Injury Prevention in Head Start
Children need to be safe in order to learn and develop their full potential. Head Start programs create safe learning environments using injury prevention strategies. All staff work together to implement injury prevention systemically using all of the resources available.
The Head Start Program Performance Standards specify that:
Grantee and delegate agencies must:
(1) Ensure that staff and volunteers can demonstrate safety practices; and
(2) Foster safety awareness among children and parents by incorporating it into child and parent activities.
(45 CFR 1304.22[d])
Most programs also must meet state licensing requirements related to injury prevention. Yet, these requirements are not the only guides. Programs can also use injury and incident data to identify and solve problems. Using tools for data collection and analysis, each program can plan, implement, and evaluate efforts to reduce the number of incidents and the severity of injury.
How To Use This Resource
This resource guide offers programs current resources about injury prevention. Each item selected offers more in-depth information about injury prevention. Within the resources, you will find definitions, data, and science-informed strategies.
You can use these resources to develop:
- Staff and family training;
- Collaborative work with public health, medical, and oral health professionals;
- Data collection, analysis and use;
- Strategies for prevention and control of injuries; and
- Methods for implementation and evaluation
For each resource selected you will find:
- Citation including the web address
- Abstract offering information about how it informs program work
- Audience description to identify who should use the resource
- Description of the program option that might find this resource most helpful
- Research type such as science-informed (research was used to develop the information but has not validated the information presented) or research-based (clear scientific evidence defines the information presented)
- Language(s) in which the resource is available
- Cost of the resource
- Additional comments for use within the program.
These resources were selected based on five criteria:
- Accuracy: Is the information correct?
- Currency: Does the resource reflect the most recent research/practice?
- Comprehensiveness: Does the resource include an adequate amount of information on the topic?
- Relevancy: Is the resource useful for Head Start and Early Head Start programs?
- Clarity: Can the reader easily understand the information shared?
Resources Include
Nationally-Recognized Standards and National, State, and Local Policies and Initiatives:
Program-Focused Information and Strategies:
Family-Focused Information and Strategies:
General Resource Websites:
American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. (2011). Caring for our children: National health and safety performance standards; Guidelines for early care and education programs. 3rd edition. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the first edition of the Caring For Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards in 1992. This third edition defines a comprehensive set of standards that describe high-quality early education programs outside of the home. This resource was developed out of a national project funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. While the Head Start Program Performance Standards define the requirements for Head Start programs related to injury prevention, Caring for our Children provides more in depth information about how to meet those regulations. Managers and staff will find tips, practical applications, and supporting research for each standard related to injury prevention.
Audience: Staff and administrators
Program Option(s): Center-based and family child care
Research Type: Research -based
Language: English only
Available at: http://nrckids.org/CFOC3/
Cost: Free online. Print versions available for sale at http://www.apha.org/publications/bookstore/ or http://www.aap.org
Additional Comments: Caring for our Children includes standards that focus on all elements of early education and care programs.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Recognizing the impact of injury on children in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brought together experts in injury prevention to develop this National Plan. Launched in the spring of 2012, the plan focuses on six areas to improve national, state, and local injury prevention efforts: 1) data and surveillance, 2) research,
3) communications, 4) education and training, 5) health systems and health care, and 6) policy. The website includes information about injuries that are motor vehicle-related or due to suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires/burns, falls, or sports and recreation. It also has a link to CDC's Vital Signs: Child Injury Prevention website which includes statistics and tips related to specific types of injuries.
Audience: Managers, Health Services Advisory Committee members, and other public health partners
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: English only
Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/NAP/
Cost: Free online
Additional Comments: Understanding the National Action Plan will help managers work with other community organizations supporting injury prevention. Knowing the areas that they address will help direct collaborative activities.
