Applying funding agency lessons learned to enhance American Indian motor vehicle injury prevention

Background: This presentation will describe findings from the 2004-2009 Centers for Disease Control & Prevention's (CDC) Tribal Motor Vehicle Injury Prevention Program (TMVIPP). The CDC funded four American Indian (AI) Tribes at approximately $75,000/year to reduce motor vehicle-related injury/fatality using evidence-based strategies identified by the Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Lead authors conducted an end-of-cycle assessment to identify recommendations for agency administrators. Methods: Coupled with in-depth interactions with TMVIPP projects, data sources included: a) project funding applications; b) coordinator workshop evaluations; c) interviews with CDC/TMVIPP staff; d) progress reports; and e) multi-year data collection summaries. We documented success factors when present for at least two tribes and limitation factors when experienced by at least one tribe. Results: We identified project success factors (n=17), project limitation factors (n=15), and recommendations (n=24) by four program components: 1) Program Administration; 2) Partnerships/Collaboration; 3) Tailoring Effective Strategies for AI Communities; and 4) Data Collection and Evaluation. Approximately half of the success factors were present for all four tribes and approximately half of limitation factors were present for 3-4 tribes. Conclusions: Tailoring, multi-year funding, full-time coordinators, and external evaluation are critical elements of a successful TMVIPP. Recommendations have been applied by the CDC to the 2010-2014 TMVIPP funding cycle, including the development of a TMVIPP Administration, Implementation, and Evaluation Manual that, along with other tools/resources emphasizing documentation of consistent program implementation and evaluation. A Guide for tailoring evidence-based strategies to prevent motor vehicle injuries/death in Tribal communities will be developed.