**SAFE COMMUNITY COALITION ASSESSMENT**

**Advisory**

**Guidelines**

**Background Information Questionnaires**

# Sample Questions

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT**

**INTRODUCTION**

Injury is the leading cause of death for persons in the age group one
through 44 as well as the most common cause of hospitalizations for
persons under the age of 40. The financial costs of injuries are
staggering: injuries cost billions of dollars in health care and social
support resources. In 1990, for example, the lifetime costs of all
injuries were estimated at \$215 billion annually. These estimates do
not include the emotional burden resulting from the loss of a child or
loved one, or the toll of severe disability on the injured person and
his or her family. Each year nearly 40,000 people lose their lives on
our nation\'s roads, and approximately 70 percent of those fatalities
occur on rural highways. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) is charged with reducing deaths and injury on the
nation\'s highways. NHTSA has determined that it can best use its
limited resources if its efforts are focused on assisting states with
the development and support of Safe Communities.

To accomplish this goal, in 1998 Region VIII Office of NHTSA developed a
Technical Assistance Team approach that permitted states to utilize
highway safety funds to support the technical evaluation of existing and
proposed Safe Community programs. The program is a tool for states to
use in supporting their Safe Community programs. The assessment program
uses the same key elements within the Safe Community component areas
with updated standards. NHTSA serves as a facilitator by assembling a
team of technical experts who demonstrate expertise in Safe Community
development and implementation. These experts demonstrate leadership and
expertise through involvement in national organizations committed to the
improvement of Safe Communities throughout the country. Selection of the
Technical Assistance Team is also based on experience in special areas
identified by the requesting state. Examples of specialized expertise
include experience in the development of coalition building, citizen
involvement, comprehensive injury prevention and control, program
planning, self sufficiency, collaboration, and data gathering systems.
Experience in similar geographic and demographic situations, such as
rural areas, coupled with knowledge is essential.

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT ADVISORY**

**GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS**

With the increasing attention given to unintentional injury, it has
become obvious that traditional interventions designed to change the
behavior of high-risk individuals has had too little impact on reducing
the injury problem. Community intervention is one strategy that emerged
in response to that recognition. Based on the idea that behavior is
heavily influenced by environment, this approach seeks to change
community norms and values regarding behaviors that contribute to the
injury problem.

Defined as a relatively small group of people with shared values and
institutions, the community serves as not merely the site of the injury
problem, but also as the source of the problem and of the solutions.

Community development puts the control over the determinants of health
where it belongs - with the people. The community approach argues that
permanent large scale behavior change is best achieved by changing the
standards of acceptable behavior in a community. Community approaches
reflect shared responsibility for injury prevention and actually augment
individuals' capacity for change.

Statewide policies are still required to address the important question
of equity, and the marshaling of centralized resources. The passage and
enforcement of legislation and the administration of federal funding can
serve as a foundation upon which communities can build, or as a
framework to which communities can attach local approaches.

**SAFE COMMUNITIES**

Injuries are primarily a local community problem that is best solved at
the local level. Safe Communities is a strategy for comprehensive injury
control that relies on the use of multiple data sources, citizen
involvement, and expanded partnerships to reduce injuries in the
community. The use of multiple data sources enables a community to
better understand both the magnitude and consequences of injuries
sustained. Citizen involvement enables a community to establish
priorities for identified problems. The injury problem is too complex
and resources are too limited for any one group to solve alone.
Expanding partnerships beyond traditional stakeholders enables
communities to maximize the use of available resources.

**COMMON ELEMENTS OF A SAFE COMMUNITY**

I. Multiple Data Sources

Advisory

Multiple data sources expand problem identification beyond just
fatalities to include injuries as well as the medical and financial
outcomes of injuries. Data is also used to measure program
effectiveness. Communities decide what data sets are most relevant to
their efforts.

