ThinkFirst for Youth (TFFY)
Ready for Field Testing

Rolling Meadows, IL, February 1, 2005 - The ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation has completed the first version of ThinkFirst for Youth. This injury prevention curriculum was developed for fourth through eighth grade students to be used in junior high and middle schools. There are eight lessons for each grade level. They include lessons on the brain, the spine, firearms safety, water safety, motor vehicle occupancy and safety belts, sports safety, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety. The curriculum meets National Science Education Content Standards.

The ThinkFirst Foundation is preparing to field test the curriculum in several areas around the country. When the beta testing is complete, any needed changes will be made, then the curriculum will be formally packaged and prepared for distribution. The goal is to offer ThinkFirst for Youth to chapters over the summer of 2005 so the curriculum can be ready for use in classrooms around the country in September 2005.

ThinkFirst for Youth was developed by a Task Force of ThinkFirst Chapter Directors led by Neurosurgeon and National Foundation Board Member, Russell Amundson, M.D. The development and field testing phases of ThinkFirst for Youth have been funded by the Alcoa Foundation.