Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia (IFCK)
Background
Unintentional injury is the leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in the United States. In West Philadelphia, over 60,000 children under the age of 18 live and play every day – and are all at risk for unintentional and potentially preventable injuries. An injured child impacts not only family and friends, but also the future of our community.
Our work
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia is made up of city agencies, neighborhood organizations and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) community, who collaborate to reduce community hazards, provide safe areas for children to play, and offer free or low-cost programs so that children will be able to engage in safe and positive activities.
Specific program goals to reduce injury to children and adolescents living in West Philadelphia include:
- Creating safe community environments for children and families
- Developing safe, positive, and affordable activities for children
With start-up funds from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Philadelphia Foundation Bayard Memorial Fund, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia is hosted by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at CHOP. The Coalition is based on a model that originated at New York's Harlem Hospital and has been successfully implemented in urban settings around the United States, including Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Methodology
The model for the Coalition includes the analysis of population-based injury data from a defined catchment area, the assessment and prioritization of the injury problems found in the community, the development of programs to address the most prominent injury problems, and the evaluation of these interventions. The evaluation process relies on the data we collect locally, as well as drawing on other proven methods.
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Philadelphia at CHOP is supported by the interdisciplinary pediatric injury research center known as the Center for Injury Research and Prevention.
IFCK Philadelphia Sources of funding
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission
