Injury prevention strategic planning using quantitative and qualitative community needs assessment: Safe Kids York County coalition

Children's unintentional injury continues to be a leading cause of hospitalization and death for children in York County Pennsylvania. The collaborative effort of community-partnership organizations, through the Safe Kids York County coalition, have focused resource allocation and program development to the most prevalent modes of injury. A yearly community assessment is used to analyze morbidity and mortality data collected through emergency room visits and death certificates. Additionally, qualitative info is analyzed by select partnering agencies through the county-wide child death review team, home visit inspections and police reports.

Electronic information is assessed through the Pennsylvania Department of Health's online EpiQMS database with supportive population information from the US Census Bureau.

Safe Kids York County is part of the Pennsylvania Safe Kids Coalition and Safe Kids World Wide. Through these state and international collaboratives, SKYC is able to receive technical support for the development of annual action plans, generate grant funds for educational materials and program supplies, and provide partner agencies with the most up to date policies and procedures for injury prevention.

Partner organizations have also used GIS mapping software to determine areas of high crime within the York City limits. Specific neighborhood safety events and material distribution are developed for these issues.

At the time of this abstract submission, SKYC was in the development of a website to include local injury statistics, injury prevention information, a calendar of events and links to partner organizations.