April 2026
Spotlight: New Playground Safety Graphics
With March behind us and record temperatures across the U.S., April is the perfect time to talk about playground safety.
Many playground injuries can be avoided by picking the right level of equipment for your child’s age and abilities. Younger kids need lower, simpler structures, while older kids can handle bigger, more challenging play. When the equipment matches their stage, they’re more confident, have more fun, and are less likely to get hurt. We put together a simple carousel to help parents and caregivers understand what types of playground activities are appropriate as their children age. See the new graphics here.
Safe States Inspire & Ignite Learning: Innovations in Drowning Prevention
Part One: Inspire Learning
Starting April 1st, watch the pre-recorded webinar “Highlighting the Interconnectivity of Community Practice and Research in Drowning Prevention. This presentation will highlight actionable research findings related to high-risk behaviors associated with drowning in bathtubs or during Transition Points (time points during planned recreational water time when a child is not supposed to be in the water). Additionally, we will overview qualitative research findings related to water safety and swimming lessons for children with autism and discuss a swimming instructor training implemented based on needs expressed by families of children with autism.
Part Two: Ignite Conversation
On April 30th at 1:00 PM EST join the Ignite Conversation, a facilitated conversation about “the path forward” for drowning prevention. This conversation offers an opportunity for injury and violence professionals focused on water safety, drowning, and related topics to brainstorm next steps for strengthening the work. The conversation will guide participants to consider questions about building capacity to collect and analyze data around fatal and non-fatal injuries and systems-level prevention for high risk populations.
Find more information and links to the video and registration here.
Social Media Calendar
(View social media calendars here.)
March 30–April 5: Playground Safety
April 6–12: National Public Health Week; National Window Safety Week
April 13–19: Distracted Driving Awareness Month
April 20–26: Lawn Mower Safety
April 26–May 3: Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention Week
Upcoming Events
Event: Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Dates: April 1–30, 2026
In 2024, distracted driving killed 3,208 people. April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a good time to regroup and take responsibility for the choices we make when we’re on the road.
More information here.
Event: National Window Safety Week
Dates: April 5–11, 2026
NSC and the Window Safety Task Force established Window Safety Week in 1997 to heighten awareness of the actions homeowners can take to establish window safety and fall prevention as a year-round safety priority.
Window Safety Week, the first full week in April, coincides with the arrival of spring, when people naturally want to open the windows and let in fresh air. The goal of this observance is twofold: for families to understand the role of windows in escaping a fire or other emergency and to learn how to safeguard against window falls.
More information here.
Event: National Public Health Week
Dates: April 6–12, 2026
Join us in Celebrating National Public Health Week, April 6 - 12, 2026
Ready. Set. Action! is this year’s theme. As we celebrate, take a moment to recognize how public health has improved our daily lives, safeguarded our families, expanded our life spans, and strengthened our communities. This week is also a chance to honor the public health workers who show up for us every day — and to advocate for policies and practices that promote good health for all.
More information here.
Event: World Health Day
Dates: April 7, 2026
On World Health Day 2026, WHO unites and mobilizes the world under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science.” celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect the health of people, animals, plants, and the planet. The year‑long campaign spotlights both scientific achievements and the multilateral cooperation needed to turn evidence into action.
More information here.
Webinar: Better Communication for Better Health: A Conversation with Angela McGowan, JD, MPH
Date: April 7, 2026, 12:30 PM ET
Host: Public Health Communications Collaborative
This National Public Health Week, join PHCC Director Amanda Kwong, MPH, and Angela McGowan, JD, MPH, senior director of APHA’s Alliance for the Public's Health, for a 45-minute fireside chat exploring what this year’s theme, "Ready. Set. Action!" looks like for public health communicators. This session will explore the challenge of public health communications in defending science-backed research amid rapid public health restructuring and rising misinformation.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Putting Our Heads Together: Head Restraint Interference
Date: April 14, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Host: National Child Passenger Safety Board
Head restraint interference can be a headache! This session will explore what happens when vehicle seat head restraints affect CRS and booster seat installations. We will look at compatibility studies to help define the problem and review different manufacturers’ guidance on this topic. Researchers will present a new crash test series of twenty-four frontal and far-side impact tests to explore how CRS respond in crashes with and without head restraint interference. We will discuss other crash modes and explore how CPSTs can balance all of this information to give accurate guidance to caregivers who encounter head restraint issues in their installations. Presenter: Julie Mansfield
Register here.
Webinar: State Technical Assistance Webinar: Strengthening Connections, Strategies, and Data for Child Injury Prevention
Date: April 15, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Host: Children’s Safety Network
Join us to explore risk and protective factors that shape child injury prevention, with a special focus on connectedness as a powerful, prevention-forward protective factor across injury areas, including suicide and bullying prevention. Together, we’ll explore how strengthening connections among youth, families, schools, and communities can reduce risk and build protective buffers that improve safety for children and adolescents. We will look at data sources that help identify populations at greatest risk, and support data-driven decision making.
More information here. Use this link to directly join the webinar (no registration required).
Webinar: Data 2 Action: Moving the Drowning Prevention Needle in Our Community and Beyond
Date: April 21, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Host: Texas Violence & Injury Prevention Research Center
Join the Texas Violence & Injury Prevention Research Center for a timely webinar as we move into warmer weather and pool season. This session tackles drowning, a public health problem. Dr. Rohit Shenoi will share knowledge of the differences in burden and risk factors based on body of water and demographics is crucial when planning drowning countermeasures and when advocating for the safety of all persons in and around water.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: AI in Health Communication: Research, Tools, and Ethical Opportunities for Communicators
Date: April 22, 2026, 12:00 PM ET
Host: Society for Health Communication
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how health information is created, tested, and delivered. This 1‑hour webinar, sponsored by the Society for Health Communication, will provide health communicators with timely updates, practical tools, and emerging opportunities for integrating AI responsibly into research, campaigns, and practice. Designed for researchers, practitioners, and students alike, this webinar will equip attendees with actionable insights and a clearer understanding of how AI is shaping the future of health communication.
More information and registration here.
Archived
March 2026
Spotlight: National Athletic Training Month
Sprains, cuts, broken bones, concussions: any kid playing sports has likely had some type of injury. In March, we celebrate the athletic trainers who provide care in schools, colleges, workplaces, clinics, and professional sports with National Athletic Training Month. Athletic trainers are medical providers within the ealth care system and play a critical role in both preventing and responding to injuries, helping our kids get back to participating in the sports they love.
Sponsored by the National Athletic Training Association, learn more about National Athletic Training Month and find resources to share here.
New: Product Recalls Vertical Video
We’re using the first half of 2026 for toolkit updates, website maintenance, and content review, including resizing graphics for current platforms, but we also are using this opportunity to add new content or remix old content.
First up: we turned the product recall graphics into a vertical video.
Download it from the toolkit page or see it on YouTube.
Later this month we’ll post a new set of playground graphics, and many of you have asked for resources on e-bikes/e-scooters, so we’re working on some content for May. Keep an eye on your email for those announcements!
Social Media Calendar
(View social media calendars here.)
March 2–8: Time Change: Teen Driving, Smoke Alarms
March 9–15: Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 16–22: National Poison Prevention Week
March 23–29: Pedestrian Safety
March 30–April 5: Playground Safety
Upcoming Events
Event: Brain Injury Awareness Month
Dates: March 1–31, 2026
Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month. This year, we have exciting new developments for the brain injury community, including new advocacy initiatives, events, fundraising opportunities, and more.
More information here.
Event: National Athletic Training Month
Dates: March 1–31, 2026
National Athletic Training Month (NATM) is held every March to raise awareness of athletic trainers, licensed health care professionals who prevent, diagnose and treat injuries and medical conditions. The 2026 tagline, chosen by members on social media, is "Care You Can Count On."
More information here.
Event: National Patient Safety Awareness Week
Dates: March 8–14, 2026
Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW), an annual recognition event in March, to make more visible the practices and initiatives that advance safety and engage patients, consumers, and communities in the coproduction of safe care. During this week, IHI seeks to advance important discussions locally and globally and inspire action to improve the safety of care for patients and the workforce. Patient Safety Awareness Week is a dedicated time to grow awareness about patient safety and recognize the work already being done.
More information here.
Webinar: How to Create a Simple, Streamlined Safe Routes Project Action Plan (Two-Part Webinar)
Date: March 10, 2026, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM MT
Host: Safe Routes Partnership
Every successful Safe Routes project begins with a great plan – but sometimes the planning process can be a struggle. This two-part webinar series shows how project planning can be simple, streamlined, and fun! Join us as we discuss the ins and out of Safe Routes to School project planning, from goal setting to evaluation. Part One (March 10) will focus on the components of a strong project plan and how to get a head start on the planning process. Part Two (April 7) will dive deeper into developing an action plan and preparing it for grant applications, project proposals, and funding requests. We will have plenty of time to unpack your planning questions and concerns, so come ready to share!
The registration link will sign you up for both webinars.
Webinar: Audience-Centered Public Health Webinar Series: Foundations for Effective Engagement and Accessibility
Date: March 10, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
Host: Region IV Public Health Training Center/Emory University
This webinar introduces an audience-centered approach to public health practice through a deep dive into two of the four foundational pillars. These pillars emphasize why meaningful engagement, accessibility, and relevance are essential to achieving improved outcomes for all. Participants will engage in practice-based activities that will help them apply these pillars to their work and reflect on how trust and relevance shape participation, engagement, and impact.
This is the first session in a two-part webinar series. Learners may choose to register for both webinars in the series or for individual sessions. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Audience-Centered Public Health Webinar Series: Adaptation and Responsive Practice
Date: March 11, 2026, 12:00-1:30 PM ET
Host: Region IV Public Health Training Center/Emory University
Building on the previous webinar in the Audience-Centered Public Health series, which dives into effective engagement and accessibility, this webinar focuses on the remaining pillars of an audience-centered public health approach. Participants will explore facilitation skills that support engagement, strategies for adapting public health programs to meet audience needs while maintaining core intent, and tools that promote responsiveness. Practice-based activities are embedded throughout to support skills-building and application.
This is the second session in a two-part webinar series. Learners may choose to register for both webinars in the series or for individual sessions. More information and registration here.
Webinar: New Technology to Keep Kids Safe in School Zones
Date: March 11, 2026, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
Host: Safe Routes Partnernship
Curious what it takes to bring no-cost safety technology to your community and what kind of impact it can actually have? This webinar will cover a new automated stop sign and crosswalk safety approach that communities are beginning to use to reduce dangerous driving behavior (with early results showing up to a 70% reduction). We’ll walk through key findings from a 2026 traffic study documenting stop sign, failure-to-yield, and crosswalk violations at high-risk locations, and we’ll map the policy landscape: proposed or existing state legislation that enables municipalities to deploy this technology. You’ll also leave with practical guidance on how to advocate for and secure this technology in your state.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Identifying Trusted Public Health Information for Your Communications
Date: March 11, 2026, 1:30-3:00 PM ET
Host: Public Health Communications Collaborative
Public health depends on accurate, accessible health information to produce content that keeps communities up to date. With changes in data collection and reporting across government sites, the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization, and conflicting guidance at federal and local levels, public health communicators are facing increasing challenges in sourcing credible, trustworthy science information and data. Once the data is sourced, there is an additional hurdle: communicating why that data matters and why communities should trust it.
This webinar features public health leaders, analysts, and communicators sharing tips for identifying trusted sources and communicating data, from outbreak responses to community campaigns.
What You’ll Learn
Methods and examples of how to vet sources for accuracy and credibility
Data collection strategies and resources
How to build and continuously review your trusted source list
How communicating available data has led to improved community/public health outcomes
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Writing a Winning Grant Proposal: How to Ensure the Proposal is Clear and Compelling
Date: March 12, 2026, 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM ET
Host: Region IV Public Health Training Center
There is both an art and a science to writing a winning grant proposal. Still, even those with limited experience writing grants on their own or with a team can learn some of the tricks of the trade and hone their craft. This 3-hour interactive workshop provides insight, tips and strategies for writing a compelling proposal. Beginning with a reminder that central to writing is to understand the funder’s mission, vision and values, this workshop explains what needs to be included in each key section, how to write that section, and why it matters. There will also be a focus on persuasive writing tools and tips to clearly convey why your organization needs to receive funding. Participants will see examples – both good and bad – from other proposals.
More information and registration here.
Event: National Poison Prevention Week
Dates: March 15–21, 2026
In 1961, Congress created National Poison Prevention Week to increase knowledge about how to prevent and stop poisoning accidents. Communities and poison centers across the country host events every year to share the message. The goal of National Poison Prevention Week is to teach about the risks of poisonings at any age and increase everyone’s involvement in poison prevention. It takes place every year in the third week of March.
Learn more here.
Webinar: Trust in Flux: Communicating in a Skeptical Era
Date: March 17, 2026 1:00 PM ET
Host: FrameWorks Institute
In a moment when trust in institutions is declining, we must be as strategic with our communications as we are with our advocacy, organizing, research, and practice. During this session, Dr. Julie Sweetland and Dr. Katy Evans will share new research on:
• how Americans think about trust, especially when it comes to health institutions and information;
• levels of trust in health messengers and institutions; and
• framing strategies that can build, restore, or undermine trust.
This is the first installment of the Health Justice Framing Forum, a new virtual series where we’ll share timely insights and framing guidance for navigating complex communications challenges facing the movement for health equity.
Register here.
Webinar: NCPSB CEU Webinar: Vehicle Regulations for CPSTs
Date: March 17, 2026 2:00 PM ET
Host: National Child Passenger Safety Board
Join current and past National Child Passenger Safety Board Vehicle Manufacturer Representatives, Emily Burton (Honda) and Jennifer Pelky (Toyota). They will provide an overview of a wide variety of testing vehicle manufacturers conduct to meet FMVSS regulations, US NCAP standards and third-party safety ratings. They explore how vehicle features can be shaped by these tests, with a special focus on child occupant protection and car seat installation. The session will cover recent and upcoming regulatory updates to the LATCH system as well as provide an overview of key active safety features such as seat belt reminders, child presence detection, and crash avoidance technologies. We’ll also review third-party safety ratings and share real-world crash data from NHTSA and the NDCF, highlighting child occupant safety. CPSTs will gain a deeper understanding of the intersection between regulatory compliance, vehicle safety design, and child occupant protection.
Register here.
Webinar: Advancing Safety Through Science: Celebrating Women's Leadership in Automotive Medicine
Date: March 23, 2026, 1:00 PM CT
Host: AAAM
In recognition of International Women’s Day, AAAM is proud to host a special webinar highlighting the groundbreaking contributions of women in the automotive medicine industry. Join us to celebrate scientific achievement, leadership, and innovation shaping the future of automotive medicine.
Pelvis Lap Belt Engagement of Small-Sized Females in Frontal Impacts Using Seat-Integrated Restraints and Vehicle Seats for Alternative Seating Positions
Comparison of Small Female and ATD Kinematic Responses at Different Speeds during Frontal Sled Tests
More information and registration here.
Archived
February 2026
Spotlight: Correct Car Seat Usage Videos
We receive a lot of newsletters just like the one you’re reading now, and in the January edition of the Road to Zero newsletter, a new set of videos on car seat safety caught our eye. These videos help parents and caregivers understand why proper installation is critical for protection in the event of a crash.
Here’s what the Road to Zero newsletter said:
“Funded by a Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grant, the Ohio State University Injury Biomechanics Research Center and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia collaborated to create a series of videos showing the importance of using child car safety seats correctly and the potential consequences of misuse. With their grant, they devised computer-simulated footage showing outcomes of virtual test crashes. These videos are now publicly available through CHoP’s Child Passenger Safety YouTube channel and OSU’s Buckle Up With Brutus channel.”
Click the links above to see the videos and share them with the communities you serve.