*To understand how the data can be used to save lives and reduce
injuries, a community should consider the following basic questions:*

* Who is being injured?*

* Under what circumstances are the injuries occurring?*

* How serious are the injuries?*

* What are the costs associated with the problem?*

* What are the potential savings to the community if the injuries are
reduced?*

*The answers to these questions will establish a baseline of information
about the injury problem in the community.*

II\. Citizen Involvement

Advisory

Citizen Involvement is essential to establish community priorities for
identified problems. Citizens actively participate in problem
identification, assume responsibility and ownership for shaping
solutions, and share in both the successes and challenges of their
program. A coalition of involved citizens provides the means for gaining
community support for the program and for incorporating local values and
attitudes into implementation plans. The coalition reviews the
community's injury profile and assesses what is already being done in
the community to address the injury problem. As part of a coalition,
citizens may have different motivations, however, they need to agree on
the purpose of the Safe Community and on the goals and objectives of the
coalition.

III\. Expanded Partnerships

Advisory

Expanded partnerships include all those who have a stake in reducing
injuries. Potential partners include law enforcement, local government,
public safety officials, schools, courts, business, health departments,
community and advocacy groups, prevention, acute care and rehabilitation
communities, employers, health care providers, media representatives.
Partnerships allow for the development of comprehensive and
collaborative strategies, for sharing of expertise and resources, and
for strategic opportunities to reach target populations.

IV\. Comprehensive Injury Prevention and Control

Advisory

Injuries are predictable events and, as such, provide an opportunity to
design interventions at many points prior to, during, and after the
event to reduce the risk or severity of injury. Thus, in Safe
Communities the three components of injury prevention and control are
linked as active and essential participants in solving community injury
problems. Those involved in prevention (seeking to avert injury), acute
care (providing accessible and appropriate care to those injured), and
rehabilitation (helping the injured return to the home and work
environments) join together to accelerate progress in reducing injuries.

V. Safe Community Program Planning

Advisory

Community organization is a planned/managed process. A comprehensive
assessment of both the problem and the community's capacity to address
the problem (resources as well as potential barriers) is the first stage
of community organization. Planning, the second stage, involves
establishing goals, objectives, activities, time lines and budgets. The
third stage, implementation, turns ideas into action and requires broad
citizen participation and integrated comprehensive strategies.
Evaluation, the fourth stage, involves reassessing strategies (those
that worked and those that were not successful) and continues throughout
the various phases of the community organizing effort.

VI\. Program Effectiveness

Advisory

The measure of an effective Safe Community Program will ultimately be a
reduction in fatal and non-fatal injuries and their associated costs
(outcome evaluation). However, a steady decline over a period of 4-5
years must occur in order to attribute the reduction to the Safe
Community program. Therefore, short term measures of behavior change
and/or environmental change (impact evaluation) are needed. Examples of
behavior change or environmental change include (but are not limited to)
the following:

increase in safety belt and child safety seat use among targeted
population

increase in bicycle helmet or motorcycle helmet use among targeted
population

decrease in DUI among targeted population

changes in community attitudes regarding traffic injury prevention

additional bicycle/pedestrian corridors in the community

The third measure of effectiveness of the Safe Community program is
process evaluation. Process evaluation considers [how]{.underline} the
program was implemented: what has the program done, were the activities
carried out as planned, who was reached by the program, what problems
were encountered and how were they addressed?

VII\. Self Sufficiency

Advisory

Safe Communities achieve community ownership when intervention programs
are institutionalized and the community leaders provide ongoing
financial support. Institutionalization is crucial; without
comprehensive, long-term responses to the injury problems, programs will
be less likely to significantly reduce injury death, disability, and
their associated costs. Programs that are in operation for only a year
or two and then disappear (usually because of lack of funding) are
unlikely to bring about real change or, at best, only temporary changes.

Multi-faceted strategies are necessary for obtaining self-sufficiency.
Strength is derived from combining resources as more people and
organizations become familiar with the goals and accomplishments of the
program. Funds generated from multiple funding sources are combined to
allow the community to control their program and associated budgets.
Examples of potential funding sources include (but are not limited to):
fees for services, earmarked funds (including fines and surcharges), in
kind contributions for goods and/or services, pro-bono and volunteer
support, grants and donations from multiple funding sources, sponsorship
by another organization including state and local government.

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES**

**PURPOSE**

The purpose of the assessment is to aid the SHSO in the review of the
Safe Community Programs in their state, note the programs' strengths and
accomplishments, make suggestions for improvements and identify areas
where they can provide assistance. The assessment can be used as a tool
for planning purposes and for making decisions about how to best use
available resources. The assessment process provides an organized
approach for meeting these purposes.

