Defining Focus Areas

Analyzing the burden of injury and violence in Hawaii is the first step used to determined focus areas for Hawaii. Having high, moderate or low capacity and infrastructure within the EMSIPSB for engagement are also factored into prioritizing injury prevention focus areas.

Core focus areas are identified with having high capacity and infrastructure for engagement by EMSIPSB. Core areas include five web-based components 1) the goal 2) problem statement, 3) long-term indicators, 4) SMART objectives, and 5) recommended strategies. Special and emerging focus areas are identified with having moderate to low capacity and infrastructure for engagement by EMSIPSB. While the EMSIPB is the lead for core areas, the Maternal and Child Health Branch (MCHB), Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD), and Hawaii Concussion Awareness Management Program (HCAMP) are the lead agencies and community partners for special and emerging areas. For this reason, special and emerging focus area will only show a brief magnitude of the problem, and recommended strategies.

The Social Ecological Model is used as a guiding approach for EMSIPSB’s work to prevent injuries in Hawaii. To frame our impact, strategies are aligned with risk and protective factors within each focus area, and across the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels of influence. This strategic plan establishes the foundation for Hawaii to later acknowledge and adopt the implementation of strategies utilizing a shared risk and protective factor framework.

Core Areas

  • Drowning prevention
  • Fall prevention
  • Suicide prevention
  • Traffic safety

Special and Emerging Areas

  • Poisoning prevention (substance abuse prevention)
  • Violence and Abuse (Intimate partner/ sexual violence prevention)
  • Child injury prevention
  • Sports traumatic brain injury prevention