Safe States 2026 Annual Conference Call for Proposals
The Safe States Alliance is excited to invite your participation in the 2026 Virtual Conference on June 24th and 25th. The theme of the 2026 Conference is “The Path Forward.” We know you are doing exciting work in your communities, states, and nationally, and the Safe States Annual Conference is a great way to share your work and insights with colleagues from across the country. We look forward to reviewing each proposal submission.
Learn more and submit your proposal here.
Save-the-Date: 3rd National Conference on American Indian and Alaska Native Injury & Violence Prevention
Please mark your calendar for the 3rd National Conference on American Indian and Alaska Native Injury & Violence Prevention, taking place Wednesday, July 15 – Friday, July 17, 2026, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This year’s conference will offer a dynamic program featuring interactive workshops, engaging roundtables, informative breakout sessions, and inspiring keynote presentations, all designed to encourage learning, collaboration, and meaningful dialogue.
More information on registration and abstract submission will be shared soon. Sign up for the NNPHI newsletter to be notified.
Social Media Calendar
(View social media calendars here.)
Feb 2-8: National Burn Awareness Week
Feb 9-15: Product Safety & Recalls
Feb 16-22: Choking Prevention
Feb 23-March 1: TV & Furniture Tip-Overs
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Frontiers of Technology: Attention Please!
Date: February 3, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Join Road to Zero for a conversation with Dr. Bryan Reimer, Research Scientist in the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and author of the new book, "How to Make AI Useful: Moving beyond the hype to real progress in business, society and life." Dr. Reimer will join Road to Zero's Julia Kite-Laidlaw for a virtual fireside chat on his work with the AHEAD Consortium, developing the next generation of driver attention measurement tools. Learn about why distracted driving is not simply a matter of cognitive overload, and what the move toward greater automation in driving means for human driver performance.
Register here.
Webinar: Workforce Wellness Recharge: Drivers, Detours, and Destinations: Strength-Based Goal Setting for the Public Health Workforce
Date: February 3, 2026, 12-1:30 PM ET
After the holidays, many public health professionals return to work feeling depleted, scattered, and pressured to “get back on track.” They continue to make meaningful contributions in their communities while carrying heavy workloads, public responsibility, and personal stress. Drivers, Detours, and Destinations reframes goal setting as a reset rather than a restart, acknowledging that progress is rarely linear and that detours are part of the journey.
Grounded in recovery-informed practice and neuroscience, this webinar introduces a strength-based, brain-informed approach to goal setting that honors burnout, setbacks, and real-world constraints. Participants will explore why traditional goal-setting often fails under stress, how capacity and follow-through are impacted by burnout, and how to create small, sustainable actions that build momentum over time. If you slip, you don’t stop—you recalibrate, reset, and keep moving forward.
Please note: This webinar is designed to be more interactive and will not be recorded.
Hosted by the Region IV Public Health Training Center. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Outreach Tabling Tips, Tricks, and Tools for Safe Routes Success!
Date: February 4, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Tabling events are great for connecting with community members and raising awareness about Safe Routes programs. But sometimes, they can feel a bit transactional. This webinar explores how to design and implement quick, yet meaningful, outreach tabling activities to advance Safe Routes projects. You’ll walk away with an “outreach tabling in a box” checklist, grab-and-go activities, creative questions to spark thoughtful conversations, and more!
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Persuasive Communication: Influencing Patients, Partners and the Public
Date: February 5, 2026, 9:15 AM - 12:30PM ET
Do you like to be told what to do or how to think? Most people don’t! But, as public health professionals, we are tasked with influencing behaviors, communities, and systems for the greater good. How do we persuade others in way that everyone wins?
This workshop borrows techniques from improvisational theater to help practitioners convey resonant, compelling public health messages to a variety of audiences. Participants will throw out the script and—instead of simply dispensing information—learn how to be present, show empathy and build real relationships with stakeholders. They will learn to quickly build connections, listen fully to get valuable information about an individual’s motivations, master body language to send signals of similarity, and strategize an effective plan so people feel heard, understood, and taken care of. Public health professionals can apply this training when building coalitions, working with teams, crafting public information messages, and developing partnerships across other sectors.
Because listening and communication skills cannot be taught in a lecture or in a book, this workshop is full of fun and memorable learning experiences. Participants will be engaged in hands-on exercises, demonstrations, group activities, and games. Everything is designed to build participants’ abilities to be confident, effective communicators when they get back to workplace.
Hosted by the Region IV Public Health Training Center. Learn more and register here.
Webinar: National Child Exploitation Prevention Programming
Date: February 10, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Please join Children’s Safety Network on Safer Internet Day for a webinar on programs aimed at creating healthy and safe spaces for children and adolescents. During this webinar, we will hear from Special Agent Britney Hays from the Secret Service’s Child Safety Outreach Programs, as well as Ale Levi and Rene Young from the Department of Homeland Security.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Insight and Inspiration | Steady Hands, Steady Teams: Leading with Confidence and Composure
Date: February 11, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
In an era of immense pressure on public health leaders, intentional leadership can determine organizational stability, confidence, and credibility. This session examines how clear, purposeful leadership strengthens both internal and external trust. Through insights and reflection, we will examine how leaders embody steadiness amid uncertainty, set a sustainable pace, and provide calm direction that builds trust and drives performance. This conversation aims to inspire participants to recognize their composure and capacity not as a personal indulgence but as a fundamental leadership function that shapes the overall tone, focus, and confidence of their organizations.
Hosted by ASTHO. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Creating a Plan for Grant Writing Success: Decoding Requests for Funding Proposals (RFPs) and Preparing for Proposal
Date: February 12, 2026, 8:45 AM-12:00 PM ET
Public health practice depends on funding to function, but unless you are the primary grant writer for your health department or have years of related experience, the process of seeking and applying for funding can be confusing and daunting. This 3-hour interactive workshop focuses on preparing your organization to apply for funding, finding and evaluating funding sources, and coming up with a plan for the proposal development, including a timeline and division of team assignments. Special focus will be given to decoding the request for funding proposals (RFPs) including understanding the key components of a grant proposal (including budget, goals/objectives, evaluation) and what to include in each.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Claves del Éxito CPST: Pólizas y Mentoría
Date: February 17, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
The first Spanish webinar from the National Child Passenger Safety Board!
En la labor de un CPST, el conocimiento técnico es solo la mitad de la educación. Para generar un impacto real y duradero en la comunidad es vital contar con una estructura organizativa robusta. En nuestro primer seminario web en español, hablaremos sobre pólizas de protocolo y como encontrar y convertirte en un mentor efectivo para fortalecer la red de técnicos de habla hispana.
English: In the work of a CPST, technical knowledge is only half of the education. To produce a real and lasting impact in the community, it is vital to have a robust organizational structure. In our first Spanish webinar, we will discuss protocol policies and how to find and become an effective mentor to strengthen the network of Spanish-speaking Technicians.
Register here.
Webinar: State Technical Assistance Webinar: Top Trends Driving Public Health Communication in 2026
Date: February 18, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
In a fast-paced changing world, the role of public health is ever more critical. Join Katrina Boylan, co-host of the podcast Communications Breakdown, for a discussion on what’s trending in the public health communications world, like finding an authentic voice, reaching audiences, addressing mis- and disinformation, using AI ethically and effectively, and creating content that meets your audience’s needs.
Learn more here. No registration required (this link will directly open the meeting)
Webinar: Collaborating to Save Lives: Interdisciplinary Pathways in Unintentional Overdose Prevention
Date: February 19, 2026, 12:00 PM ET
This webinar will explore how this complex social, legal, medical, public health, and societal health issue is addressed by many disciplines. Via a lively discussion format, we’ll talk with researchers and practitioners in the fields of injury and violence prevention and other areas of public health, sociology, social work, healthcare, policy, and criminal justice. The speakers will provide insight into how their fields approach this topic, give updates on current innovations in their work, and provide examples of how strong connections and interdisciplinary collaboration can advance a more holistic approach to preventing and responding to unintentional overdose.
This IVP Grand Rounds is intended for anyone working on unintentional overdose, with the goal of bringing together researchers and practitioners from multiple disciplines to engage around this issue. Participants will gain new perspectives on how to approach unintentional overdose prevention and response, and identify new partners with whom to collaborate to better inform and enhance their work. Students and recent graduates will also gain insight into the value of an interdisciplinary approach and how their field of study connects with others addressing a broad, multi-faceted issue.
Co-hosted by Safe States Alliance and the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), this Injury and Violence Prevention (IVP) Grand Rounds is part of a series presented through a CDC-funded initiative to expand pathways into the injury and violence prevention workforce.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Public Health on the Pitch: Radiation Readiness for the FIFA World Cup
Date: February 24, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Join ASTHO for a webinar focused on public health preparedness and response related to the upcoming FIFA World Cup. This session will highlight response operations to a radiological incident during a mass gathering. The discussion will be led by Dr. Ziad Kazzi, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist with internationally recognized expertise in poisoning and radiation toxicology.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Power of Communications #1: Navigating Conflict and Communication Issues with Teams and Partners in Rural Settings
Date: February 26, 2026, 12-1:30 PM ET
This live training session is part of a 4-part series on rural health communications. This first session is about navigating conflict/communications issues with teams and partners. Additionally, session 2 will focus on navigating conflict/communications issues with the public, and sessions 3 and 4 will focus on navigating these issues with the media. Participants are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they are interested in. Stay tuned for more information!
Sign up for the Region V Public Health Training Center’s newsletter to receive updates (form is at bottom of page).
Archived
January 2026
Spotlight: HealthyChildren.org
This month we’re highlighting HealthyChildren.org, a trusted, pediatrician-backed resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Available in both English and Spanish, this website offers free, evidence-based guidance on children’s health, safety, and development as they grow from infants into young adults. HealthyChildren.org is specifically designed for parents and families, making it a go-to resource for anyone working with or caring for kids (and our first stop whenever we’re creating a toolkit or safety messaging!).
In addition to the website, you can find HealthyChildren.org here:
a free newsletter for parents and caregivers
Thank you, HealthyChildren.org and the American Academy of Pediatrics, for continuing to be a steadfast advocate for children’s health and safety.
Register for Media & Social Media Institute
Effective communication in public health has never been more important. In today's crowded media climate, it can be challenging to break through to the audience you are trying to reach. Come learn the skills you need to share research, promote programs, and create safer, healthier communities through the media and social media.
The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) at Nationwide Children's is hosting a 3 half-day Media & Social Media Institute for public health professionals on the afternoons of Jan. 22, Jan. 29, and Feb. 5, 2026. Trainings will be on Zoom, 1-5 p.m. ET. 10 entry-level CHES credits will be available.
Learn more and register here.
Early Bird Pricing for SAVIR Conference Ends 1/30/26
Registration is open for the 2026 Annual Conference. The 2026 SAVIR conference promises to deliver an unforgettable experience, bringing you the latest science, unmatched networking opportunities with potential collaborators, and all that Providence, RI has to offer. Join us as we bring together experts and thought leaders in injury and violence prevention to share their insights, expertise, and best practices. From inspiring keynote speeches to interactive workshops, you'll gain valuable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance your skills and propel your success.
Register early to secure your spot and take advantage of early bird discounts! In order to access the Early Bird discount, register by 1/30/2026.
Learn more and register here.
Social Media Calendar
Jan 5-11: Winter Driving
Jan 12-18: Fireplaces
Jan 19-25: National Passenger Safety Week
Jan 26 - Feb 1: Safe Sleep
Upcoming Events
Webinar: Using Stories and Data to Engage Decision-Makers and Advance Transportation Access
Date: January 8, 2026, 12:00 PM ET
Check out this upcoming webinar from the New England Public Health Training Center (NEPHTC) and the Maine Public Health Association (MPHA): Using Stories and Data to Engage Decision-Makers and Advance Transportation Access. After attending this webinar, you will be able to define transportation insecurity and identify how it's impacting Maine people, discuss how stories and data can be used to help decision-makers, and understand and respond to transportation barriers.
Register here.
Webinar: Leadership in CPS: Reframing Your Thought Process for Success
Date: January 20, 2026, 2:00 PM ET
Leadership in Child Passenger Safety comes in many forms, whether you’re coordinating services for an entire region or assisting a single caregiver with car seat installation. Often, we are left to navigate the complexities of leadership through trial and error. This session introduces a framework to help leaders approach difficult scenarios with a variety of perspectives. We will explore Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal’s “Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership.” The book offers valuable insights into decision-making by applying different frames or lenses. Presented by: National Child Passenger Safety Board Fire/EMS Representative Travis Marsh.
Register here.
Webinar: TREDS Center: Driving Safety Forward – Education for Every Community
Date: January 22, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Join Lesley Phillips from the Transportation Research and Education for Driving Safety (TREDS) Center at UC San Diego for an engaging look at how education can drive real change in roadway safety. This webinar will highlight TREDS’ mission to reduce crash-related injuries and fatalities through innovative, evidence-based programs. Participants will learn about TREDS’ free educational offerings, including Train-the-Trainer courses for professionals, community-based presentations, and self-paced online learning opportunities. The session will explore key roadway safety topics such as impaired and distracted driving, pedestrian safety, aging drivers, and traffic safety initiatives designed specifically for Native American youth.
Free for American Trauma Society members; $25 for non-members. More information and registration here.
Webinar: From Outreach to Impact: How IVP Programs Can Build Powerful Media Partnerships that Drive Change
Date: January 28 2026, 12:00 PM ET
Most injury and violence prevention (IVP) professionals don’t regularly engage with the media, and many aren’t sure where to start. Yet media visibility is one of the most effective ways to elevate prevention priorities, reach the public with relevant messaging, and expand the impact of IVP programs. Whether you work in a state health department, a grassroots organization, or a community-based nonprofit, establishing the right media partnerships can significantly advance your program goals.This training demystifies earned media strategy and provides a practical roadmap for forming and sustaining relationships with media partners. It focuses on real-world approaches that build confidence, reduce uncertainty, and help you clearly communicate the relevance of IVP work to journalists and broader audiences.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: SAVIR's Winter Methods Session
Date: January 29 2026, 12:00 PM ET
Firearm injury disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minority adults and youth in the US. In other countries genocide has systematically destroyed communities and cultures. While the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda occurred over 30 years ago, the country has found a way to collectively move towards healing, and their Peace and Values Education has had significant impact in these efforts. The lessons of forgiveness and reconciliation were shared with a US based violence intervention team and together we are working with our Rwanda partners to revise the Peace and Values Curriculum to be specific to US based violence. This methods session will describe the process of how this collaboration was created, the unique way lessons of the Genocide against the Tutsi impacted the US team, and how this has led to a new violence prevention curriculum.
Register here.
Webinar: Frontiers of Technology: Attention Please!
Date: February 3, 2026, 1:00 PM ET
Join Road to Zero for a conversation with Dr. Bryan Reimer, Research Scientist in the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics and author of the new book, "How to Make AI Useful: Moving beyond the hype to real progress in business, society and life." Dr. Reimer will join Road to Zero's Julia Kite-Laidlaw for a virtual fireside chat on his work with the AHEAD Consortium, developing the next generation of driver attention measurement tools. Learn about why distracted driving is not simply a matter of cognitive overload, and what the move toward greater automation in driving means for human driver performance.
Register here.
Archived
December 2025
Spotlight: HealthyChildren.org
The Keep America Safe Coalition is a national alliance of leading health organizations, research institutions, and agencies united to protect and preserve the CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
With more than 50 members, the coalition is working to safeguard the vital role CDC plays in tracking data and implementing evidence-based strategies to prevent suicide and overdose in all 50 states. The coalition aims to educate policymakers and the public about the critical role the CDC Injury Center plays in protecting health and saving lives.
Learn more about the coalition’s activities and join the effort to protect the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control here.
