Developing injury prevention capacity in new york city: The Role of a Local Health Department in Fostering Collaborations

Injuries have long been a leading cause of mortality in urban areas such as New York City. While efforts to address injuries were undertaken by the New York City Department of Health (NYCDOH) starting in the 1940s, it was not until the department received a Capacity Building Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1989 that a more comprehensive program could be developed. The NYCDOH launched several collaborative projects with a variety of organizations and institutions. These efforts indicate that through collaborations, local health departments can increase their effectiveness and better promote their approach to injury prevention.