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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Implementation Considerations for Preventing Injuries among Tribal Communities

Considerations for implementing unintentional injury prevention programs in rural tribal communities include:

  • Connecting with the tribal council to ensure that you have its support and that proper procedures are taken for implementing a program within their community. Tribal council support is important for successful outreach to tribal communities.
  • Being mindful of timing of outreach, including scheduling events during tribal events that attract many people
  • Ensuring appropriate outreach and messaging, such as on billboards and other materials
  • Engaging trusted messengers, such as well-known tribal leaders or healthcare staff, to appear on promotional materials and speak in favor of the injury prevention topic
  • Obtaining letters of support from tribal councils or other governing bodies to help maintain buy-in for injury prevention programs when council members change over time
  • Establishing partnerships with other local agencies and organizations involved in injury prevention to maximize limited funding for services
  • Understanding tribal laws focused on unintentional injury prevention may differ from other state and local laws, for example, laws that address motor vehicle safety such as child restraint laws on roads owned by tribal governments

The Tribal Injury Prevention Resource Center (TIPRC) provides free technical assistance to all federally recognized tribes. Other rural communities and organizations serving tribal communities can also access free webinars, fact sheets, and other resources that may support prevention activities. Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) often have their own tribal injury prevention programs and can also help provide guidance on injury-related topics.

Resources to Learn More

Selected Evidence-Based Strategies for Preventing Injuries
Document
Provides a detailed list of recommended evidence-based strategies for preventing unintentional injuries in tribal communities.
Organization(s): Indian Health Service Injury Prevention Program
Date: 1/2021

Tribal Injury Prevention Cooperative Agreement Program (TIPCAP) Newsletters
Website
Repository of newsletters providing information on the progress of implementing injury prevention programs in Indian Country.
Organization(s): Indian Health Service