National Injury Prevention Day: What’s Next
As injury prevention advocates, our momentum must continue forward. This toolkit empowers you to keep the energy of National Injury Prevention Day going all year long. Whether you're looking to connect with others in the field, find and share trusted resources, spotlight effective programs, or start planning for next year's NIPD, this guide offers simple, low-lift ideas to keep the conversation going. Each quarter includes a theme and suggested activities that make it easy to stay visible, foster peer connection, and continue elevating the importance of injury prevention in your community and beyond.
Download the toolkit and/or sign the pledge here.
Coming Soon: Social Media Calendar
We’re working hard to finish up the Jan-June 2026 Social Media Calendar! This calendar incorporates honorary days/weeks/months and seasonal topics, and it’s the one we use to guide our social media messaging. Check your inbox in a couple weeks for the first half of the 2026 calendar (second half will be posted in June).
Register for Media & Social Media Institute
Effective communication in public health has never been more important. In today's crowded media climate, it can be challenging to break through to the audience you are trying to reach. Come learn the skills you need to share research, promote programs, and create safer, healthier communities through the media and social media.
The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) at Nationwide Children's is hosting a 3 half-day Media & Social Media Institute for public health professionals on the afternoons of Jan. 22, Jan. 29, and Feb. 5, 2026. Trainings will be on Zoom, 1-5 p.m. ET. 10 entry-level CHES credits will be available.
Learn more and register here.
Social Media Calendar
Dec 1-7: Safe Toys & Gifts Month
Dec 8-14: Holiday Decorations
Dec 15-21: Firearm Safe Storage
Dec 22-28: Medication Safety
Dec 29 - Jan 4: Outdoor Winter Activities
Upcoming Events
Webinar: NCPSB CEU Webinar: What CPSTs Should Know About Child Safety and ATVs
Date: December 3, 2025, 2 PM ET
ATVs are popular in all areas of the country, but these vehicles—and their cousins the side-by-side and other off-road vehicle types—pose serious risks to children. While a car seat is not appropriate for use on these vehicles, there are many ways that CPSTs can educate families to help them vastly reduce ATV danger. This session will cover the various risk factors, best practice guidance, and how CPSTs can effectively educate and advocate for children. Join Denise Donaldson with Safe Ride News as she presents this CEU webinar.
Register here.
Webinar: Communicating about Public Health with Policymakers: Barriers, Strategies, and Tested Messages
Date: December 8, 2025, 2:30 - 3:45PM ET
Check out this upcoming webinar from the the American Public Health Association (APHA), the de Beaumont Foundation, CityHealth, and the National Association of Counties: Communicating About Public Health with Policymakers: Barriers, Strategies, and Tested Messages
Join this webinar for a conversation on ways to overcome barriers to effective public health communication, strategic and on-the-ground tips for engaging policymakers, and ways to make every interaction with policymakers more productive, persuasive, and impactful.
Learn more and register here.
Webinar: Communications Training Series for Community Leaders: Part Three
Date: December 9, 2025, 10 AM PT
Join Health Equity Communications Collaborative for a webinar where communications experts will highlight freely available, easy-to-use resources, including:
• Tools to stay on top of emerging events in public health, including a social listening dashboard that helps you track real-time online conversations around health equity;
• Templates and resources featuring researched-based, quality health information; and
• Training opportunities that equip public health professionals with the confidence and competence to communicate effectively with their communities.
More information and registration here.
Webinar: The S.A.F.E. Framework Approach to Prevent Injuries and Health Risks to Support Play Areas for Children
Date: December 10, 2025, 1 PM ET
Playground injuries are common among children, such as those from climbing apparatus, swings, and slides. They lead to over 200,000 emergency department visits in the US annually. These injuries range from minor skin abrasions to severe cases, such as fractures, concussions, and even death. School-aged and pre-school children account for most playground injuries. Every safe and comfortable playground starts with a plan. When shade disappears and surfaces overheat, play stops, and safety suffers.
In this webinar, an experienced playground safety researcher and an educator will come together to share recent research, information, trends, and current insights for the prevention of playground injuries and health risks from several perspectives. This webinar will highlight resources with expert strategies to design safe playgrounds to help community members, childcare managers, school leaders, municipalities, and educators build play spaces for children that stay cool, safe, and ready for action.
Learn more and register here.
Virtual Conference: Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Conference
Date: December 11, 2025
Join this year’s Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Conference as injury professionals from states in Federal Health and Human Services Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI) gather to work toward reducing injury- and violence-related death and disability.
This year's theme is Connectedness: Staying True to Our Mission of Safety and Prevention. We hope to highlight topics that inspire, inform, and demonstrate the power of partnerships, the passion behind programs that serve individuals and communities, and the impact of policy in shaping the future of injury and violence prevention across our states.
Schedule:
* Check-in & Networking: 8:30-9:30 a.m. CT.
* Conference: 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CT
Registration is free but required. View the agenda and register here.
Webinar: Building Partnerships Across State Agencies for Statewide Impact
Date: December 17, 2025, 2-3PM ET
Promoting the safety and wellbeing of children is, of course, a public health concern - but it isn’t ONLY in the domain of state health departments! The work that all of us are doing to prevent injury, promote mental health, and build systems that protect the most vulnerable doesn’t always live neatly within the borders of the public agency where we are employed. Often, cross-agency collaboration is essential to collecting key data, building capacity, and implementing strategies that are impactful and well-received.
In this State Technical Assistance Webinar (STAW) we will learn about the Strategic Prevention Technical Assistance Center (SPTAC)’s “Levels of Collaboration” framework1, which is part of the Prevention Collaboration in Action Toolkit. Next, we will hear from Children’s Safety Network’s Child Safety Learning Collaborative (CSLC) members who understand the necessity of partnering with other state agencies and have incorporated cross-agency collaboration into their data collection, communication, and programmatic strategies. CSLC state teams will describe why they have decided to partner with other state agencies, what the collaboration process looks like, and how this benefits the landscape of injury prevention, health promotion, and safety for children and adolescents in their states.
No registration is required – use this link to join (link opens up meeting).
Archived
November 2025
Spotlight: National Injury Prevention Day
National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD) is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about injury prevention and promoting safety in our communities. Established in 2020, organizations across the country come together on Nov. 18 to share knowledge, resources, and strategies for preventing injuries and violence.
There are many ways to participate in National Injury Prevention Day:
Get your institution, local landmarks, and businesses to light up green for National Injury Prevention Day
Host a safety fair or educational event in your community
Share information about injury prevention on social media using #BeInjuryFree
Partner with local organizations to promote safety
Advocate for injury prevention policies in your community
Educate others about how to prevent injuries
Head to the NIPD website to plan your activities using the 30 Days of Action guide (checklists and ideas for participation) and register for the kickoff webinar (Nov. 12) and the post-event fireside chat (Nov. 20).
Registration Open for MIPA Virtual Conference; Call for Posters
Join us on Dec. 11 for this year’s Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Conference, as injury professionals from states in Federal Health and Human Services Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) gather to work toward reducing injury and violence related death and disability. This year’s theme—Connectedness: Staying True to Our Mission of Safety and Prevention—will highlight topics that inspire, inform, and demonstrate the power of partnerships, the passion behind programs that serve individuals and communities, and the impact of policy in shaping the future of injury and violence prevention across our states. The cost is free, but registration is required.
We are also hosting an interactive live Poster Exhibit during the conference. We welcome posters from students and professionals that showcase research, practice innovations, cross-sector collaborations, and interactive tools. Presentations will take place on an interactive virtual exhibit floor during the conference. Abstracts are due 11/7/25. Learn more here.
Coming Soon: New Water Bead Safety Carousel
Coming soon to your inbox: a new social media carousel on water bead safety! The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently moved to regulate these products, but many parents and caregivers are still unaware of the risks of water beads. We’re putting the final touches on a new carousel you can use to share safety tips with the communities you serve. As a member, you’ll get the link as soon as it’s ready.
Social Media Calendar
Nov 3–9: Carbon Monoxide Safety
Nov 10–16: Fall Prevention: Stairs, Bunk Beds, Home Playsets, etc.
Nov 17–23: Celebrating Injury Prevention Professionals
Nov 24–Nov 30: Kitchen Safety
Upcoming Events
Webinar: E-Bike Safety Approaches that Work!
Date: November 6, 2025, 2-3PM ET
After our e-bike session at the Safe Routes to School Summit, join us for a follow up discussion with more experts from the field. Learn how the League of American Bicyclists and UL Standards & Engagement are advancing e-bike safety on college and university campuses, and how to apply similar best practices to Safe Routes programs. Gain valuable nsights to take back to your own community, whether you are exploring e-bike safety for the first time or refining your approach. Let’s continue learning about e-bike safety together! Register here.
Webinar: Meeting the Moment: Inspiring Approaches to Public Health Communications
Date: November 7, 2025, 1PM ET
Public health communicators know a thing or two about staying several steps ahead. A significant part of the work is planning for every scenario and expecting the unexpected. Although there have been many changes to public health in 2025, what we know and do remains unchanged: prepare, respond, and look ahead to what comes next. In this webinar, learn from eople innovating in public health communications. These panelists will share unique approaches to advancing public health despite immense change. Register here.
Webinar: School Attendance & Community Well-Being: A Public Health Approach to Chronic Absenteeism
Date: November 7, 2025, 2 PM ET
Roundtable on Chronic Absenteeism: Join ASTHO, NASN, and Y-USA for a collaborative roundtable where we will explore chronic absenteeism as a public health issue and its impact on school and community well-being. The session will provide an overview of the challenge and spotlight resources to trengthen school-community partnerships. The roundtable will take place in a three-part format: Learn – Understand why chronic absenteeism matters. Practice – Explore strategies through breakout discussions. Do – Identify actionable next steps to address the issue. The roundtable will be held on November 7, 2025, with a follow-up office hour on November 20, 2025. Register here.
Webinar: Unifying Voices: Turning Awareness into Action
Date: November 12, 2025, 1-2PM ET
The National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD) partners invite you to kick off this impactful day with a dynamic, multi-perspective webinar focused on the power of advocacy and education in preventing injuries and saving lives. The diverse panel of experts of parent advocates, community educators, physicians and injury and violence prevention advocates will hare their unique insights and actionable strategies to build safer environments for all. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the movement for injury prevention and community safety. Join injury revention experts, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and advocates from across the nation for this engaging webinar. More information here and register here.
Webinar: Ask Me Anything: Academic Health Department Partnerships
Date: November 12, 2025, 2-3PM ET
Join the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Public Health Foundation (PHF) for the final webinar in a series focused on academic health department (AHD) partnerships. Throughout this webinar series, we've explored the foundations of AHD partnerships and shared real-world examples of how these partnerships are built and sustained. Now, we're turning the spotlight to you! In this interactive ession, participants will gain a foundational understanding of AHD partnerships, with an introduction to the new AHD Partnerships Toolkit designed to support the development and sustainability of these partnerships. Then, the floor will open for your questions. Whether you're just getting started or looking to strengthen an existing partnership, this is your chance to ask us anything about AHD partnerships. Learn more and register here.
Event: National Injury Prevention Day
Date: November 18, 2025
National Injury Prevention Day is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about injury prevention and promoting safety in our communities. On November 18, 2025, organizations across the country will come together to share knowledge, resources, and strategies for preventing injuries and violence.
Our mission is to empower individuals and communities with the tools and information they need to prevent injuries and create safer environments for everyone. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to reduce the burden of preventable injuries and save lives. Learn more here.
Webinar: Giving CPS Data CPR: One Team's Transition to the NDCF
Date: November 18, 2025, 2PM ET
Change can be hard! But, when it comes to changing to the NDCF, hard work can pay off. Learn why one team made the switch and the step-by-step process it went through to successfully transition to all-digital. The session ill provide nuts-and-bolts guidance that would be helpful for any team contemplating this transition, including how team members were encouraged to sign up, the details of training sessions that were offered, and how various challenges were addressed.
Speaker Denise Donaldson is the director of the Car Safe Kids team in the Seattle area. Register here.
Event: World Children’s Day
Date: November 20, 2025
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare. Mothers and fathers, teachers, nurses and doctors, government leaders and civil society activists, religious and community elders, corporate moguls and media professionals, as well as young people and children themselves, can play an important part in making World Children's Day relevant for their societies, communities and nations. World Children's Day offers each of us an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate children's rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children. Learn more here.
Webinar: Workforce Development Planning Using the Learning Agenda for Systems Change
Date: November 20, 2025, 10AM-1PM MT
Health departments are critical drivers for change. The Learning Agenda for Systems Change is a tool health departments can use to transform their approach to building a workforce that has the cross-cutting capabilities needed for their communities to achieve their highest level of health. The Learning Agenda for Systems Change Toolkit 2.0 provides a framework for a new way of thinking for workforce development, connecting it to community health assessment data to ask the question: What does our workforce need to know or be able to do to change the conditions that hold our community challenges in place?
If you’re ready to learn more and practice applying the Learning Agenda for Systems Change to workforce development planning, we hope you’ll join us! Learn more and register here.
Webinar: Post National Injury Prevention Day Fireside Chat
Date: November 20, 2025, 2PM ET
Join us for a fireside chat moderated by Tracy Mehan, Director of Research Translation and Communication at CIRP at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Panelists Torine Creppy, President of Safe Kids Worldwide; Mighty Fine, Associate Executive Director of Public Health Policy and Practice at APHA; and Christen Rexing, Executive Director of SAVIR, will explore the importance of observances like National Injury Prevention Day in today’s challenging times. They’ll reflect on the power of collaboration to engage injury prevention professionals leading up to November 18, and share how these partnerships can continue to strengthen connections and impact throughout the year ahead. Register here.
Archived
October 2025
Spotlight: Charlie’s House Virtual Safety Experience
“Every home should be a safe place for children to grow, explore, and thrive.” To support families and caregivers, Charlie’s House, a nonprofit based in Kansas City, Missouri, has created a Virtual Safety Experience app that identifies household hazards and offers safety and prevention tips. The interactive app goes room by room, showing parents, caregivers, and educators what they can do to create a safer home environment for babies, toddlers, and children.
Click here to download the app (Apple/Android) or use it online.
Request for Proposals: Innovative and Upstream Approaches for Injury And Violence Prevention
The field of Injury and Violence Prevention (IVP) continues to evolve with new technologies, values, and ideas. Strategies such as blending and braiding funds for shared risk and protective factor approaches and partnering across sectors allows for a much more comprehensive approach and enhance IVP outcomes. Safe States Alliance is pleased to support up to four (4) seed grant awards to advance innovative approaches such as these and others in alignment with upstream prevention strategies. Eligible applicants include state, local, and territorial health, tribes and tribal organizations, hospitals/health care organizations, academic institutions, city and municipal governments, community-based organizations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations.
Click here for more information. Deadline to respond: October 15, 2025, 5:00 pm EST
Teen Driver Safety Week Resources
Teen Driver Safety Week is observed from October 19 to 25. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is releasing new resources in English and Spanish to help organizations promote safe driving for teens and their parents. Resources include social graphics, messages, banner ads, and videos. Access and download these outreach materials at Teen Driver Safety | Traffic Safety Marketing starting October 19.
As a part of the 2025 Teen Driver Safety Week campaign, Kennedy Bingham, who survived a devastating crash where she was ejected from her vehicle and hung from a power line, will share her powerful story with her message to teens: stay distraction-free, buckle up, and drive the speed limit to protect yourself and others. Please follow and subscribe to NHTSA on YouTube and share her story with your network once it launches during Teen Driver Safety Week.
When posting to X and Instagram, please add #TeenDriver to your posts using the materials provided to help join and amplify the conversation.
ICYMI: Communications Breakdown Podcast
The Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC) is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast, Communications Breakdown. Hosted by Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, the podcast breaks down what works (and doesn’t) in health communication, research translation, public health campaign strategy, social media, graphic design, and much more.
