Establishing a ThinkFirst Chapter
The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation (ThinkFirst Foundation) has chapters throughout the United States and across the globe, providing ThinkFirst educational programs to schools and community groups. ThinkFirst chapters are based in medical centers, medical schools, physician practices, or other health organizations, such as Brain or Spinal Cord Injury Associations. Each chapter is required to have a sponsoring licensed physician. The Sponsoring Physician is responsible for advocating for the ThinkFirst Chapter and the importance of the educational programs, in an effort to garner funding and support for the Chapter from his/her medical center, other local physicians, health professionals, and the community. It is also the Sponsoring Physician?s role to promote ThinkFirst and injury prevention in general to the community.
The actual day-to-day operation of the Chapter and administration of the programs is generally conducted by a nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, health educator, medical auxiliary member, or other employee designated as the Chapter Director. Depending on the program's ambitions, this can be a part-time coordinator position with a limited number of schools visited each year, or a full-time position responsible for conducting many school presentations throughout a community, county or region. The cost of operating a Chapter also varies, depending on the ambition of the Chapter. Major expenses include the salary of the staff coordinator (referred to as the Chapter Director), speaker fees, and initial equipment investment (e.g., films, spine and skull models). It is helpful if the sponsoring medical center provides for some or all of the Chapter Director's time, as well as office space, computer, phone, postage, photocopying and auto travel. Otherwise, funding will need to be secured through other means, such as grants, donations or fundraising events.
The following steps are suggested to establish a Chapter:
- Learn about chapters that may already be underway locally by going to the Local Chapter Location Listing on our website, www.ThinkFirst.org.
- If no local Chapter is available, try to enlist local support for establishment of a Chapter. The ThinkFirst Foundation (also referred to as the National Office), and Nena Ray, Chapter Development (nray@clarian.org), can provide advice on coalition-building activities and other necessary actions to initiate a chapter. They can also provide the contact information of your State Chapter Director for further help and advice.
- Identify a person to serve as Chapter Director.
- Send application (available at www.ThinkFirst.org), resume, and $ 1,500.00 to the ThinkFirst Foundation. Fee includes initial membership, training and materials.
- You will be notified of the nearest training center and the dates available for your training. The new program's key personnel will receive instruction and assistance with program development, implementation and evaluation as well as observe an actual ThinkFirst school presentation. A qualified trainer will guide the Chapter in meeting all requirements.
- The following program materials will be shipped to the Training Center identified for your training:
- One ThinkFirst For Kids curriculum packet, including curriculum, "Street Smart" video, posters & comics
- One ThinkFirst For Youth curriculum binder for grades 4-5 and 6-8, including Handouts CD for each
- One ThinkFirst Chapter Presenter’s Collection
- One ThinkFirst Director Guide Book
- One VIP Speaker Training Program DVD
Additional products are available for purchase through the ThinkFirst website: www.ThinkFirst.org. To begin a Chapter or obtain further information about ThinkFirst products, please contact the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation or Nena Ray, Chapter Development, at nray@clarian.org.
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