**GENERAL PROCESS**

The Safe Communities Assessment establishes criteria against which each
community program is assessed. The assessment examines significant
components of the Safe Community programs. As such, the following
aspects are addressed: **use of multiple data sources, citizen
involvement, expanded partnerships, comprehensive injury control
systems, program planning, program effectiveness**, and **self
sufficiency.**

[Facilitation and Team Selection]{.underline}:

NHTSA will serve as facilitator for the Safe Communities Assessment.
Working with the SHSO, NHTSA will select a team of four individuals with
demonstrated expertise in various aspects of community program
development and implementation. Team members are selected with expertise
in:

\* data collection and analysis

\* community health planning

\* community program implementation

\* program planning and management

\* injury prevention

\* traffic safety

\* combination of this expertise

Efforts are made to select a team which reflects the needs and interests
expressed by the SHSO. The Team also includes a facilitator to aid in
the assessment process, and an administrative assistant who is
responsible for the actual production of the report.

[Data Sources and Collection]{.underline}

Background information prior to the assessment is collected through
written materials, including responses to a pre-site questionnaire
completed by community directors, local coalition members, and the SHSO.
These briefing materials are provided to the assessment team at least
three weeks before the on-site visit.

The assessment itself consists of interviews with community directors,
coalition members and the SHSO. The emphasis of the Safe Communities
Assessment is on the use of data to define the community\'s injury
problem, coalition development and collaboration within the community,
program planning and effectiveness, comprehensiveness of the implemented
injury prevention and control strategies, and self-sufficiency. In
addition to the Safe Communities Advisory, the team uses the Sample
Questions to guide the assessment.

Generally, each community is given from two to four hours for the
interview process. Time is also allowed for the SHSO to review with the
team any specific areas which should be emphasized, and what special
problems may exist or should be addressed.

[Analysis and Report Writing]{.underline}

Following the completion of the presentations, the team convenes to
review and analyze the information presented. Generally speaking, for
each portion of the Safe Communities Advisory, the team notes the
strengths and weaknesses, as well as recommendations. The report is a
consensus report. Thus, while each team member has a particular
expertise and is responsible for writing particular parts of the report,
everyone on the team agrees with what is ultimately contained in the
report. The recommendations are based on the unique characteristics of
the community and what the team members believe the community can do to
improve the effectiveness and comprehensiveness of its program.

[Presentation of the Report]{.underline}

On the final day of the assessment, the team briefs the SHSO on the
findings of the assessment, discussing major points and recommendations.
The report is a SHSO report; it is not a NHTSA document. The State may
use the assessment report as the basis for planning Safe Community
improvements, to provide for additional training, to set legislative
agendas, and to evaluate funding priorities. The report produced at the
end of the assessment is a final report for the SHSO.

It is emphasized that the report is the property of the SHSO. No
information from the report is released without the permission of the
SHSO. The SHSO makes the final decision whether to release the report,
release the report with revisions, release portions of the report, or
not release the report. (The final report is also provided to the SHSO
on a floppy disk prepared using WordPerfect version 6.0. Copies of the
final report are also given to NHTSA on floppy disks.)

**COSTS, LOGISTICS, AND COORDINATION**

[State Responsibilities]{.underline}

The SHSO is responsible for all costs for the Safe Communities
Assessment (except for NHTSA involvement), including travel, per diem,
and other costs associated with the team (including the administrative
assistant). The SHSO is also responsible for selection of a suitable
hotel for conducting the assessment, including meeting rooms,
refreshments, etc.; arranging for and scheduling participants to be
interviewed; arranging for all equipment and supplies; and arranging for
travel and hotel accommodations for team members. The length of time
required to conduct the Safe Communities Assessment interviews is
dependent upon the number of existing Safe Community programs in the
state.

