcGrath, Nikolai And Takotna

ConclusionsConclusions

Due to the implementation of the Alaska Due to the implementation of the Alaska Focus on Safety curriculum, positive Focus on Safety curriculum, positive safety behavior changes and practices safety behavior changes and practices were observed in all 3 villages per the were observed in all 3 villages per the home safety surveys. Additionally, all home safety surveys. Additionally, all students showed between 10 to 18% students showed between 10 to 18% increase in safety knowledge as increase in safety knowledge as evidenced by the post-tests. evidenced by the post-tests.