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2012). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is a government agency that protects the public from injury caused by consumer products. Using data about the frequency of incidents and the severity of injury, CPSC reviews consumer products to ensure that they are safe. They issue recalls on products when deemed necessary. The website offers lists of statutes, regulations, and guidance used to make decisions about product safety. Additionally, the website includes information about specific products and a database of recalls on products. There is a place to sign-up for safety news and recall emails that offer regular updates on consumer product safety.
Audience: Parents, staff and managers
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: English and Spanish
Available at: http://www.cpsc.gov/
Cost: Free online
Additional Comments: Health Managers will find reviewing this website frequently and/or receiving safety news and recall emails very useful. CPSC information will help them define specifics for safety checks and select safe and appropriate materials for children. They can also provide important warnings about used products such as cribs and helmets that may no longer be safe.
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Center for the Study and Prevention of Injury, Violence, and Suicide. (2012). Children's Safety Network National Injury and Violence Prevention Resource Center. Waltham, MA: Education Development Center, Inc
The Children's Safety Network (CSN) National Injury and Violence Prevention Resource Center works with state, territorial, and community maternal and child health and injury and violence prevention programs to improve injury prevention activities at all levels. The training and technical assistance they offer focuses on: 1) collecting, analyzing, and using data to plan; 2) identifying research-based and science-informed injury prevention practices; 3) communicating the latest research on injury prevention, including cost benefit analyses; and 4) strengthening state health departments' capacity to plan, implement and evaluate injury prevention programs. The CSN website offers information on a wide range of injury topics including child care safety, home safety, playground safety, and specific types of injuries (e.g., choking, drowning, fire and burns, motor vehicle-related injuries, poisoning, safe sleep, child maltreatment and violence). An online forum and e-newsletter are also available. The CSN is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services.
Audience: Health managers, Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) members, and other partners
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based and science-informed
Language: English
Available at: http://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/
Cost: Free online.
Additional Comments: Information on this website focuses on injury prevention for children from birth to young adulthood. There is a search mechanism on all pages that will help you locate the most relevant resources. Terms to use include "infants", "toddlers", "preschoolers", and "young children". Use quotes around search terms to narrow results. Information is also provided by injury topic (playground, bicycle, child maltreatment); by systems (data, costs, practice, evaluation) and by state. There are also links to other groups that include injury prevention resources.
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Safe Kids USA. (n.d.). Safe Kids. Washington, DC: Safe Kids Worldwide.
Safe Kids USA is a member of the global network focused on preventing unintentional childhood injury. The nonprofit organization focuses on: 1) giving families skills to identify child injury risks and prevention, 2) providing safety equipment to families who need them, 3) leading research efforts to prevent injury, 4) building partnerships to improve injury prevention strategies, and 5) advocating for policy to improve child safety laws and regulations. Safe Kids USA manages over 200 coalitions around the country that can partner with programs to support the use of injury and incident data and share strategies. There are state level and local level coalitions. This website provides the latest information on injury prevention and strategies to change knowledge into action. Using tabs, the site is organized into separate sections for parents, educators, and safety professionals. Each section is organized specifically with the audience in mind:
- "For Parents" is organized by developmental stage so that parents can access information specific to their children in ways that make sense to them.
- "For Educators" is organized by resource type: teachers can find activities, educational tip sheets, and lesson plans
- "For Safety Professionals" is organized by resource type but includes position statements and research reports in addition to tip sheets and fact sheets. By organizing information this way, anyone who uses the website will find what they need easily.
Audience: Parents, staff, managers, and public health partners
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based and science-informed
Language: English with some resources in Spanish
Available at: http://www.safekids.org/
Cost: Free online
Additional Comments: Health managers should review items in all sections. Reviewing the "For Parents" section will ensure that the program is aware of the latest resources available to families. Use the "For Safety Professionals" section to get the latest research, strategies, and ideas for collaboration.
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American Academy of Pediatrics. Promoting Safety and Injury Prevention. Bright Futures Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents, 3rd Ed. (2008). Elks Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. pp. 177-191.
