Community Education & Prevention
Community Education
Injury prevention through education involves various aspects of awareness of brain injury prevention strategies to the public. This includes educating the public about brain injury and ways to prevent it from happening. We know that individuals or groups of people who benefit most from educational campaigns are compliant with the required behaviour. That is, they know the right thing to do and generally do it. An example of this is when young children wear helmets while skiing. In all of our educational initaitives, we promote a philosophy and approach that encourages people of all ages to 'do the right thing".
Helmet Safey Program
BrainTrust Canada has partnered with the City of Kelowna Bylaw Department and RCMP for several years to coordinate a "Bike Helmet Safety Program" to promote helmet compliance and reduce preventable brain injuries. The program includes rewarding youth for positive safety behavior by providing coupons from local businesses such as McDonalds, Dominos and Club Penguin, in addition to providing helmets to those who cannot afford them. In 2013 this program expanded to the City of Vernon, through a valued partnership with Vernon Community Policing and the City of Vernon Bylaw Department, and the generous financial assistance of the Kalamalka Rotary Club in Vernon.
Professional Education
BrainTrust Canada offers education workshops to community partners and professionals, including various streams at Okanagan College (Human Service Workers, Therapy Assistants, Homecare Aides, etc.).
Example of workshop curriculum:
- Neuroanatomy
- Mechanisms of Injury
- Outcomes
- Compensatory Strategy Training
- Family Reactions and Support
- Competent Community Practices
- Advocacy
Workshops can be tailored to specific group needs. For more information please contact us.
For a list of formal educational programs in Brain Injury please visit our links page.
Social Marketing
BrainTrust Canada actively uses social marketing to reach people, especially youth - the highest risk age group - with important injury prevention messages. Social Marketing strategies are the most effective (best practice) in creating behavior change because they incorporate five critical aspects of behavior change characteristics:
- the change contains a relative advantage over what exists
- the change is compatible with social norms
- the change is directed at a specific target group
- it can be "tried out"
- you can see anothers' success
The concept relies on the knowledge of the consumer group, the incorporation of action in the message and includes an exchange of tangible or intangible benefits.