[NHTSA Responsibilities]{.underline}

After a request for an assessment is made, NHTSA schedules a
pre-assessment site visit with the SHSO. Included in the visit will be a
discussion of the assessment process and purpose, the critical issues
the SHSO wants to have addressed, the materials to be mailed in advance
to the team, costs and logistics, and potential dates for holding the
assessment. The possible team members for the assessment will also be
discussed. NHTSA provides a list of potential team members, subject to
the approval of the SHSO. NHTSA confirms the participation of the
members upon returning to the NHTSA office. A final list with full name,
title, address, and telephone number is then furnished to the SHSO.

Within the context of State financial regulations, NHTSA suggests that
all team travel be pre-paid, and recommends that team lodging expenses
be included on a master hotel bill. This will minimize out-of-pocket
expenses to team members (including the administrative assistant). In
addition, when team members receive payment for professional services,
NHTSA requests that the payment checks be issued to team members at the
close of the assessment (if possible).

**SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS**

[Interview and Report Presentation]{.underline}

The size of the interview room is determined by how many participants
the State chooses to involve at any one time. Tables should be set up as
to allow informal discussion. There should be room and chairs for any
observers or other participants the State chooses to invite. Past
experience has shown that a 20-25 person room seems about right. A
separate room should be available for the Assessment Team to discuss and
prepare the assessment report. Ideally, the report preparation room
should be adjacent to the interview room, and should be set up with a
separate desk or table for the Administrative Assistant, in order to
effectively operate the word processor and printing equipment, and
enough table space for the team members to be able to use their
equipment.

[Equipment]{.underline}

The Assessment requires the following on site for the interviews and for
report preparation. If required, the equipment is readily available from
computer rental outlets.

\* IBM compatible 486 or greater PC, color monitor, equipped with a hard
drive with sufficient memory to handle Word Perfect software and one
3.5\" floppy disk drive (for Administrative Assistant); one box (10
disks) of 3.5\" formatted disks;

\* Four lap top PCs, capable of loading WordPerfect software (need at
least the last 4 days);

\* A Hewlett Packard LaserJet printer and paper (the Team will use
approximately 1500 - 2000 sheets or four reams of paper);

\* A copy machine with sorting capability;

\* The Administrative Assistant brings and loads a copy of Work Perfect
6.1 on all machines, if necessary;

\* A telephone in each room

\* Flip chart and masking tape, pens (blue and red) and writing tablets,
regular and heavy duty staplers, paper clips and fasteners;

\* A wall map of the State, and name tent cards for all Safe Communities
Assessment Team members and participants (the tent card can be blank
with the names written in with a magic marker).

[NOTE]{.underline}: The interview/meeting room and lodging facilities
must be the same site. Interview facilities should accommodate a minimum
of 10 individuals including the assessment team. The assessment closeout
briefing room should accommodate a minimum of 30 individuals including
the assessment team.

**FINAL REPORT FORMAT**

Each of the major components in the Safe Communities Advisory is
addressed during the assessment and in the final report. Each component
is introduced with a restatement of the Advisory, followed by a
narrative of the strengths and weaknesses status of the community
program in that area, and concludes with specific recommendations from
the Technical Assistance Team.

The following are the major components of the assessment final report
(may vary depending on the focus desired by the SHSO):

ASSESSMENT BACKGROUND

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

SAFE COMMUNITY PROFILE

General description of the community

General description of the Safe Community Program

ELEMENTS OF THE SAFE COMMUNITY (ADVISORY)

I. Use of Data

multiple sources of data used

how data was used to define community's injury problem

II\. Citizen Involvement

coalition development

citizen involvement in the Safe Community program

III\. Expanded Partnerships

non-traditional partnerships

collaborative relationships within the community

IV\. Comprehensive Injury Prevention and Control

prevention, acute care and rehabilitation - active participants

appropriate injury prevention strategies chosen

other injury concerns addressed by the program

V. Safe Community Program Planning

problem identification

goals and objectives

implementation strategies

program management

VI\. Program Effectiveness

outcome evaluation

impact evaluation

process evaluation

VII\. Self Sufficiency

multi-faceted strategy institutionalization of program diversity of
funding sources

**SAFE COMMUNITY COALITION ASSESSMENT**

**PRE-SITE VISIT BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND QUESTIONNAIRE**

**General Directions:** The purpose of the pre-site visit questionnaire
is to provide the assessment team with as much community-specific
information as possible prior to their visit so that they can utilize
the time available in the most effective way.