Communications Breakdown is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Buzzsprout.
Social Media Calendar
Oct 6–12: Fire Prevention Week
Oct 13–19: SIDS & Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Oct 20–26: Teen Driver Safety Week
Oct 27–Nov 2: Halloween/Pedestrian Safety
Upcoming Events
Event: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
Date: October 1-31, 2025
October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month. In October and beyond, infant caregivers and service and health care providers can join Safe to Sleep® and its partners to encourage safe infant sleep and help raise awareness about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS. Learn more here.
Event: National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Date: October 1-31, 2025
October was first declared as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month in 2011. Since then, October has been a time to highlight the vital role of ubstance abuse prevention in both individual and community health has, to remember those who have lost their lives to substance abuse, to acknowledge those in recovery, as well as children, parents, family, and friends supporting them. Studies show that the earlier an individual starts smoking, drinking or using other drugs, the greater the likelihood of developing addiction. 9 out of 10 people who abuse or are addicted to nicotine, alcohol or other drugs began using these substances before they were 18. Every year that substance use is delayed during the period of adolescent brain development, the risk of addiction and substance abuse decreases. Learn more here.
Event: Health Literacy Month
Date: October 1-31, 2025
Every October, we celebrate Health Literacy Month — a time to recognize the importance of making health information easy to understand and the health care system easier to navigate. Learn more here.
Event: Fire Prevention Week
Date: October 5-11, 2025
This year’s Fire Prevention Week™ (FPW™) campaign, October 5-11, “Charge into Fire Safety™: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home,” works to educate everyone about using these batteries safely. The campaign stresses how important it is to BUY, CHARGE, and RECYCLE safely when it comes to lithium-ion batteries. Learn more here.
Event: National Walk & Roll to School Day
Date: October 8, 2025
Ready, set, go! Register now for the 29th annual National Walk & Roll to School Day on October 8, 2025! Whether addressing the need to make active routes to school safer or encouraging children to be more active, Walk & Roll to School Day events can be powerful tools to inspire lasting change. Equally important, they are lots of fun! Communities are welcome to celebrate any day in October that best fits their schedules. Learn more here.
Webinar: Accelerating Suicide Prevention in Real World-Settings (ASPIRES) Center Webinar Series: Harnessing Big Data to Examine SDOH and Social Media Risks for Youth Suicide Prevention
Date: October 8, 2025, 12-1 PM
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify at least three ways in which big data sources (e.g., EHRs, social media, population-level SDOH datasets) can be integrated to assess youth suicide risk and inform prevention strategies.
2. Describe two or more advanced computational techniques (e.g., machine learning, natural language processing) and explain how each can enhance early detection and personalized intervention for at-risk youth.
3. Analyze one example of a predictive model linking SDOH and addictive screen use trajectories to suicidal behaviors, and evaluate its potential application in clinical or public health settings.
Zoom link (no registration required): https://zoom.us/j/97561019141
Webinar: From Small Tasks to Big Changes: Quality Improvement Tools You Can Use
Date: October 15th, 2025, 2–3 PM ET
How do you ensure that your public health, prevention, and/or child safety strategies are effective, efficient, and meet the needs of your community? Quality Improvement (QI) is a structured, data-driven process used to systematically enhance services, programs, and systems to better meet your goals and have a bigger impact.
In this STAW, you will learn how to build your own QI toolbox through a step-by-step process that incorporates valuable tools and a clear framework. We will provide examples of how this process can be applied to specific goals and strategies, and what it looks like in action. You will also have the opportunity to hear from a participant from our current cohort in the Child Safety Learning Collaborative (CSLC), who will share their story of how they made use of the QI process to identify drivers, test ideas, and make changes (small and large) to improve their process and outcomes.
Zoom link (no registration is required): https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84620733220?pwd=EU9TKFBz1sCEzPQnBW8QKzNOOhBwPz.1
Event: Teen Driver Safety Week
Date: October 19-25, 2025
Teen Driver Safety Week is October 19–25, 2025 – a good opportunity to increase safety messaging across all platforms. A teen’s inexperience behind the wheel makes them more susceptible to crashes, so including teen safety messaging in a traffic safety communication plan is important. Share information with partner organizations to help spread the message across communities. Learn more here.
Event: National School Bus Safety Week
Date: October 20-24, 2025
Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Learn more here.
Webinar: Digitizing intimate partner violence: Emerging challenges and advocacy approaches with technology-facilitated abuse
Date: October 21, 2025, 12-1 PM
Join Morgan PettyJohn, PhD and Rachel Voth Schrag, LCSW, PhD, for an insightful discussion on their community-based research and practice experience addressing technology-facilitated abuse in North Texas. Drs. PettyJohn and Voth Schrag are co-founders of the Mavericks Ending Technology-Facilitated Abuse (MAVS ETA) project at The University of Texas at Arlington. They seek to improve prevention and community-based response services for interpersonal violence and are particularly interested in how digital technologies intersect with survivors experiences of violence, both as risk factors for victimization as well as tools for help-seeking and empowerment. Register here.
Webinar: NCPSB Webinar Series: Boost Your Booster Seat Knowledge
Date: October 21, 2025, 2 PM ET
Presented by Julie Mansfield and Britney Lombard, this webinar offers a deep dive into the science behind booster seat safety. We'll start by exploring how a child's anatomy and skeletal development impact seat belt fit and why this is crucial for crash protection. Then, we will examine national booster seat studies to understand common misuses. Finally, we'll highlight unique booster seat features, helping you choose the best option for your child. Register here.
Event: T4CIP Medication Safety Day of Action
Date: October 22, 2025
Join Trainees for Child Injury Prevention on October 22, 2025 for a Day of Action on medication safe storage. The hashtag #StoreMedsSafe will be used on campaign messages. Please join T4CIP by:
Posting on social media using #StoreMedsSafe
Finding, downloading, and sharing social media graphics and other resources
Joining a webinar from 2-3 p.m. ET
Participating in a Twitter/X chat from 12-1 p.m. ET using #StoreMedsSafe
Learn more here.
Webinar: Medication Safe Storage and Disposal Webinar
Date: Oct. 22, 2025, 2-3 p.m. ET
This free webinar will highlight real stories, practical strategies, and tools that both families and healthcare professionals can use to help prevent medication-related injuries in the home. Whether you're a medical trainee, caregiver, or community advocate, you’ll leave with actionable steps to support safer storage and disposal practices in your home, clinic, hospital, or community. Register here.
Event: Red Ribbon Week
Date: October 23-31, 2025
Red Ribbon Week is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon, October 23 - 31st. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign ® is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a drug-free America. Learn more here.
Archived
September 2025
Resource Spotlight: AAP Injury Prevention Image Galleries
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently updated and expanded its bank of free images on injury prevention topics. Images can be used for campaigns, broadcast and print media, social media, and more, with no attribution required. The database covers a wide range of safety risks, including hard-to-find images like proper use of stair gates, firearm safe storage, window stops, and choking prevention.
Bookmark this great resource: https://www.aap.org/ipimages
Looking for safe sleep images? AAP has those too: https://www.aap.org/safesleepimages
New Health Comm Podcast: Communications Breakdown
The Center for Injury Research Translation and Communication (CIRTC) is excited to announce the launch of a new podcast, Communications Breakdown. Hosted by Tracy Mehan and Katrina Boylan, the podcast breaks down what works (and doesn’t) in health communication, research translation, public health campaign strategy, social media, graphic design, and much more.
Communications Breakdown is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and Buzzsprout.
Save-the-Date: Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Virtual Conference
Join us on December 11, 2025 for this year’s Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance Conference, as injury professionals from states in Federal Health and Human Services Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI) gather to work toward reducing injury- and violence- related death and disability. This year's theme is Connectedness: Staying True to Our Mission of Safety and Prevention.
We hope to highlight topics that inspire, inform, and demonstrate the power of partnerships, the passion behind programs that serve individuals and communities, and the impact of policy in shaping the future of injury and violence prevention across our states.
Registration is free but required and will open in October. More details here.
SAVIR 2026 Call for Abstracts is Now Open
The SAVIR 2026 Call for Abstracts is open from September 2 - October 10, 2025.
The Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR) 2026 Conference will take place from April 13-15, 2026 in Providence, Rhode Island. The 2026 conference centers on the theme "Anchoring the Community of Injury Science." It will gather hundreds of researchers, public health professionals, and thought leaders dedicated to injury and violence prevention.
Learn more about abstract options and submit through the conference portal. Registration and sponsor/exhibitor opportunities for the conference are currently open.
Social Media Calendar
Sept 1–7: National Preparedness Month
Sept 8–14: Suicide Prevention
Sept 15–21: TBI/Concussion Prevention
Sept 22–28: Child Passenger Safety Week; National Farm Safety & Health Week
Sept 29–Oct 5: Baby Safety Month
Upcoming Events
Event: National Preparedness Month
Date: September 1-30, 2025
FEMA’s Ready Campaign has observed National Preparedness Month since 2004 to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies. The month is a great time to take small steps to make a big difference in being prepared.
This year’s National Preparedness Month theme is “Preparedness Starts at Home.” We are asking people to take four key actions to prepare for any disaster they may face:
Know the different types of emergencies that could happen and appropriate responses to stay safe.
Make a family emergency plan.
Build an emergency supply kit.
Get involved in their community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.
Learn more here.
Event: Baby Safety Month
Date: September 1-30, 2025
JPMA (now Baby Safety Alliance) initiated Baby Safety Month to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of the safe use and selection of juvenile products. The campaign started in 1983 when JPMA initiated "Expectant Mother's Day." In 1986, it was extended to a week-long celebration, until 1991, when JPMA sponsored the first "Baby Safety Awareness Month." Since then, every September has been designated as Baby Safety Month. Learn more here.
Event: National Suicide Prevention Month
Date: September 1-30, 2025
Every year, the 988 Lifeline and other mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. raise awareness of suicide prevention during September, National Suicide Prevention Month. We can all help prevent suicide. Learn more here.
Webinar: Occupant Protection: Research, Innovation and Next Steps to Advance Safety
Date/Time: September 3, 2025, 2:30 PM ET
Join National Safety Council for an engaging session on the importance and benefits of motor vehicle crash testing, education, and innovation — all focused on enhancing safety for every occupant. We’ll also highlight exciting new resources and upcoming programs designed to support and advance safety for everyone inside motor vehicles. Register here.
Event: World Suicide Prevention Day
Date: September 10, 2025
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). WHO has been co-sponsor of the day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented. Learn more here.
Event: National Concussion Awareness Day
Date: September 19, 2025
National Concussion Awareness Day ® was founded in 2016 by Brooke Mills, who suffered a concussion as a freshman in high school. Concussions have become an epidemic in the United States, with millions of mild traumatic brain injuries happening each year. The purpose of National Concussion Awareness Day ® is to create an opportunity for public discussion of this issue. By raising awareness of the importance of recognizing a concussion, treating it appropriately and supporting the injured we can positively impact lives across the country. Learn more here.
Events: Child Passenger Safety Week & National Seat Check Saturday
Date: September 21-27, 2025
Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 21-27, 2025, with National Seat Check Saturday on Sept. 27. Keeping children safe while traveling is a top priority for parents and caregivers, and often parents seek out information regarding car seat safety. Materials created for this campaign covers topics every step of the way — from purchasing the correct car seat according to a child’s weight and height, to properly installing it, and when to move them to the next type of seat. Click here for more information and resources from NHTSA.
Event: National Farm Safety and Health Week
Date: September 21-27, 2025
Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This annual promotion initiated by the National Safety Council has been proclaimed as such by each sitting U.S. President since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. National Farm Safety and Health Week is led by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), the agricultural partner of the National Safety Council. Learn more here.
Webinar: Road to Zero Grantee Showcase: Hofstra University, Ohio State University, Families for Safe Streets
Date/Time: September 30, 202, 1:00 PM ET
What do a snow squall driving simulator, videos about car seat misuse, and a story map for traffic crash victims have in common? They're all projects made possible by Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grants over the past year. Learn from Hofstra University, Ohio State University, and Families for Safe Streets as they present their innovative year-long projects to improve traffic safety through a Safe System Approach. Register here.
Archived
August 2025
Resource Spotlight: CPS Board Vehicular Heatstroke Prevention
Each year, an average of 37 children lose their lives after being left in hot cars, a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy. While we might hear more about this issue in the summer months, the truth is that many states see temperatures high enough for heatstroke in the other seasons as well. To continue outreach and education efforts year-round, the National Child Passenger Safety Board, managed by National Safety Council, offers a wide variety of materials and activities that address the risks around vehicular heatstroke:
A bank of national resources dedicated to preventing vehicular heatstroke
The Employer Toolkit, including customizable emails, posters, infographics and window cling templates to help build awareness in the workplace
Providing the State Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Task Force Guide and other support for new and current state task forces
A free online course that documents the three primary circumstances that have led to children dying and what we all can do to prevent these deaths
Check out these materials and more at https://www.cpsboard.org/heatstroke-prevention/.
Screenshot of video
Content Update: Golf Cart/Low-Speed Vehicle Safety Video Coming Soon
Like many of you, we’ve noticed more golf carts and low-speed vehicles on the streets and in parking lots, and we’ve seen reports of recent injuries and even some deaths related to golf carts. We decided to shift gears to address this emerging issue and created a shareable vertical video on golf cart safety. (This content will replace an “outdoor fun” release.)
Check your inbox on August 11 for an email with a link to the new video!
Join the National Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke Stakeholder Workgroup
The National Safety Council (NSC), in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), leads the National Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) Stakeholder Workgroup, a coalition committed to building solutions that protect children through policy, technology, and education. The National PVH Stakeholder Workgroup brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds—health and safety professionals, child care leaders, researchers, first responders, advocates, and more. We’re applying a Safe Systems approach to address the complex causes of pediatric vehicular heatstroke and prevent future tragedies and invite you to be part of the solution by joining the Workgroup or participating in one of our focused subcommittees:
Legislation and Policy Subcommittee
State Task Force Development Subcommittee
Communication Subcommittee
To learn more or get involved, contact Alexis Kagiliery, NSC Program Manager, at alexis.kagiliery@nsc.org and/or complete the member application here: https://forms.office.com/r/XHnnm7F77a
Social Media Calendar
Aug 4–10: Safe Routes to School
Aug 11–17: Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Aug 18–24: Golf Cart/Low-Speed Vehicle Safety (NEW CONTENT COMING AUG 11)
Aug 25–31: Outdoor Fun: Campfires, Grills, Inflatable Bouncers
Upcoming Events
Event: Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Date: August 1–31, 2025
Prevent Blindness has declared August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. The goal is to educate parents, caregivers, professionals, and policy makers on the important role vision and eye health plays in a child’s development, learning ability, and social engagement. Prevent Blindness offers free materials on children’s vision issues, provides information on access to eye care, and encourages individuals to advocate for federal funding for state and community children’s eye health programs.
Learn more here.
Event: National Stop on Red Week
Date: August 3-9, 2025
National Stop on Red Week in 2025 will be observed August 3-9. This annual campaign, led by the National Coalition for Safer Roads, aims to educate drivers about the dangers of red light running and promote safer driving practices at intersections. The 2025 theme is "Safe Stops. Stronger Communities", emphasizing collective action and accountability in building safer streets. Learn more here.
Event: International Youth Day
Date: August 12, 2025
International Youth Day is commemorated every year on August 12. The Focal Point on Youth selects a theme for the day often with input from youth organizations and members of the UN Inter-Agency Network in Youth development. It also organizes a virtual commemoration of the Day. The World Programme of Action for Youth encourages youth around the world to organize activities to raise awareness about the situation of youth in their country. Learn more here.
