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.