Background information about the Safe Community and about the SHSO may
be included in existing program documents (grant applications,
brochures, etc.). If that is the case, community directors and SHSO
personnel are encouraged to submit the existing documentation rather
than re-write the information requested.

The pre-site visit questionnaire is subdivided by the following:

\(1\) questionnaire completed by local Safe Community Directors

\(2\) questionnaire completed by local citizens or coalition members
representing law enforcement, business, health care, media, and one "at
large" participant (chosen by the local Safe Community director)

\(3\) questionnaire completed by the SHSO

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:**

LOCAL DIRECTORS

**Specific Instructions to Community Directors:** The purpose of this
questionnaire is to provide the assessment team with as much information
about your community and about your program as possible. Please assume
that the reader will not have any previous knowledge about your
community or about your program. Additional information, including
detailed explanations that were not requested, are most welcome.

If any of the following information is already included in existing
program documents (grant applications, brochures, coalition/program
records, etc.), we strongly encourage you to use them whenever possible
(rather than re-writing the information requested). When submitting
existing documents, please reference the question number to which the
information applies.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide this information to
the assessment team.

1\. Please provide a brief description of your program, the injury
problems addressed by your program, and the history of the program.

2\. Please list all coalition members, the agencies they represent, and
the position they hold at their agency.

3\. Please submit minutes of the past year's coalition meetings,
including attendance.

4\. Please list all data sources reviewed by your coalition and explain
[how]{.underline} the data was used to define the community's traffic
injury problem.

5\. Please submit a copy of last year's program goals and objectives. To
what extent were your goals and objectives met last year? Do your
current year's goals and objectives differ from last year? If so, how?

6\. How did last year's plan of action compare with what actually
accomplished?

7\. Please list all community agencies, organizations, institutions,
etc. that your program has worked collaboratively with during the last
twelve months. Identify the projects involved in the collaborative
efforts.

8\. Please describe any changes you have noted in the community as a
result of the program:

A\) behavioral changes (for example, changes in safety belt/CSS use,
changes in impaired driving, etc.)

B\) changes in community attitudes or community norms

C\) environmental changes (for example, changes in road signage, changes
in pedestrian, bicycle paths, etc.)

D\) changes in your definition of the community\'s traffic injury
problem

9\. Please provide a list of revenue sources including the dollar
amounts and estimated in-kind contributions for the last three years of
your program. If you have a proposed/projected budget for next year,
please include it as well. Also, please include a list of program staff
positions, both paid and volunteer.

10\. What do you find most challenging about managing your program?

11\. In what ways does the SHSO contribute toward your program? What
additional contributions from the SHSO would make your program more
successful?

12\. If any of the questions above have prompted suggestions or
recommendations which you would like to make to the Assessment Team,
please add them at this point.

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE: **

**LOCAL CITIZENS/COALITION MEMBERS**

**Dear local citizen:**

**Please take a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire for the Safe
Community Assessment taking place in your state. This information will
be used to help identify the strengths and weaknesses of your local Safe
Community/Community Traffic Safety program.**

1\. Which community are you affiliated
with?\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

2\. Are you an active member of the Safe Community coalition?\_\_\_\_
yes \_\_\_no

Please indicate which area you represent:

[ ]{.underline} Law enforcement [ ]{.underline} Local business [
]{.underline} Health care

[ ]{.underline} Media [ ]{.underline} Other

3\. How long have you been involved with the Safe Community/Traffic
Safety program? [ ]{.underline}4. Do you attend coalition meetings?
\_\_\_\_yes \_\_\_\_no

If so, how often do you attend meetings?[ ]{.underline}5. Please provide
[your opinion]{.underline} of the following questions regarding the
coalition:

A. To what extent are you satisfied with the make-up of the coalition?

1 2 3 4 5

not very

satisfied satisfied

B. To what extent do coalition members actively participate in the
program (for example, regularly attend meetings, volunteer to assist
with projects, advocate for traffic safety, etc.)?