Webinar: Frontiers of Technology: AI, Transportation, and Road Safety
Date/Time: Aug 12, 1:00 PM ET
News about AI and its potential impact on our lives is everywhere, but how does this technology impact transportation safety? Road to Zero wants to bring you the latest information from this exciting and fast-developing sector. Join us on August 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern for the first in a new webinar series, Frontiers of Technology: AI, Transportation, and Road Safety. We’ll be joined by four speakers whose companies are at the forefront of transportation planning, traffic violation enforcement and navigation:
Dhruv Maheshwari, Co-Founder and President, Obvio
Mike Natzel, Product Engineer, Urban Hawk and Aneek Sarker, Senior Product Manager, Urban Hawk
Alicia Mohammed, Partnerships Lead and Head of US Safety, What3Words
Webinar: Youth Voice in Mental Health Messaging: Creating Space for Youth to Lead
Date/Time: August 20, 2:00 PM ET
This State Technical Assistance Webinar will focus on creating space for young people to lead in the development of communication strategies for youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention. Presenters from the New Jersey Department of Health (members of the CSLC Cohort 1 Suicide and Self Harm Prevention Team) and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics will describe how they recruited, engaged, trained and partnered with young people from across New Jersey to create a youth driven suicide prevention and awareness campaign that prioritized youth voice and personal experience. Presenters will share examples of messaging as well as their collaborative plan for distribution and data collection. Participants will have the opportunity to consider how they might apply similar youth-led strategies to their own health communications practices.
More information here.
Event: International Overdose Awareness Day
Date: August 31, 2025
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed every year on August 31 to raise awareness about overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. It’s a day to honor lives lost, support prevention efforts, and promote change through education and action. Learn more here.
Archived
July 2025
Monthly Spotlight: Consumer Federation of America
Summer is the primary season for ATV injuries, so it’s the perfect time to spotlight the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. CFA tracks and reports on injuries related to ATVs (and other products) and then uses that data to create safety campaigns and advocate for improved safety regulations. CFA also protects children and families by sharing information on topics like financial issues, food safety, and privacy concerns.
CFA has worked with Prevent Child Injury on several campaigns, and we’re grateful for their expertise and leadership for safer consumer products. Visit the CFA website for more information and resources, and follow them on X, Facebook, Medium, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Website Updates: Please Pardon Our Dust!
If you’ve visited the website recently, you might have noticed some changes. We’re in the process of upgrading the website infrastructure and updating toolkit content and other links. We’re also looking at some structural changes to accommodate our growing content library, so we’ll launch those later this year. Thanks for your patience as we work through this process—we hope these changes will create a better experience for everyone who visits the site.
Register for PrevCon 2025
On October 15 - 18, 2025, Safe Kids Worldwide will hold its biennial Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PrevCon). PrevCon is the largest gathering of safety professionals in the world dedicated solely to unintentional childhood injury prevention. Safe Kids Worldwide convenes leading experts, advocates, academic researchers, health care providers, manufacturers, public health practitioners, educators, and policymakers with the aim of increasing our collective impact. See more information here and register here.
ICYMI: Full 2025 Social Media Calendar
If you didn’t see the announcement, the full 2025 social media calendar has been posted. Click on the images or the links to see the full-year versions.
We’re also starting to think about 2026. Have an idea or child safety topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know! Email us or use this form.
Social Media Calendar
June 30–July 6: ATV Safety
July 7–13: Lawn Mowing, Garages/Sheds, & Tools
July 14–20: Heat Safety & Hydration
July 21–27: Flotation Devices
July 28–Aug 3: Indoor Home Safety Projects
Upcoming Events
Event: UV Safety Month
Date: July 1–31, 2025
In July, we raise awareness that UV is the root cause of most skin cancers and encourage the public to take precautions. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends that the public #PracticeSafeSun year-round by following three simple steps while outdoors:
Seek shade when appropriate
Wear sun-protective clothing
Apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
Learn more here.
Webinar: Test a New Virtual Tool: Plan and Implement Protective Extreme Heat Interventions
Date/Time: July 1, 1:00 PM ET
Join NACCHO and the University of Washington REACH Center for a free webinar about CHaRT, a tool to reduce health risks associated with extreme heat. CHaRT can be used by local health departments to assess and plan for extreme heat events in the regions they serve. CHaRT is an online tool that provides data on heat-health risks at a local scale for both historical and future conditions. It can provide tailored risk reduction activities based on local factors, and information about the efficacy, timing and cost of each intervention.
At the webinar, presenter Jeremy Hess will discuss an opportunity for health departments to participate in a research trial on CHaRT. The research trial will help UW researchers learn more about the tool’s effectiveness in helping local health departments prepare for heat. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Children's Hospitals and Climate Resilience
Date/Time: July 8, 2:00 PM ET
Join the Children's Hospital Association, Texas Children's Hospital, and Nicklaus Children's Hospital for a webinar in our series on environmental sustainability at children’s hospitals. Texas Children's staff will discuss how they collaborated across the organization to develop and implement a climate resilience plan that addresses tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms, flooding, wildfires, winter weather, and strong winds.
They'll share how the hospital has been preparing for natural disasters and their plans to provide care for and protect children during times of uncertainty. Before facilitating a Q&A, Nicklaus Children's staff will also highlight their climate vulnerabilities and the value of community partnerships in disaster preparedness and mitigation. More information here and registration here.
Event: Rural Road Safety Awareness Week
Date/Time: July 14–18,m2025
The 2025 RRSAW awareness campaign’s overall theme is, “Post Crash Care: Big League Safety.” In 2022, 42,514 people died in traffic crashes, with 42 percent of those crash victims being alive when first responders arrived at the scene. Recognizing that medical care can prevent injuries from becoming fatal, a post-crash care lens identifies a clear opportunity to preserve life at the scene of a crash by applying medical care and related services.
For more information about Rural Road Safety Awareness Week, visit the National Center for Rural Road Safety’s RRSAW campaign page. The campaign will use the hashtag #RRSAW2025. Assets will be available in July online at ruralsafetycenter.org.
Webinar: Creating a Plan for Grant Writing Success: Decoding Requests for Funding Proposals (RFPs) and Preparing for Proposal Development
Date/Time: July 24, 8:45am-12pm ET
Note: This workshop has limited capacity. This is an online, interactive workshop. Participants will use Zoom to join with both video and audio.
Public health practice depends on funding to function, but unless you are the primary grant writer for your health department or have years of related experience, the process of seeking and applying for funding can be confusing and daunting. This 3-hour interactive workshop focuses on preparing your organization to apply for funding, finding and evaluating funding sources, and coming up with a plan for the proposal development, including a timeline and division of team assignments. Special focus will be given to decoding the request for funding proposals (RFPs) including understanding the key components of a grant proposal (including budget, goals/objectives, evaluation) and what to include in each. More information here.
Webinar: Harnessing Local Data for Community Health: Insights from the Marathon County LIFE Report
Date/Time: July 29, 2:00 PM ET
Join NACCHO for an engaging webinar that delves into the local data collection efforts behind the Local Indicators for Excellence (LIFE) Report in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Produced every three years and powered by Marathon County Pulse, the LIFE Report offers a comprehensive, data-driven depiction of the quality of life in Marathon County. This webinar is a unique opportunity to explore how local data can shape communities and contribute to efforts to improve health and quality of life outcomes.
Local Data Collection: Gain insights into the data collection process and how to apply it to your local area
Community Contributions: Learn how over 50 local community partners collaborated to review data, develop meaningful narratives, and identify key community priorities
Data-Driven Decisions: Understand how community partners used this data to prioritize the top calls to action and areas of success
More information and registration here.
Webinar: State and Territorial Infrastructure for Suicide Prevention: Exploring New Legal Maps
Date/Time: July 30, 2:00 PM ET
This training will guide participants through the new legal maps, highlight key legal provisions, and explore how states are using law to formalize and strengthen suicide prevention infrastructure. By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
Navigate the new legal maps to identify laws that support suicide prevention infrastructure across jurisdictions
Describe the purpose and function of suicide prevention offices, commissions, and suicide fatality review teams in jurisdictional policy frameworks
Consider how map insights may inform policy development, advocacy strategies, or program implementation in their own jurisdictions
More information and registration here.
Webinar: Educator Forum: What's New with Car Seat Basics?
Date/Time: July 30, 2:00 PM ET
National Child Passenger Safety Board Members, Tammy Franks and Kyndra Webb, share an update about the 2025 version of Car Seat Basics. Register here.
Archived
June 2025
Monthly Spotlight:
Safe Kids Worldwide
This month we are highlighting the critical work of Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW) and its 400+ coalitions. Through education, advocacy, and research, SKW keeps children of all ages safer by focusing on topics like drowning prevention, road safety, and home injury prevention. SKW coalitions recently celebrated their annual Safe Kids Month, working directly with children, families, and caregivers in their communities to provide tips, information, and safety devices.
Click here to learn more about SKW and see resources and safety materials on a variety of topics. You can also get involved with your local SKW coalition. Find SKW on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Button Battery Outreach Week Recap & Webinar Link
Thank you to everyone who participated in our outreach week on button battery safety! Please continue to use these materials whenever you need them. And a special thanks to our webinar panel on button battery injuries—if you missed the webinar, hear what they had to say here.
Register for PrevCon!
On October 15 - 18, 2025, Safe Kids Worldwide will hold its biennial Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PrevCon). PrevCon is the largest gathering of safety professionals in the world dedicated solely to unintentional childhood injury prevention. Safe Kids Worldwide convenes leading experts, advocates, academic researchers, health care providers, manufacturers, public health practitioners, educators, and policymakers with the aim of increasing our collective impact. See more information here and register here.
Social Media Calendar
June 2-8: Firearm safety
June 9-15: Summer camp safety
June 16-22: National Safety Month
June 23-29: Fireworks safety
June 30-July 6: ATV safety
Upcoming Events
Event: National Safety Month
Date: June 1-30, 2025
Join the National Safety Council in June for National Safety Month – the annual observance to help keep each other safe from the workplace to anyplace. Since 1996, NSM has provided free safety resources to highlight leading causes of preventable injury and death. Let’s make people safer this June and all year long! Learn more here.
Webinar: Keep America Safe Coalition Advocacy Action Update
Date/Time: June 3, 2:00 PM ET
The CDC Injury Center has been slated for elimination in recent budget proposals. We need you to act now to protect and preserve the Center. This webinar is for anyone who attended our last webinar or would like to learn more about our advocacy strategy and how they can get involved. On this webinar we'll:
Provide the latest updates on the CDC Injury Center
Share outreach strategy updates
Hear from all of you on the advocacy action you've taken
Provide the next action priorities for our campaign
Register today to be a part of the team that's working to protect and preserve the CDC Injury Center.
Webinar: Keeping Kids Safe: Using Virtual Reality for Firearm Injury Prevention Training
Date/Time: June 4, 2:00 PM ET
Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States, with about 5,000 injured or killed by firearms each year.
As Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center saw this trend in their own community, they created an internal initiative to prevent gun-related injuries.
Join Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) to learn how Cincinnati Children’s uses a virtual reality tool to train providers on how to talk about firearms and have life-saving conversations with patients and families. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Use Your Voice: Advocacy Strategies for Children’s Vision
Date/Time: June 4, 2:00-3:15 PM EDT
Join the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness for a free webinar, “Use Your Voice: Advocacy Strategies for Children’s Vision.” In this 75-minute webinar, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the advocacy process, the value and impact that individual and community voices have on the advocacy process, and how to effectively advocate for public policies that govern healthcare, eyecare, and school systems to ensure they are responsive to children’s vision health needs. More information and registration here.
Event: National Gun Violence Awareness Day & Wear Orange Weekend
Date: June 6-8, 2025
Every day in the U.S., 125 people are shot and killed, and hundreds more are wounded or traumatized. Wear Orange Weekend is June 6-8, 2025, to honor survivors and build community with those working to end gun violence. National Gun Violence Awareness Day takes place on the first Friday in June and marks the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend. More information here.
Webinar: Media Relations Today: How to Build Trust in Public Health Guidance
Date/Time: Jun 10, 1:30-3:00 PM ET
News reporting that advances the public’s understanding of public health issues requires ongoing strategic communication between organizations and media producers, also known as media relations. Building and strengthening a media relations program can position your department as the go-to source for public health information, help counter misinformation and disinformation, and increase trust in public health guidance. In this webinar, take your media program to the next level with advice from communications and public health experts. Learn more and registration here.
Webinar: Braking news: How we can slow speeding drivers to save lives
Date/Time: Jun 11, 2:00 PM ET
Speed has a major impact on the number of crashes and the severity of injuries they cause. In fact, speeding is a factor in more than a quarter of U.S. traffic fatalities. We'll review the latest research on strategies to lower speeds, including safe speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming and intelligent speed assistance. Join Jessica Cicchino and Ian Reagan as they discuss speed research from IIHS-HLDI and how addressing vehicle speeds fits into our 30x30 vision, a goal to reduce traffic fatalities 30% by 2030. More information and registration here.
Webinar: INSPIRE: Readiness - Tackling Public Health Communication Conundrums: Rumors and Public Trust
Date/Time: June 12, 2-3pm ET
Join ASTHO for a timely conversation as we explore strategies to safeguard public health and build public trust. This session will highlight communication tactics, cross-agency collaborations, and community engagement tools that may be used to help dispel harmful public health rumors. Inaccurate information, whether about vaccines, disease outbreaks, or public health mandates, can spread quickly through social media, word of mouth, or online forums – often overshadowing accurate messages from trusted sources. More information and registration here.
Webinar: Strengthening Student Mental Health with Community Partnerships
Date/Time: June 18, 1-2pm ET
Many school districts are reporting a significant increase in student mental health concerns and growing challenges in accessing counseling services and other resources, particularly in rural areas. This webinar will cover how to leverage your community’s unique strengths to support student mental health. Presenters will explore strategies for selecting and engaging community partners, guide you through conducting needs assessments and resource mapping, and share best practices for maintaining and strengthening partnerships over time. More information and registration here
Webinar: Building a Safe System: The Importance of Roadside Design
Date/Time: June 25, 1-2:30pm CT
Each year, approximately one-third of all fatalities are in single-vehicle roadway departure crashes despite representing only 10 percent of all crashes. AAAM's newest webinar explores how our roadside infrastructure plays a crucial role in preventing crashes and mitigating injury. This webinar will cover:
Key infrastructure designs that protect road users and reduce the severity of crashes
How roadside barriers are tested for real-world effectiveness
Emerging areas of infrastructure innovation and research
When it comes to safety, our roadside infrastructure is a critical line of defense. Join this panel of experts to discover how strategic infrastructure decisions save lives and reduce injury. Learn more and register here.
Archived
May 2025
Monthly Spotlight: National Bike & Roll to School Day
National Bike & Roll to School Day is May 7, 2025! While May 7 is this year’s official date, communities are welcome to celebrate any day in May that best fits their schedules.
Whether addressing the need to make routes to school safer for active trips or encouraging children and teens to be more active, Bike & Roll to School Day events can be powerful tools to inspire lasting change. This year, capture the spirit of Bike & Roll to School Day and submit one or two of your best photos from the May 2025 event to our photo contest. Find out more on the contest page.
To stay up to date on the latest Bike & Roll to School Day news, follow on Facebook, Instagram, and X!
Prevent Child Injury/T4CIP Webinar: Button Battery Safety
Join Drs. Kris Jatana and Gary Smith from Nationwide Children's Hospital, US CPSC Consumer Ombudsman Jonathan Midgett, PhD, and Trista Hamsmith from Reese's Purpose for an hour-long webinar about button battery safety, hosted by Trainees for Child Injury Prevention and Prevent Child Injury.
Button batteries are small and power many household devices. Their ingestion can lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. This webinar will provide insights into the risks, prevention strategies, and the latest regulatory efforts to protect children from button battery injuries.
