• Conduct a needs assessment for the targeted population based on common risk factors and community interest.

• Review available prevention programs, including education, enforcement, policy, and environmental design.                     

• Consider expanding on the current scope of prevention strategies or supplementing existing materials.                                                                 

Design a program to meet the needs of your target audience while staying within your parameters.

• Design interventions to address both behavioral and environmental determinants of injury.

• Work with existing groups to form a coalition or task force.

• Use health education theory and science as the foundation for programs.

• Ask Questions (e.g.What can families do to prevent poisoning in the household?  How can we increase the use of smoke alarms? How can we educate children, adolescents, and families about the importance of child safety seats and seat belt use?)

Evaluate the effectiveness of the program or intervention.

• Look for changes in policies and practices.

• Use both short-term and long-term evaluation methods.

• Include process, impact, and outcome evaluations.

• Analyze evaluation data along the way and use that information to improve the program while it's being conducted.

• Don't expect dramatic changes in morbidity or mortality in a short period of time.