1 2 3 4 5

very little lots of

participation participation

C. How effective is the [coalition]{.underline} in terms of
accomplishing its mission?

1 2 3 4 5

not very

effective effective

6\. Do you receive minutes of meetings? How often?[ ]{.underline}

7\. Are you involved in setting program goals, objectives, priorities
and strategies? If so, how?

[ ]{.underline}8. Do you help promote traffic safety/injury prevention
in your line of work and/or to the community at large? If so, how?

[ ]{.underline}9. Have you participated in any projects that were
sponsored or coordinated by the Safe Community coalition? If so, please
describe.

[ ]{.underline}10. Are you aware of any other injury problems (besides
those caused by traffic crashes) being addressed by the coalition? (For
example, injuries caused by falls, drowning, poisoning, etc.)

[ ]{.underline}11. Please describe any changes you have noted in the
community as a result of the program:

A\) behavioral changes (for example, changes in safety belt/CSS use,
changes in impaired driving, etc.)

[ ]{.underline} B) changes in community attitudes or community norms [
]{.underline} C) environmental changes (for example, changes in road
signage, changes in pedestrian, bicycle paths, etc.) [ ]{.underline}

D\) changes in your definition of the community\'s traffic injury
problem[ ]{.underline}

[ ]{.underline}12. If any of the questions above have prompted
suggestions or recommendations which you would like to make to the
Assessment Team, please add them at this point.

**SAFE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE:**

STATE HIGHWAY SAFETY OFFICE

Please complete the following questionnaire to assist the assessment
team in

understanding how the SHSO works with the Safe Community Programs in
your state. Please assume the reader will not have any previous
knowledge about your program. Any additional information that would be
of help is most welcome**.**

If any of the following information is already included in existing
program documents (SHSO manuals, brochures, program records, etc.), we
strongly encourage you to use them whenever possible (rather than
re-writing the information requested). When submitting existing
documents, please reference the question number to which the information
applies.

1\. Do you have a standard "Request For Proposal" format and contract
for Safe Communities? If so, please submit a sample of each.

2\. What criteria are used to allocate funds to Safe Communities (for
example, rural vs. urban, highest risk, coverage of state, prior
success, etc.)?

3\. How do you determine community eligibility for Safe Community
funding?

4\. Please submit your 1997-1998 goals for Safe Communities.

5\. How would you describe your role(s) in working with the Safe
Communities?

6\. Please list all data sources reviewed by the SHSO and explain how
the data was used to define the state's traffic injury problem.

7\. What have your biggest challenges been in collecting, linking and
disseminating data in your state?

8\. In what ways have you been able to help the Safe Communities use
data for planning and evaluation?

9\. How often do you meet with the Community Directors? Please submit
the minutes of your last three Director's meetings.

10\. Do you have a statewide coalition or task force to address policy
formation, planning and legislative issues regarding traffic safety or
injury prevention? If so, what is the representative make-up of the
coalition? How are the Safe Communities involved in planning, policy
formation and legislative efforts at the state level?

11\. Briefly describe your relationship at the state level with the
health department and/or specific departments within, such as EMS, MCH,
Vital Records, etc. Has your relationship changed in recent years?

12\. Other than direct funding, how else do you support Safe Communities
in your state (for example, training, press releases, educational
materials, advocacy, generating funds, etc.)?

13\. How has the SHSO encouraged self-sufficiency among the Safe
Communities in the last two years? How have you addressed communities
that have not successfully moved toward self sufficiency?

14\. How do you see your role changing as the Safe Communities become
more self-sufficient?

15\. What do you find most rewarding and most challenging in working
with the Safe Communities in your state? What would you like to do
differently?

16\. If any of the questions above have prompted suggestions or
recommendations which you would like to make to the Assessment Team,
please add them at this point.

**ON-SITE INTERVIEWS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS**

Each community is allowed two hours for the interview process. Safe
Communities are represented by Safe Community Directors; the SHSO may
chose their own representation. Safe Community Directors are invited to
bring coalition members to the interview if they choose to do so.

During the first hour of the interview, each community representative
will be asked to provide answers to the following three questions:

1\. How would you describe your program in terms of its successes? (What
makes your program successful?)

2\. Where would you like your program be two years from now?

3\. What would you need for your program to be where you'd like it to be
in two years?