Registration: https://bit.ly/T4CIP-ButtonBatteryWebinar
Safe States: Strengthening Injury and Violence Prevention Through the Core Components ECHO Series
Join Safe States for a Project ECHO series. Over the course of seven sessions, participants will learn from and collaborate with experts and peers to share knowledge, tools, experiences, strategies, and promising practices to strengthen the practice of IVP. Register today; limited spots available. Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00 PM ET; May 14 through June 25. More information here.
On Our Social Media Calendar
April 28-May 4: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
May 5-11: Bike Safety
May 12-18: Water Safety: Boating & Swimming
May 19-25: Button Battery Safety Outreach Week
May 26-June 1: Sun Safety
Events
Event: National Bicycle Safety Month
Date: May 1-31, 2025
May is National Bicycle Safety Month, a great opportunity to amplify safety messaging as more people head outside. This month is dedicated to promoting safer cycling for riders of all ages and increasing driver awareness about safely sharing the road. NHTSA has sample resources here.
Event: National Water Safety Month
Date: May 1-31, 2025
May is National Water Safety Month! Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children, so this month, take time to raise awareness about drowning prevention, safer swimming practices, and general water safety. Learn more here.
Event: National Child Passenger Safety Technician Month
Date: May 1-31, 2025
National Child Passenger Safety Technician Month is a time for us to celebrate the over 43,000 technicians who serve the community every day, educating families about how to travel safely. Consider taking a course this May to help parents and caregiver properly secure their children in the correct car seat so the child is safe in the event of a crash. Learn more here.
Event: Mental Health Month
Date: May 1-31, 2025
Mental Health America founded Mental Health Month in 1949 and has led the effort every May to promote mental wellness nationwide. Resources here.
Event: National Heatstroke Prevention Day
Date: May 1, 2025
Nearly every state in the United States has been affected by a pediatric vehicular heatstroke death. NHTSA's annual campaign helps educate parents and caregivers about the dangers of hot cars, including children getting trapped in an unlocked vehicle, being forgotten or mistakenly left, or purposely left. Resources here.
Annual Meeting: Road to Zero Coalition 2025 Annual Meeting (In-person/virtual)
Date: May 6, 2025
On May 6, join us for the Road to Zero Coalition’s 2025 Annual Meeting! We’re convening in person at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., along with an option to attend virtually. This once-a-year meeting is an excellent opportunity to connect with your fellow Road to Zero members, get updates on the Coalition’s Working Groups and learn about new opportunities to engage with the Coalition in 2025.
This event is free and open to all Coalition members. Whether you’re planning to join in person or online, register now to secure your spot!
Event: Bike to School Day
Date: May 7, 2025
National Bike & Roll to School Day is May 7, 2025. Whether addressing the need to make routes to school safer for active trips or encouraging children and teens to be more active, Bike & Roll to School Day events can be powerful tools to inspire lasting change. Learn more here.
Webinar: Don't Panic! A Panel on How to be an Effective Crisis Communicator
Date/Time: May 8, 2025, 1-2:30 PM EST
Join ASTHO for an upcoming webinar to explore strategies for strengthening jurisdictional capacity for public health risk communication. This panel discussion will feature insights from subject matter experts, state health department representatives, and public health leaders. The session will showcase best practices for identifying trending threats, innovative resources for applying the latest risk communications research, and an overview of leading industry tools to help public health communicators effectively address crises and emergencies across diverse jurisdictions. Registration and more information here.
Webinar: Elevating Voices: Living Experience & Community Assets in Injury and Violence Prevention
Date/Time: May 8, 2025, 2:30 PM EST
Join Safe States and the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research for the May IVP Grand Rounds where panelists will discuss how researchers, public health undergraduate and graduate programs, and prevention practitioners at state and local levels can ensure the voices and lived experiences of community members impacted by injury and violence are not just included, but centered, in each of these settings. Register here.
Event: UN Global Road Safety Week
Dates: May 12-18, 2025
UN Global Road Safety Week, observed from May 12-18, 2025, focuses on the theme “Streets for Life: #MakeWalkingSafe and #MakeCyclingSafe.” The 8th UN Global Road Safety Week offers an opportunity to spur action at national and local levels to make walking and cycling safe, by highlighting concrete and specific interventions that can be taken by different stakeholders – governments, international agencies, civil society, businesses, and schools. Learn more here.
Event: International Water Safety Day
Date: May 15, 2025
International Water Safety Day is designed to help spread global awareness of the ongoing drowning pandemic, and educate the youth in becoming safer in and around water. May 15th is a day to spread drowning awareness and water safety education by any means possible. Learn more here.
Event: National Safe Boating Week
Dates: May 17-23, 2025
The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating, encouraging boaters to always wear a life jacket while on the water. The campaign kicks off the weekend before Memorial Day with National Safe Boating Week and continues throughout the year. Learn more here.
Event: National EMS Week
Dates: May 17-23, 2025
National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine's frontline. Presented by the American College of Emergency Physicians and the National Associations of Emergency Medical Technicians, these organizations are working to ensure that the important contributions of EMS professionals in safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of their communities are fully celebrated and recognized. More info here.
Event: Button Battery Safety Outreach Week
Dates: May 19-26, 2025
Prevent Child Injury is encouraging everyone who works with children, families, and caregivers to promote safe storage and handling of button and coin batteries. These tiny batteries are found in most homes and can cause serious internal injuries if swallowed. (Members should have received the toolkit link; toolkit will be made public on May 12.)
Webinar: Button Battery Safety
Date/Time: May 21, 2025, 1-2 PM ET
Button batteries are small and power many household devices. Their ingestion can lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. This webinar will provide insights into the risks, prevention strategies, and the latest regulatory efforts to protect children from button battery injuries. Registration: https://bit.ly/T4CIP-ButtonBatteryWebinar
Event: T4CIP Day of Action
Date: May 21, 2025
Join T4CIP for their #ButtonBatterySafety Day of Action on May 21, 2025. The campaign will help parents learn the dangers associated with button batteries and how to keep their children safer around these products. Participate in the Day of Action by joining the X chat from 11am-12pm ET, watching the webinar (information listed above), or posting with the #ButtonBatterySafety hashtag on May 21. More information here.
Event: Don't Fry Day
Date: May 24, 2025
The Friday before Memorial Day is Don't Fry Day! The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don’t Fry Day. The Council’s goal is to encourage sun safety awareness by reminding everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors on Don’t Fry Day and every day. Learn more here.
Archived
April 2025
Monthly Spotlight: Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR)
This month’s spotlight focuses on the Society for the Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR) for its continuing leadership in and advocacy for injury prevention research. As SAVIR members gather for its annual conference, we thank everyone who contributes to this field, and we’re especially grateful for the space SAVIR creates to share data, make connections, and raise capacity in injury and violence research.
Learn more about SAVIR on its website and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Thank you, SAVIR!
Prevent Child Injury Webinar: Button Battery Safety
Join Drs. Kris Jatana and Gary Smith from Nationwide Children's Hospital, US CPSC Consumer Ombudsman Jonathan Midgett, PhD, and Trista Hamsmith from Reese's Purpose for an hour-long webinar about button battery safety, hosted by Trainees for Child Injury Prevention and Prevent Child Injury.
Button batteries are small and power many household devices. Their ingestion can lead to serious and sometimes fatal injuries. This webinar will provide insights into the risks, prevention strategies, and the latest regulatory efforts to protect children from button battery injuries.
Registration: https://bit.ly/T4CIP-ButtonBatteryWebinar
Share-My-Screen Series: AI Image Generation and Editing
The Share-My-Screen Series is back! Join the Center for Injury Research Translation & Communication on April 17 at 12pm ET to see how they're using generative AI to create and edit images they can't find. They'll do 15-20 minutes of live demonstrations followed by 10 minutes of questions and discussion. More info and registration: www.bit.ly/SMS-ImageGen
Nominations Open for 40 Under 40 in Public Health
The de Beaumont Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 40 Under 40 in Public Health program, which recognizes and supports leaders under age 40 who are addressing public health challenges and making communities healthier. Nominations and self-nominations are open until June 13.
On Our Social Media Calendar
Mar 31-Apr 6: E-bikes & e-scooters
April 7-13: National Public Health Week; Window Safety Week
April 14-20: Playground Safety
April 21-27: Distracted Driving Month
April 28-May 4: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
Events
Event: Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Date: April 1-30, 2025
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distractions—such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting the navigation system—can significantly increase the risk of crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This year's theme is "Don't Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward." Check out NHTSA's resources here and here.
Webinar: Keeping Kids Safe: Advancing Pediatric Firearm Injury Prevention
Date/Time: April 3, 2025, 1PM ET
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. The scope of the problem is well known among the nation’s children’s hospitals. Learn how pediatric health care professionals are working to keep kids safe through firearm injury prevention. Attendees will explore evidence-based strategies for preventing youth firearm injuries, with special focus on reducing firearm suicides among adolescents and counseling families on secure storage; the Children's Hospital Association’s new report on firearm safety prevention efforts; and CHA’s recently launched Agree to Agree campaign. Details and registration here.
Webinar: Making the First Cut: Tips from Public Health Recruiters
Date/Time: April 3, 2025, 3-4PM ET
Join de Beaumont and the American Public Health Association (APHA) on Thursday, April 3, 3:00–4:00 pm ET, for a webinar with two experienced public health recruiters! Learn how to navigate the hiring process – starting with the first impression you make – from two professional recruiters with experience in public health, government, nonprofits, and business. Registration here.
Event: Window Safety Week
Date: April 7-13, 2025
Window Safety Week, the first full week in April, coincides with the arrival of spring, when people naturally want to open the windows and let in fresh air. The goal of this observance is twofold: for families to understand the role of windows in escaping a fire or other emergency and to learn how to safeguard against window falls. More information here.
Event: National Public Health Week (NPHW)
Date: April 7-13, 2025
Each April, APHA unites communities nationwide to celebrate NPHW, recognizing public health contributions and addressing key health issues. As the organizer for 30 years, APHA develops annual campaigns and resources to educate the public, policymakers, and practitioners on each year's theme. Join us for the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week to celebrate successes, look ahead to upcoming challenges and create a vision for the future. More information here.
Event: World Health Day
Date: April 7, 2025
World Health Day, celebrated annually on April 7, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being. WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health. More information here.
Webinar: Health Materials Potluck
Date: April 7, 2025, 10AM ET
Join the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy on April 7th at 10 AM for an engaging “Health Materials Potluck” webinar! Dr. Cynthia Baur, Center Director, will guide participants through 2-3 examples of how to craft clear and effective health materials. Whether you’re a health communicator, educator, or advocate, don’t miss this opportunity enhance your communication skills. Register here.
Webinar: The Future of Public Health: Voices from the Next Generation
Date/Time: April 9, 2025, 4-5PM ET
On Wednesday, April 9, 4:00–5:00 pm ET, celebrate National Public Health Week with a de Beaumont-APHA discussion focused on young public health professionals! We’ll discuss the biggest opportunities in recruiting and retaining young professionals, as well as the barriers they face — including educational requirements, student loan burdens and navigating early career growth. Register here.
Webinar: Share-My-Screen Series: AI Image Generation and Editing
Date/Time: April 17, 2025, 12PM ET
The Share-My-Screen Series is back! Join the Center for Injury Research Translation & Communication on April 17 at 12pm ET to see how they're using generative AI to create and edit images they can't find. They'll do 15-20 minutes of live demonstrations followed by 10 minutes of questions and discussion. More info and registration: www.bit.ly/SMS-ImageGen
Webinar: Insights from Title V on Partnering with Federally Funded Programs
Date/Time: April 22, 2025, 3-4PM ET
Title V agencies working in injury and violence prevention must address a broad range of topics across many populations and often face a myriad of challenges to accomplish this work, including sufficient funding and workforce capacity. The ability to effectively partner with other federally funded organizations and programs is essential for Title V agencies accomplishing their goals. In this webinar, Title V and Injury & Violence Prevention leaders will discuss their strategies, insights, and lessons learned by navigating these partnerships. Register here.
This event is led by the Children’s Safety Now Alliance (CSN-A), consisting of leaders and experts representing national organizations, federal agencies, state health departments, hospitals, and universities who help lead the Children’s Safety Network’s (CSN) efforts to reduce fatal and serious injuries among infants, children and adolescents.
Event: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
Date: April 28-May 2, 2025
Founded in 2001, National Youth Violence Prevention Week (NYVPW) is a time for youth to lead communities on effective strategies to prevent youth violence. The campaign is a week-long event with each day of the week corresponding to a specific challenge for communities. Join with others around the country to unite and lift up youth who work to make their schools and neighborhoods safer. More information here.
Annual Meeting: Road to Zero Coalition 2025 Annual Meeting (In-person/virtual)
Date: May 6, 2025
On May 6, join us for the Road to Zero Coalition’s 2025 Annual Meeting! We’re convening in person at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., along with an option to attend virtually. This once-a-year meeting is an excellent opportunity to connect with your fellow Road to Zero members, get updates on the Coalition’s Working Groups and learn about new opportunities to engage with the Coalition in 2025. This event is free and open to all Coalition members. Whether you’re planning to join in person or online, register now to secure your spot!
Archived
March 2025
Monthly Spotlight: America's Poison Centers
In honor of National Poison Prevention Week, this month's spotlight shines a light on America's Poison Centers, a nationwide network of 55 poison centers providing free, expert medical advice 24/7. By calling 1-800-222-1222 or visiting www.poisonhelp.org, anyone can get immediate assistance for poison-related emergencies. Staffed by trained toxicology specialists, these centers help reduce unnecessary ER visits and save lives.
America’s Poison Centers also focuses on data and education, tracking poison exposures and offering resources to help families and communities stay safer around risks like medications, carbon monoxide, and household chemicals. Additionally, America's Poison Centers hosts the National Poison Prevention Week Council to coordinate messaging and activities around the week.
Visit the America's Poison Centers website and follow on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Find resources and materials for National Poison Prevention Week here.
Apply to Join the Child Safety Learning Collaborative
Applications for the next cohort of the Child Safety Learning Collaborative (CLSC) are now open. During this 18-month program, participants learn how to effectively implement evidence-based policies, programs, and practices at state and local levels to reduce fatal and serious injuries among infants, children, and adolescents. This program is open to practitioners from Title V State/Jurisdiction Health Departments and the deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.
Participation offers the opportunity to:
Join a national network of peers who will share resources and lessons learned
Participate in ongoing trainings, and receive personalized coaching and technical assistance from nationally renowned content experts
Build a sustainable child safety system of improvement in your state/jurisdiction
Learn more about the CSLC here.
On Our Social Media Calendar
March 3-9: Brain Injury Awareness Month
March 10-16: Connection to Injury Prevention Resources
March 17-23: National Poison Prevention Week
March 24-30: Spring Sports Safety
March 31-April 6: E-bike/Scooter Safety
Events
Event: National Athletic Training Month
Date: March 1-31, 2025
National Athletic Training Month (NATM) is held every March in order to spread awareness about the important work of athletic trainers. In addition to providing logos, posters, press releases, sample media alerts and PR toolkits, NATA also hosts several virtual engagement opportunities during the month-long celebration. The 2025 tagline, chosen by members on social media, is "Champions in Health Care".
Event: Brain Injury Awareness Month
Date: March 1-31, 2025
Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month. The theme for 2025 is the "My Brain Injury Journey" campaign. Resources and information here.
Event: Patient Safety Awareness Week
Date: March 9-15, 2025
Patient Safety Awareness Week, an annual recognition event that occurs in March, is intended to encourage everyone to learn more about health care safety. During this week, IHI seeks to advance important discussions locally and globally, and inspire action to improve the safety of the health care system — for patients and the workforce. Learn more here.
