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WalkSafe

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

WalkSafe is a program designed to reduce the high rate of injuries and fatalities due to children being hit by cars. With assistance from multiple agencies, the program uses the "5E Model": (1) Education of children to increase pedestrian safety knowledge, (2) Engineering of safer walking environments, (3) Enforcement of safety laws by local law enforcement, (4) Evaluation of the program to ensure effectiveness, and (5) Encouragement of community members to help advocate children safely engaging in a healthy, active lifestyle. After literature review and planning the study, the program started as a pilot in 2002, was implemented throughout Miami-Dade County in 2003, and has since expanded statewide. The three day curriculum is taught to children in school, and coincides annually with International Walk to School Day in October.

Goal / Mission

The WalkSafe program was developed to improve pediatric pedestrian safety, increase physical activity levels by encouraging children to walk to and from school, and improve the walkability in and around elementary schools.

Results / Accomplishments

In 2006, children from four randomnly selected elementary schools within high-risk districts of Miami-Dade County were enrolled in an evaluation study to determine the effectiveness of the WalkSafe program. The children received pre-, post-, and 3-month posteducational tests of pedestrian safety knowledge. A significant improvement in knowledge was found in grades K-3 (p<0.05), and a slight improvement among grades 4-5 was not significant (p>0.05).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Primary Contact
University of Miami - Miller School of Medicine
P.O. Box 016960 (D-40)
Miami, Florida 33101-6960
305-243-8115
http://www.walksafe.us/default
Topics
Community / Public Safety
Community / Transportation
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Date of publication
2009
Date of implementation
2003
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Florida
For more details
http://www.walksafe.us/LiteratureRetrieve.aspx?ID=...
Target Audience
Children

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  1. Walking School Bus
  2. Safe Routes to School
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Related Content for: WalkSafe

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.
MiCalhoun