The Assessment Team will use the second hour of the interview to ask
questions about, and elaborate on, the material that had previously been
submitted (completed questionnaires).

Sample Questions

Elements of Safe Communities

I. Use of Data

\* How was data used to define the community's traffic injury problem?

\* Who was responsible for collecting the data at the local or state
level?

\* Who was responsible for analyzing/reviewing the data at the local or
state level?

\* How often is the data collected and reviewed at the local or state
level?

\* How is the data disseminated throughout the state or community?

\* What types of difficulties, if any, were encountered when obtaining
the data?

II\. Citizen Involvement

\* Who has input regarding (or decides on) coalition membership at the
local or state level?

\* How satisfied are you with the make-up of the coalition?

\* How active a role does the coalition play in Safe Communities at the
local or state level?

\- do members regularly attend meetings?

\- do member set program goals, objectives, priorities, strategies?

\- do members volunteer to help with projects?

\* In what ways does the coalition help connect the Safe Community
program to the community at large (at the local or state level)?

III\. Expanded Partnerships

\* Which agencies in the community does the Safe Community program
collaborate with in the effort to prevent injury?

\- do the agencies represent a broad-based sample of the community?

\- what level of commitment is demonstrated by the agencies (how much
"buy in" is apparent)?

\- what do the agencies contribute toward the injury prevention effort
at the local or state level?

\- in what ways do the collaborative projects enhance the injury
prevention effort at the local or state level?

\* Which of the above collaborative relationships were established
during the last year?

\* With whom do you hope or plan to work collaboratively with in the
coming year?

IV\. Comprehensive Injury Prevention and Control

\* How active a role do prevention, acute care and rehab play in the
Safe Community program at the local or state level?

\- are they represented on the coalition?

\- are they involved in project implementation? If so, how?

\* How active a role does traffic safety play in the local or state
injury prevention and control efforts?

\* Are other injury problems (other than those caused by traffic
crashes) addressed by the coalition?

\- if yes, please describe what and how

\- if no, please explain why not. Are there plans to include other
injury concerns in the future?

V. Safe Community Program Planning

\* Do you have an organization plan that outlines your mission, goals,
and objectives?

\* How well do the program goals and objectives (at the local or state
level) reflect the problems identified by the data?

\* How appropriate are the strategies that were chosen to meet the local
or state program goals and objectives?

\* Were the local or state program goals and objectives met last year?
If not, is it clear why they weren't? Have they been revised?

\* How is the work and responsibility distributed among staff and
volunteers?

\* How has the evaluation of the local or state program been included in
the overall plan for the Safe Community program?

VI\. Program Effectiveness

A. Outcome evaluation

\* Have you noted any changes in the number (or rate) of injury
occurrence?

\* Have you noted any changes in the costs associated with injury?

B. Impact evaluation

\* Have you noted any changes in the community's perception of the
traffic injury problem?

\* Have you noted any changes in peoples' behavior or attitudes
regarding traffic safety or injury prevention?

\* Have you noted any environmental changes in the community as a result
of the program's effort to prevent injury?

C. Process evaluation

\* Did the Safe Community program accomplish what it intended to
accomplish?

If not, why not (what problems were encountered)?

\*How well do you think you reached the targeted populations(s)?

\* What did you like most about what the program accomplished last year?

\- What would you do differently?

VII\. Self Sufficiency

\* What percentage of the Safe Community budget is derived from:

SHSO

other state or federal grants

private donations (foundations, individuals)

local contributions (can include local government)

user fees (fees for service)

earmarked funds

in-kind contributions

pro-bono and volunteer contributions

other

\* How have you attempted to increase funding from funding sources other
than the SHSO?

\* Do you have a strategic plan to become self-sufficient? If so, can
you describe it?

\* Has the Safe Community program become institutionalized within the
community? How viable is the program today?

\* Is your Safe Community sponsored by an agency, or is it a
community-based organization (own 501-C3)?

\* If you are sponsored by an agency, what type ( local govt.,
non-profit, etc.)

\* What has been most challenging or difficult about raising revenue for
the Safe Community program?

VIII\. Closing

\* What would you like to see happen as a result of this assessment
process?

\* Do you have any suggestions for the assessment team?