Evaluation of Farm Safety Just 4 Kids Day Camps

Specific Aims. The specific aims remain unchanged from the original application. 1. Evaluate whether the camps positively influence: a. Children's knowledge about farm safety and their health, theirsafety attitudes, and subsequent safety behaviors. The last two day camps to be evaluated were conducted and observed in September. One month post camp surveys were mailed to attendees of these camps and 6-month surveys were mailed to the first four camps. The return rate for mailed surveys continued to be low. To ensure sufficient enrollees for the duration of the study, follow-up phone surveys were conducted. Analyses of the pre/post tests reflected significant positive movement in each of the three farm safety areas evaluated. Over 90% of the parents responding to the I and 6-month surveys reported the camps were effective in increasing their child's knowledge about farm safety. Further analyses will be made once all surveys are collected. b. Parents' attitudes and behavior toward children's farm safety behavior. Responses from the I and 6-month surveys revealed over 90% of the parents responding felt the camps were effective in increasing their knowledge about farm safety. Parents also reported changes related to farm safety as a result of what their children learned at the day camps. These changes included adoption of new work rules for their children (27.6%), increased supervision while a child does farm work (41.8%), and adoption of a "no extra rider" rule for tractors (19.2%). Further analyses will be made once all surveys have been collected. 2. Assess the effect of the camps on the local communities. Quarterly reports were submitted by the chapter leaders (CCL's) outlining the number and type oHarm-related injuries or close calls, farm safety events, and calls/requests received for farm safety information. CCL's report that change in a community occurs over a period of time and is difficult to measure immediate results from one specific camp. Attempts to conduct a face to face meeting in April were unsuccessful due to numerous scheduling conflicts. A conference call among the CCL's, UK research team, FS4JK staff, and consultant was conducted in March. CCL's voiced positive outcomes from their involvement in the project (increased awareness of what is going on in their community, validation of the importance of the day camps, positive feedback from parents reflected on the surveys). A face to face meeting of this group is scheduled for October 2003 in conjunction with the National FFA Conference in Louisville, KY. Key community leaders may be contacted in Year 3 to gain further information on the impact the day camps have had on the local communities.