The Bright Futures initiative is a project of the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services that seeks to improve children's health and wellness through health promotion and disease prevention. Since this initiative began in 1990, the work has grown to include a wide range of partners speaking to various audiences including: health care practitioners, public health professionals, mental health providers, families and child care programs. The Bright Future Guidelines includes a 15-page article that provides health care practitioners with key messages and information to share with parents during routine well-child visits. The resource offers definitions and describes a developmental approach to injury prevention. Importantly, it also includes information about how to be culturally responsive to families when explaining tips and strategies for injury prevention. Considerations for children with special health care needs are also offered.
Audience: Health supervisors, Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) members, and other public health partners
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: English
Available at: http://brightfutures.aap.org/pdfs/Guidelines_PDF/10-Promoting_Safety_and_Injury_Prevention.pdf
Cost: Free online. Print versions available for sale at http://www.aap.org
Additional Comments: While this resource was written for health care practitioners in the medical home, it has good information for orienting staff that may not have in-depth knowledge of injury prevention.
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The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP) from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2005) Age-Related Safety Sheets. Chicago, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics created The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP) in 1983 to educate parents of children from birth through age 12 about injury prevention strategies they could use at home. This website contains Age-Related Safety Sheets detailing injury information by chronological age. The safety sheets focus on common injuries, including injuries due to motor vehicle accidents, drowning, burns, firearms, poisoning, falls, bicycle crashes, choking, or pedestrian hazards. Pediatricians share these fact sheets with parents during regular well-child visits. Parents, staff, and administrators will find specific tips to keep children safe by type of injury such as car injuries, falls, burns, choking/suffocation, drowning and poisoning.
Audience: Parents and staff
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: English only
Available at: http://www2.aap.org/family/tippmain.htm
Cost: Free online. Print versions available for sale at http://www2.aap.org/family/tippmain.htm
Additional Comments: Family service workers and home visitors can share these safety sheets with families during parent education sessions, home visits, and parent meetings. When sharing these resources, you will want to personalize the information so that family members understand how to use it in the context of their everyday lives.
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Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Protect the Ones You Love: Child Injuries Are Preventable. Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Protect the Ones You Love is a project developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services to raise parent awareness about the leading causes of injury for children from birth through age 19. Using seven types of injury to organize information, this website includes tip sheets for parents. These resources offer research-based information about the incidence of and risks for each type of injury. Most importantly, the tip sheets also offer prevention tips. The website offers free printable materials such as posters and brochures to help build awareness about injury prevention. Finally, a downloadable event planning guide can help you to plan sessions at health fairs and parent workshops.
Audience: Parents, staff, and administrators
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: English
Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/safechild/
Cost: Free online.
Additional Comments: While the website offers information about injury for children from birth to age 19, there is a great deal of useful information for children served in Head Start and Early Head Start. Home visitors and family service workers can print and share the tip sheets during home visits or meetings with parents. They can be individualized when accompanied by a home safety inspection so that parents understand what the risks are in their own home.
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Medline Plus. (2012)."Child Safety." Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health.
Medline Plus offers quick and easy to access collections of information for families that are organized by topic. The "Child Safety" page provides a brief description of a few steps parents can take to increase the safety of their children. The reader finds a few resources listed that will "get them started" in creating a safe and healthy environment for children. It then offers "basics," "learn more," "multimedia & cool tools," "research," "reference shelf," and "for you" sections with links to resources reviewed by the experts at Medline Plus and the National Institutes of Health.
Audience: Parents, staff and managers
Program Option(s): Home-based, center-based, and family child care
Research Type: Research-based
Language: Information available in many languages including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Somali
Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childsafety.html
Cost: Free online.
Additional Comments: This resource is excellent for managers and staff who want to "dig deeper" to find resources in injury prevention. Links to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Nemours Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Safe Kids USA and others offer strong research-based information that can enhance program injury prevention strategies.
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