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The purpose of this three-year, multi-site evaluation research
is to examine the effectiveness of farm safety day camps
organized and executed through five Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
(FS4JK) Chapters in different regions of the nation. The
locations of the chapters encompass a variety of
agricultural commodities and farm compositions.
The specific aim is to evaluate
whether the camps positively influence: (1) children’s
knowledge about farm safety and health, their safety
attitudes and subsequent safety behaviors; and (2)
parents’ attitudes and behavior toward children’s farm
safety behavior. In addition, the effect of the camps on the
local community will be assessed. This research is grounded
in the social-ecological framework of McLeroy and colleagues
(1988) and in the National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health Training Intervention Effectiveness Research
(TIER) Model.
A multi-level, mixed-method
evaluation strategy that combines both quantitative and
qualitative data collection methods will be used to examine
the long-term effects of the day camps on children, their
families and their communities. The design of the study is a
quasi-experimental, no control group pretest-posttest design
with repeated measures that will be collected over 18 months
following children’s camp experience.
The partnership of local FS4JK
Chapters, the North American Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
organization, and the University of Kentucky provides a
unique approach to examining the effectiveness of FS4JK day
camps. The evaluation results can be used to assist FS4JK
with refinements of future programs and will assist camp
leaders in articulating their theoretical framework, goals,
and objectives of the day camps. The findings also will
contribute to the national research agenda in farm child
safety knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and injury rates.
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