Event: National Poison Prevention Week
Date: March 16-22, 2025
Established in 1961 by Congress, National Poison Prevention Week (NPPW) was originated to raise awareness of poison prevention and safety. NPPW is celebrated and observed every year during the third week in March. Find materials and resources for this year's week at HRSA and America's Poison Centers.
Event: National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW)
Date: March 17-23, 2025
National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® (NDAFW) is an annual event focused on the science of drug use and addiction that educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health. Learn more here.
Webinar: Keeping Kids Safe: Advancing Pediatric Firearm Injury Prevention
Date/Time: March 19, 2025, 2 p.m. ET
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. The scope of the problem is well known among the nation’s children’s hospitals. Learn how pediatric health care professionals are working to keep kids safe through firearm injury prevention. Attendees will explore evidence-based strategies for preventing youth firearm injuries, with special focus on reducing firearm suicides among adolescents and counseling families on secure storage; the Children's Hospital Association’s new report on firearm safety prevention efforts; and CHA’s recently launched Agree to Agree campaign. Details and registration here.
Webinar: Partnering with Schools for Child Safety Education
Date/Time: March 20, 2025, 2-3pm
During this State Technical Assistance Webinar, Children's Safety Network will focus on innovative approaches to partnering with schools to offer child safety education. In this interactive webinar, see an example from fire and burn prevention education in Holliston, MA as a catalyst for how public health and emergency services can engage with students in the classroom while lessening the burden on teachers. Please come prepared to think through and discuss potential opportunities for your primary child safety topic or area of focus. More information here. No registration required - use this link to join: go.edc.org/STAW.
Virtual Conference: Insights to Practice – A Conference to Inspire Public Health Communications
Date/Time: March 26, 2025, 1-4:45pm ET
Insights to Practice is a half-day virtual conference hosted by the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC). It will bring together leading public health practitioners and professionals from across the country to explore the latest research and perspectives critical to advancing public health communications in the months and years ahead. PHCC is making Insights to Practice available to attendees free of charge. Capacity is limited. Details and registration here.
Archived
February 2025
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
Resource Spotlight: #ClearTheCrib Safe Sleep Webinar
This month we’re covering safe sleep on social media, so we're revisiting the #ClearTheCrib safe sleep webinar to brush up on our talking points. Co-hosted with Trainees for Child Injury Prevention, our panel of experts discussed what safe sleep looks like at home versus in the hospital, how to talk with parents and caregivers about safe sleep habits, and practical ways to reduce sleep-related risks for infants.
Hear directly from experts on safe sleep research, education, and product safety:
Dr. Rachel Moon (University of Virginia)
Lorena Kaplan (NIH, Safe to Sleep®)
Dr. Rebecca F. Carlin (Columbia University)
Barb Himes (First Candle)
Dr. Jonathan Midgett (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)
Anyone who supports children and family—or has an infant of their own—can promote safer sleep. Watch (or rewatch) our #ClearTheCrib webinar for expert recommendations, messaging for different audiences, and ways to address common sleep risks.
Learn more about infant safe sleep from our Safe Sleep Toolkit.
Apply to Join Child Safety Learning Collaborative
Applications for the next cohort of the ChildSafety Learning Collaborative (CLSC) are now open. During this 18-month program, participants learn how to effectively implement evidence-based policies, programs, and practices at state and local levels to reduce fatal and serious injuries among infants, children, and adolescents. This program is open to practitioners from Title V State/Jurisdiction Health Departments and the deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.
Participation offers the opportunity to:
Join a national network of peers who will share resources and lessons learned
Participate in ongoing trainings, and receive personalized coaching and technical assistance from nationally renowned content experts
Build a sustainable child safety system of improvement in your state/jurisdiction
Learn more about the CSLC here.
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Feb. 3 - Feb. 9: National Burn Awareness Week
Feb. 10 - Feb. 16: Safe Sleep
Feb. 17 - Feb. 23: National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Feb. 24 - March 2: TV/Furniture Tip-Overs
March 3 - March 9: Brain Injury Awareness Month
Events
Event: National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
Date: February 1-28, 2025
Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. And nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
Event: National Burn Awareness Week
Date: February 2-8, 2025
National Burn Awareness Week (#NBAW), February 2 – 8, 2025, presented by the American Burn Association, is a chance to unite and promote burn prevention and awareness in communities. This year’s theme focuses on reducing burn risks in homes, apartments, and all living spaces.
Webinar: How Public Libraries are Advancing Safe Routes Advocacy, Funding, and Programming
Hosted by: Safe Routes Partnership
Date/Time: Thursday, February 6, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Join Safe Routes Partnership to hear the latest updates on improving safety and access to public libraries, including an exciting new project with the Urban Libraries Council to develop a Safe Routes to Libraries framework. Speakers from Kansas City, Missouri and Baxter County, Arkansas will share how libraries are playing a critical role in transportation advocacy, infrastructure funding, and advancing the Safe Routes movement.
Details & Registration
Webinar: Firearm Violence Prevention Communication Strategies
Date/Time: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
In 2024, the U.S. Surgeon General declared that injuries and deaths caused by firearms are a public health crisis. This emphasizes the urgent and ongoing need for solutions that are rooted in community action and systems change. We all have a role to play in keeping people safe, and working to prevent firearm violence. Communication is key to making a difference.
Firearm safety experts, Emmy Betz, MD, MPH, and Linda Bergonzi-King, MPH will discuss communication strategies that can aid in discussing firearm violence with people who have diverse opinions, including people who are responsible for setting policy and programs. The knowledge gained in this webinar will provide the background for describing the evidence base for firearm violence prevention.
Details & Registration
Archived
January 2025
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
Resource Spotlight: Fireplace Safety Infographic
Now that the colder weather has arrived, it is time to start talking about fireplace safety. During the winter months, many families use fireplaces to add warmth and comfort to their home but aren’t always aware of the potential risks. Gas fireplaces may look safe but the glass doors can reach dangerously high temperatures. Since children younger than six years old have thinner, more delicate skin than adults, this means they can get a serious burn in less than a second if they touch one of these surfaces.
To help prevent these injuries, Safe Kids Worldwide has created a guide with practical tips for parents and caregivers. It includes advice such as using safety gates around fireplaces and keeping fireplace remote controls out of children’s reach. Protect your little ones while enjoying the warmth of your fireplace this winter. Check out the full guide and connect with Safe Kids on X, Instagram, Facebook, or their website for more safety tips.
Prevent Child Injury Plans for 2025
We will be spending the first few months of 2025 reviewing content and making some updates to our website to ensure we are providing you with the most current and up-to-date information and functionality.
Our first toolkit outreach week of the year will be the week of May 19 – 25th on Button Batteries. As a member, you will get advanced access to this toolkit. Mark the date on your calendar and keep an eye out for more details!
We are also excited to release the first half of our 2025 Social Media Calendars. Both versions contain a list of Prevent Child Injury’s weekly social media topics and links to existing toolkits. To keep our social media calendar timely, we are releasing it in two parts, with the second half planned for release in May.
As an extra benefit, the calendar version includes a more complete list of injury prevention public health observances and outreach campaigns. We ask that you join us in our efforts by using your social media accounts to discuss the same weekly topics. By doing this, we will be able to amplify our message about child injury prevention.
Prevent Child Injury Webinar: Practical Tips for Using AI for Your Injury Prevention Outreach
Join the Prevent Child Injury team on Thursday, January 16, 2025 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET for a webinar about how to use AI for your injury prevention outreach. We'll show you how to:
Explore specific AI tools and techniques to use for social media and content creation
Identify best practices for integrating AI into existing communication workflows to effectively engage your audience while maintaining message accuracy and relevance
Details & Registration
Please forward this announcement to others in your networks and let us know if you have questions, comments, or feedback at info@PreventChildInjury.org.
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Jan. 6 - Jan. 12: Product Recalls
Jan. 13 - 19: Outdoor Winter Activities Safety
Jan. 20 - Jan. 26: National Passenger Safety Week
Jan. 27 - Feb. 2: Home Safety in the Winter*
Feb. 3 - Feb. 9: National Burn Awareness Week
*New social media content will be available!
Events
Event: Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month
Date: January 1-31, 2025
Winter sports can be dangerous, specifically regarding the risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). January is Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month, and now is a good time to remember that a TBI can happen to anyone and that you can help prevent them.
Webinar: How to Secure Federal Funding for Biking, Walking, and Safe Routes to School
Hosted by: Safe Routes Partnership
Date/Time: January 15, 2025, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
Ready to make biking, walking, and Safe Routes to School safer and more accessible in your community? Don’t miss this informational webinar on upcoming federal funding opportunities to support these efforts!
The webinar will focus on two key funding sources: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). This webinar is open to everyone, and while the focus will be on Pennsylvania, the tips and strategies shared will be helpful no matter where you’re located in the country.
Details & Registration
Webinar: Virtual Monthly Child Passenger Safety Class
Hosted by: Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Date/Time: January 15, 2025, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET
Are you a parent or caregiver looking to ensure your child's safety while on the road? Join Monroe Carell Jr Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt for their Virtual Monthly Child Passenger Safety Class! This online event is designed to educate you on the proper ways to secure your child in a car seat or booster seat. Their certified instructors will cover topics such as selecting the right car seat, installing it correctly, and common mistakes to avoid.
Details & Registration
Event: National Passenger Safety Week
Date: January 20-27, 2025
We Save Lives and the National Road Safety Foundation launched The National Passenger Safety Campaign, bringing together 60 other organizations that believe that it’s time to focus on the passenger, and not just the driver. The goal is to promote safe driving practices and prevent unsafe ones by empowering passengers to SPEAK UP when their lives are in danger due to a reckless driver. National Passenger Safety Week is now an ongoing event, the last week in January of every year.
Webinar: Data Driven Storytelling in Child Safety
Hosted by: Children's Safety Network
Date/Time: January 23, 2025, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Join the Children's Safety Network for the first State Technical Assistance Webinar (STAW) of 2025. This STAW will be the 3rd in a series of Workforce Development topics.
The webinar will focus on how to plan and leverage data driven storytelling in child safety across the social ecological model. Examples will include data visualizations, storyboards, and case studies.
Details & Registration
Webinar: SAVIR Winter Methods Spotlight: "Unlocking Insights: The Pediatric National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System"
Hosted by: SAVIR
Date/Time: January 23, 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
The Pediatric National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System (Pediatric NFR-CRS) is a web-based data collection tool for fatality review teams. The system allows teams to document standardized data about individual deaths, including the social and community risk factors that may have impacted the death. When these data are analyzed over time, significant risk factors or patterns in child injury and safety can be identified. Join SAVIR for a session that will highlight the broad range of research done using these data and share the data dissemination process currently available to researchers.
Details & Registration
Webinar: Utilization of Artificial Intelligence in IVP
Hosted by: Safe States Alliance
Date/Time: January 28, 2025, 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. ET
Join the Safe States Alliance for a two-part learning series focused on artificial intelligence (AI) leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline your work processes as practitioners in injury and violence prevention (IVP). Recent findings from the Safe States IVP Infrastructure Survey highlight that research and technological advancements—particularly in data collection and the utilization of AI—are among the top opportunities for advancement in the IVP field, these sessions invite you to explore the topic more with your peers.
Details & Registration
Event: Safe States Alliance Injury & Violence Prevention (IVP) Communications Open Forum
Date/Time: January 30, 2025, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Safe States has collected preliminary information on the communications needs of the IVP field and has identified a need for focused IVP communications resources. “Communications” is an all-encompassing word; it is the words, date/information, and graphics we use to describe IVP and educate a variety of audiences.
This forum's purpose is to determine what products would be most helpful to fill that need for our members and partners and reach a consensus on my current research. That includes clarifying the products' audience, purpose, and types. The results of this forum will spur the creation of materials and associated Technical Assistance.
Archived
December 2024
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
Thank You, Kids In Danger and Nancy Cowles
As many of you know, the child safety nonprofit Kids In Danger (KID) is winding down operations at the end of this year. We want to take a moment to recognize the meaningful contributions of KID and its executive director, Nancy Cowles, to the field of injury prevention. Through dedicated advocacy and practical resources for parents and caregivers, KID has been a trusted voice in consumer product safety and will be greatly missed.
KID was founded after the Keysar family tragically lost a child due to an injury from a recalled product. From that loss, KID worked to raise awareness about product safety, advocate for stronger safety standards, and collaborate with organizations to make everyday products safer.
As executive director, Nancy Cowles has been a steadfast advocate for child safety and a valued partner to Prevent Child Injury. She has shared her expertise, supported toolkits, and collaborated on outreach efforts, strengthening our shared mission to protect children.
On behalf of Prevent Child Injury, we extend our gratitude to Nancy, the Keysar family, and everyone who has been part of KID over the years. Your work has made a lasting difference and will continue to inspire efforts to keep children safe.
Thank you, KID, and best wishes to Nancy in her next chapter. Read more in their most recent blog post.
Thank you for attending our webinar!
Thank you for to everyone who attended our webinar! If you weren't able to attend, want to watch the conversation again, or are looking to share the event with others, we now have the webinar uploaded to Prevent Child Injury's YouTube channel.
Share-My-Screen Webinar Series: Accessibility
Accessibility is like the blueberries in a muffin: it’s easier to put the berries in the muffin batter than try to jam them inside the muffin once it’s baked. When you build accessibility into your communications right from the start, you can reach your audience more effectively and make your content engaging and understandable for everyone. Whether you’re new to accessibility or a seasoned pro, come learn about accessibility options for PowerPoint, Canva, and social media.
Dec 12: Accessibility for social media
Registration: www.bit.ly/SMS-Accessibility
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Dec. 2 - Dec. 8: Safety Around the Holidays
Dec. 9 - Dec. 15: Safe Toys & Gifts Month
Dec. 16 - Dec. 22: Sledding Safety*
Dec. 23 - Dec. 29: Winter Travel Safety
Dec. 30 - Jan. 5: Product Safety
*New social media content will be available!
Events
Event: Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Date: December 1-31, 2024
When it comes to toys and gifts, it is critical to remember to consider the safety and age range of the toys.
Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three.
Event: National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Hosted by: National Safety Council
Date: December 1-31, 2024
Weekends and holidays can be dangerous times on our roadways. Two of the most celebrated days of the year, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, also are among the most deadly. That's why December has been recognized as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Taking personal responsibility for a safe ride saves lives.
Conference: Forging New Frontiers: Engineering for Equity Conference
Hosted by: Injury Free Coalition for Kids
Date: December 6-8, 2024
Forging New Frontiers, the annual conference of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, is the premier injury prevention meeting to foster collaborative research, develop best practices and address challenges in the field of pediatric injury prevention.
Event: 2024 MIPA Virtual Conference
Hosted by: Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance
Date/Time: December 16, 2024
Join the Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance for their 2024 Virtual Conference, as injury professionals from states in Federal Health and Human Services Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) gather to work toward reducing injury- and violence-related death and disability. The 2024 Virtual MIPA Conference will be held on December 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT. Check-in and networking begin at 8:30 a.m. CT.
This year’s theme – Moving Forward >>> Innovation and Strategies in Injury Prevention – will cover important topics that will inspire, instruct, and illustrate the power of partnerships, the passion of programs, and the practice of policy changing the landscape of injury and violence in each of their states. Registration is now open! The cost is free, but registration is required. Click here to register.
Archived
November 2024
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
The holiday season is almost upon us, and many people are already in the festive spirit. Whether your home is fully decorated or you’re waiting until later in the season, the trees, lights, candles, and trimmings you use to celebrate could also be potential safety hazards. This month’s spotlight is a Holiday Decoration Safety Tips sheet, a resource from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that covers what you need to know about common holiday decorations to help keep you and your children safer this season.
Share the Holiday Decoration Safety Tips sheet with the families and communities you serve. Stay connected to the CPSC by following them on X, Instagram, Facebook, and checking out their website.
