237330 Intervention Dimensions: Building a sustainable school based program and study to improve family disaster preparedness actions

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 8:30 AM

Melanie Gilmore, MPH , Health Planning, Evaluation and Program Development, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX
Faith Foreman, DrPH, MPH , Health Planning, Evaluation and Program Development, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX
Misael Obregon, MS , Health Planning, Evaluation and Program Development, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX
Hurricane IKE caused a lot of devastation. It revealed the level of preparedness that is needed in order for families to maintain health and safety during natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes. The Disaster Ambassador Preparedness Program was a school level intervention with a study component to measure the disaster preparedness actions of families before and after the educational program was implemented. Thirty-two schools participated in the program. A non-experimental single group pretest-posttest design was utilized. Quantitative data was collected from parents and teachers before and after an educational intervention to determine the differences in the disaster preparedness actions taken by families related to attitudes, knowledge, perceived susceptibility, and behavior. The data from the survey instruments are currently being analyzed. The results will be available by the time of the conference. Study findings will reveal answers to the following questions to identify conclusions: 1. To what extent does the Disaster Ambassador Preparedness Program (DAPP) affect parents' and teachers knowledge, beliefs and practices regarding their disaster preparedness? 2. In which stage of the Stage of Change Model (Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance) are parents and teachers relative to their disaster preparedness. 3. What barriers do individuals perceive in preparing for disasters? 4. Will teachers agree to adopt the Disaster Ambassador Preparedness into their annual curriculum for continuous instruction?

Learning Areas:
Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe at least three components needed to create sustainable school level health interventions. 2. Discuss the three study instruments used to identify disaster preparedness actions and the effectiveness of a school health intervention.

Keywords: Disasters, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an Abstract Author because I have been the Project Manager of the Disaster Ambassador Preparedness Program. I have been responsible for the design, implementation, and the initial evaluation plan for the program
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.