Webinar: Repurposing Content to Support Your Social Media Strategy
Calling all public health professionals, social media managers, outreach coordinators, or people who wear all three of those hats! Join the Prevent Child Injury team on Tuesday November 19, 2024 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET for a webinar about how to repurpose content to support your social media strategy. We'll show you how to:
Repurpose content for health communication and child injury prevention outreach
Create content about emerging topics and news
Remix existing resources to meet your content needs
Registration is now open! Please forward this announcement to others in your networks and let us know if you have questions, comments, or feedback at info@PreventChildInjury.org.
Click here to register!
Share-My-Screen Webinar Series: Accessibility
Accessibility is like the blueberries in a muffin: it’s easier to put the berries in the muffin batter than try to jam them inside the muffin once it’s baked. When you build accessibility into your communications right from the start, you can reach your audience more effectively and make your content engaging and understandable for everyone. Whether you’re new to accessibility or a seasoned pro, come learn about accessibility options for PowerPoint, Canva, and social media.
Nov 14: Canva accessibility
Dec 12: Accessibility for social media
Registration: www.bit.ly/SMS-Accessibility
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Nov. 4 - Nov. 10: Winter School Sports (Basketball, Hockey, Swimming & Diving, Gymnastics, etc.)
Nov. 11 - Nov. 17: Getting Ready for Holiday Shopping
Nov. 18 - Nov. 24: Celebrating Child Safety: Injury Prevention Fun Facts
Nov. 25 - Dec. 1: Thanksgiving Safety*
Dec. 2 - Dec. 8: Safety Around the Holidays
*New social media content available!
Events
Event: Child Safety and Protection Month
Date: November 1 - 30, 2024
This November, in observance of National Child Safety and Protection Month, EDC is sharing the resources to help federal and state policymakers, state injury and violence prevention leaders and practitioners, community leaders, educators, health and social service providers, and families promote and improve the safety and well-being of all young people.
Event: National Injury Prevention Day
Date: November 18, 2024
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids and its National Injury Prevention Day partners are pushing forward with efforts to stop injuries and violence -- the number one killer and cause of hospitalization of people from ages 1 to 44 years old. For the fifth year in a row, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe States Alliance, the American Trauma Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Be SMART, a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, the National Drowning Prevention Association (NDPA), the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research (SAVIR), the Trauma Center Association of America (TCAA), JPMA Cares, and the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention will join forces with Injury Free to raise awareness and empower communities to change. Join them in these efforts on November 18, 2024, National Injury Prevention Day!
Webinar: LGBTQ+ Youth Data from YRBS and Beyond
Hosted by: Children's Safety Network
Date/Time: November 18, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET
The Children’s Safety Network (CSN) is addressing suicide prevention and bullying awareness in the upcoming webinar on youth data for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or another non-heterosexual identity (LGBTQ+) . LGBTQ+ youth experience persistent disparities. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to experience bullying, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts than their peers (CDC, 2024). Due to changing environments states and jurisdictions face, gathering and utilizing data on LGBTQ+ youth for prevention purposes has become increasingly more difficult. Please join the Children’s Safety Network on Wednesday, November 20th from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET to learn more about LGBTQ+ Youth Data from YRBS and the Trevor Project’s 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, specifically focusing on suicide and self-harm prevention and bullying prevention.
Webinar: Improving Prevention Messaging with your Workforce
Hosted by: Children's Safety Network
Date/Time: November 21, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Join the Children's Safety Network on November 21, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET for the next State Technical Assistance Webinar (STAW). This STAW will be the 2nd in a series of Workforce Development topics. The webinar will focus on how to improve prevention messaging with your workforce. Examples will be provided from suicide prevention, though they are applicable to all injury prevention and safety topics.
Event: National Rural Health Day
Date: November 21, 2024
Since 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has set aside the third Thursday of November to celebrate the “Power of Rural” on NRHD. NRHD is an opportunity to bring attention to and honor the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America. To learn more about NRHD and the Power of Rural, visit powerofrural.org.
Event: 2024 MIPA Virtual Conference
Hosted by: Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance
Date/Time: December 16, 2024
Join the Midwest Injury Prevention Alliance for their 2024 Virtual Conference, as injury professionals from states in Federal Health and Human Services Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) gather to work toward reducing injury- and violence-related death and disability. The 2024 Virtual MIPA Conference will be held on December 16 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. CT. Check-in and networking begin at 8:30 a.m. CT.
This year’s theme – Moving Forward >>> Innovation and Strategies in Injury Prevention – will cover important topics that will inspire, instruct, and illustrate the power of partnerships, the passion of programs, and the practice of policy changing the landscape of injury and violence in each of their states. Registration is now open! The cost is free, but registration is required. Click here to register.
Archived
October 2024
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
Organization Spotlight: Trainees for Child Injury Prevention
Trainees for Child Injury Prevention was created in 2021 to bring together the next generation of child safety advocates. With a new cohort each year, T4CIP connects medical students, residents, and fellows to develop outreach materials and strategies for two one-day national advocacy campaigns.
The cohort spends the year learning from injury prevention and health communication experts about the ins and outs of child safety advocacy and the importance of community engagement. From social media outreach to morning reports, noon conferences, grand rounds, community clinics, and more, trainees use the Day of Action to collaborate with their peers, training programs, and institutions to share information and raise awareness.
Join T4CIP for their upcoming #RulesForTheRoad Day of Action about teen driving safety on October 23, 2024 by posting on social media, using their shareable graphics, joining the webinar from 12-1 p.m. ET, or participating in their #RulesForTheRoad X Chat from 3-4 p.m. ET. Stay connected to T4CIP by following them on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and visiting http://bit.ly/T4CIP.
Teen Driving Toolkit
You are your child’s best role model. There is no question that parents and caregivers are important sources for creating safe teenage drivers who respect the rules of the road. With National Teen Driving Safety Week approaching, our new teen driving safety toolkit encourages parents and caregivers to keep talking to teens about safe driving, even after they get their license. The toolkit contains a press release, a newsletter/blog article, social media posts, graphics, suggested alt text, an image selection guide, a Pinterest board, a fact sheet, and links to additional resources which provide more information about teen driving safety.
www.PreventChildInjury.org/Toolkits/Teen-Driving
The coordinated outreach week for this toolkit is October 20 - 26, 2024, which coincides with NHTSA’s National Teen Driving Safety Week. During the outreach week, Prevent Child Injury will be co-hosting a #RulesForTheRoad Webinar with Trainees for Child Injury Prevention on October 23 from 12-1 p.m. ET, click here to register: https://bit.ly/RulesForTheRoadWebinar.
Share-My-Screen Webinar Series: Accessibility
Accessibility is like the blueberries in a muffin: it’s easier to put the berries in the muffin batter than try to jam them inside the muffin once it’s baked. When you build accessibility into your communications right from the start, you can reach your audience more effectively and make your content engaging and understandable for everyone. Whether you’re new to accessibility or a seasoned pro, come learn about accessibility options for PowerPoint, Canva, and social media.
Oct 10: PowerPoint accessibility
Nov 14: Canva accessibility
Dec 12: Accessibility for social media
Registration: www.bit.ly/SMS-Accessibility
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Sept. 30 - Oct. 6: SIDS and Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Oct. 7 - Oct. 13: Fire Prevention*
Oct. 14 - Oct. 20: Health Literacy Month
Oct. 21 - Oct. 27: National Teen Driver Safety Week
Oct. 28 - Nov. 3: Halloween Prep & Pedestrian Safety
Nov. 4 - Nov. 10: Winter School Sports (Basketball, Hockey, Swimming & Diving, Gymnastics, etc.)
*New social media content available!
Events
Event: SIDS and Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Date: October 1 - 31, 2024
In October and beyond, infant caregivers and service and health care providers can join Safe to Sleep® and its partners to encourage safe infant sleep and help raise awareness about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Event: National Substance Abuse Prevention Month
Date: October 1 - 31, 2024
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month is a time to highlight the vital role of substance abuse prevention in both individual and community health, to remember those who have lost their lives to substance abuse, and to acknowledge those in recovery, as well as children, parents, family, and friends supporting them.
Event: Eye Injury Prevention Month
Date: October 1 - 31, 2024
The American Academy of Ophthalmology sets aside the month of October for a public health awareness campaign aimed at preventing eye injuries. According to the AAO nearly 2.5 million people suffer eye injuries each year in the United States and nearly half of all those types of injuries occur in the home, and nearly one million people have lost some degree of vision as a result.
Event: Health Literacy Month
Date: October 1 - 31, 2024
For more than 20 years, October has been recognized as Health Literacy Month. Join the Institution for Healthcare Advancement for this international observance when hospitals, health centers, literacy programs, libraries, social service agencies, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, consumer alliances, and many other groups work together to integrate and expand the mission of health literacy.
Event: Fire Prevention Week
Date: October 6 - 12, 2024
Join the National Fire Protection Association October 6-12 for Fire Prevention Week. This year’s FPW campaign, “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!™” strives to educate everyone about the importance of having working smoke alarms in the home.
Event: National Walk & Roll to School Day
Date: October 9, 2024
Walk & Roll to School Day is an annual event that involves communities from across the country (and globe!) walking and rolling to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Today, thousands of schools across America—from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—participate every October. Over time, this celebration has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school. Join the movement!
Event: Safe Sleep Summit
Date: October 18-19, 2024
The Safe Sleep Summit is a convening of multidisciplinary partners working to create a roadmap to combat the inequities that contribute to unsafe infant sleep. By bringing together academic partners, community activists, manufacturers, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, the Summit will advance collaboration and strive to identify new approaches and tools to provide families across all communities the opportunity to keep their infants safe during sleep.
Event: National Teen Driver Safety Week
Date: October 20-26, 2024
A teen’s inexperience behind the wheel makes them more susceptible to crashes, so including teen safety messaging in a traffic safety communication plan is important. Teen Driver Safety Week is October 20–26, 2024 – a good opportunity to increase safety messaging across all platforms.
Event: National School Bus Safety Week
Date: October 21-25, 2024
Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Designed to promote school bus safety, school districts throughout the country observe School Bus Safety Week.
Webinar: #RulesForTheRoad Teen Driving Safety Webinar
Date/Time: October 23, 2024, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. ET
This webinar is part of T4CIP's Teen Driving Safety Day of Action and Prevent Child Injury's Teen Driver Safety Outreach Week. Details & Registration
Archived
September 2024
Monthly Spotlight: Something to Keep Your Eye On!
September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign that reminds communities about the importance of planning for emergencies and disasters. To help families prepare for these situations, the American Red Cross has created a checklist promoting three actions that everyone can take to stay safer: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed. From basic household safety supplies to the importance of considering the needs of all family members, the document outlines different safety strategies that all families can benefit from.
Every community faces different threats, so learn about what families need to be “Red Cross Ready” by reviewing this checklist. For more information on the American Red Cross visit their website and follow them on social media.
CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control awarded $9.29 million to 11 Injury Control Research Centers (ICRC) to develop and share effective injury and violence prevention interventions, tools, and strategies. These efforts aim to reduce the risk of injury and violence and promote overall public health. Congratulations to Columbia University, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, Medical College of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Iowa, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, UT Health Houston, and University of Washington!
Coming Up
On Our Social Media Calendar
Sept. 2 - Sept. 8: National Preparedness Month
Sept. 9 - Sept. 15: National Suicide Prevention Week
Sept. 16 - Sept. 22: Child Passenger Safety Week/National Farm Safety & Health Week
Sept. 23 - Sept. 29: Falls Prevention Awareness Week
Sept. 30 - Oct. 6: SIDS and Safe Sleep Awareness Month
Oct. 7 - Oct. 13: Fire Prevention*
*New social media content available!
Events
Event: Baby Safety Month
Date: September 1 - 30, 2024
September is Baby Safety Month! Initiated in 1983, Baby Safety Month reflects an ongoing commitment to safe baby products and industry developments. Whether you're a parent, safety advocate, or industry stakeholder, you play a key role in protecting babies and young children from preventable injuries.
Event: National Preparedness Month
Date: September 1 - 30, 2024
September marks National Preparedness Month, the annual campaign to remind everyone that preparing for emergencies and disasters can keep them, their families and their communities safe.
Event: National Suicide Prevention Month
Date: September 1 - 30, 2024
September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a moment that serves as a powerful reminder that there are steps we all must take in looking out for loved ones, the people in our community, and those who have been impacted by this leading cause of death.
Event: 988 Day
Date: September 8, 2024
988 Day is a national initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and emphasizing the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. Join the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on September 8, 2024, in sharing the theme "No Judgment. Just Help."
Event: National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention #BeThere X Chat
Date: September 9, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00
During September 2024, the Action Alliance and our partners will amplify suicide prevention messaging by adding #SPM24 to social media content. Join in their #BeThere X Chat on September 9th!
Event: World Suicide Prevention Day
Date: September 10, 2024
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). WHO has been co-sponsor of the day. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.
Share-My-Screen Series 2: Advanced Content Creation, Advanced Canva design tools
Hosted by: Center for Injury Research, Translation, & Communication
Date/Time: September 12, 2024, 12:00 - 12:30 p.m. ET
Looking to expand your communications skills? Join the Share-My-Screen series every month to learn how to more effectively share information about public health and research. Each session in the Share-My-Screen Series will feature 15-20 minutes of live demonstrations followed by open Q&A. Details & Registration
Webinar: Workforce Development: Supporting Your Workforce to Address Child Safety
Hosted by: Children's Safety Network
Date/Time: September 19, 2024, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET
Please join CSN on September 19, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET for the next State Technical Assistance Webinar. During the September STAW, CSN will focus on how to support your workforce to address child safety. While State/Jurisdiction Health Departments grapple with how to best address a myriad of child safety topics, workforce development is often focused on learning processes, methods, and developing partnerships. However, the emotional component of knowing that every data point we see is an infant, a child, an adolescent, can take a toll on the folks who are doing this important work. Additionally, many are called to public health from their lived experience with injury and/or loss of a loved one. Details & Registration
Event: National Concussion Awareness Day
Date: September 20, 2024
National Concussion Awareness Day's mission is to start a conversation to increase concussion awareness nationally, raise funds for brain injury charitable organizations, and show support for those suffering through social media, community events, and press coverage.
Event: Child Passenger Safety Week/National Seat Check Saturday (9/21)
Date: September 15-21, 2024
Every day across America, parents and caregivers drive young children around town, to and from school, daycare, and the store in car seats and boosters. Yet nearly half of all car seats are installed incorrectly, which means your child may not be traveling as safely as possible. To help keep children safe on our roads, NHTSA is once again promoting Child Passenger Safety Week from September 15-21, 2024.
Event: National Farm Safety and Health Week 2024
Date: September 15-21, 2024
Fall harvest time can be one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year for the agriculture industry. For this reason, the third week of September has been recognized as National Farm Safety and Health Week.
Event: Falls Prevention Awareness Week
Date: September 23-27, 2024
Falls among older adults continue to be a national public health concern. Join NCOA Sept. 23-27, 2024, for Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a nationwide observance with state coalitions and partners to raise awareness on preventing falls, reducing the risk of falls, and helping older adults live without fear of falling.
Event: National Youth Sports Week
Date: September 23-28, 2024
National Youth Sports Week (NYSW) celebrates the transformative power of youth sports. This week is dedicated to highlighting sports' positive impact on young people, advocating for their importance, and providing valuable resources to strengthen youth sports programs.
Event: American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition
Hosted by: American Academy of Pediatrics
Date/Time: September 27 - October 1, 2024
Join the American Academy of Pediatrics in Orlando for the 2024 AAP National Conference & Exhibition September 27 - October 1, 2024. Details & Registration
Archived
Have information that you think would be helpful for our members? Send newsletter submissions (and feedback!) to info@preventchildinjury.org.