Shenaiah Thomas

Shenaiah Thomas is the Injury Prevention Coordinator at East Tennessee S Children’s Hospital. Shenaiah has nearly 20 years of healthcare experience specializing in pharmaceuticals, critical care, regulatory compliance, and educational outreach. In her current role, she manages community-based injury prevention programs including child passenger safety, bike helmet safety, and water safety as well as health and wellness programs like Healthy Kids Club and Safe Sitter. In addition, she is the coordinator of the Safe Kids Greater Knox Area Coalition and also plays an important role as a board member on the East Tennessee Obesity Coalition. Shenaiah is an active member of the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Decon/HERT team, Acute Care Committee, East Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, American Trauma Society, and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance. “When children experience injuries or traumas, it is not uncommon for the experience to be tragic and sometimes life altering. Although my passion is healthcare, my aspiration is preventing injuries for all children through education, training and awareness. Because one child experiencing an injury or trauma is too many, I strive to reach communities that are high-risk, low income, and underserved so that all children can have a chance at never experience preventable injuries.”

Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to interact with diverse groups of people. Excellent customer service skills.

Grant writing and reporting, knowledge, interpretation and application of safety laws, guidelines, and policies.

Innovative time management and workflow skills.

Teaching ability with groups and individuals.

High level of professionalism, ability to represent ETCH with executive presence to state and local agencies, community groups and other organizations.

Excellent networking abilities. Ability to coordinate multiple programs across multiple agencies and organizations.

Excellent media presentation skills and interactions

Working knowledge of the science of Injury Prevention and the development of messages and comprehensive community-based programs to reduce the occurrence of childhood injuries 

In conjunction with the advocacy function, leads the strategic planning process that utilizes a multifaceted approach to child injury prevention.

Utilizes databases and data analysis to determine childhood injury incidence rates and prevalence. Trends the cause(s) of injury by multiple variables to determine community needs.

Maintains knowledge of current trends/developments in childhood injury prevention locally, statewide, and nationally through reading professional literature and attending seminars/conferences, including the Safe Kids Worldwide Conference (PREVCON).

Assists Social Work with hospital discharge planning to provide families with safety education and/or products that can have an impact in preventing future injuries.

Works collaboratively with Advocacy Leaders, and Community Partners to increase public awareness of injury prevention through community and public education, public policy (formation and change), public relations and community action.

Serves as the advocate and expert on childhood injury prevention for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids of Greater Knox. 

Collaborates with Safe Kids Worldwide and various community organizations and leaders to help families and communities keep kids safe.

Writes and manages grant proposals and contracts.

Manages program budget planning, preparation, and maintenance.

Manages multiple restricted funds accounts for the injury prevention program, monitors pre and post test guidelines outlined in grants and effectively documents and reports program data as outlined in grant documents.

Manages Safe Sitter, Healthy Kids Club, and other Injury Prevention program instructors and events throughout East Tennessee Children’s Hospital  17 county catchment area. 

Trains all instructors for Safe Sitter, Injury Prevention, and Healthy Kids Club and ensures program success. 

Lead Coordinator for Safe Kids Greater Knox Area Coalition.

Manages Safe Kids Greater Knox Area coalition meeting minutes, quarterly treasurer reports, required reports and membership rosters by deadlines to Safe Kids Worldwide.

Plans and facilitates Safe Kids Greater Knox Coaliton meetings and events.

Identifies, cultivates and solicits grants for corporations, corporate and private foundations and public funders.

Prepares information for all coalition members to provide local, state and national information on childhood injury prevention annually.

Coordinates communication between Tennessee Highway Patrol, Local Police Departments, County Sheriff’s Offices, Local Fire Departments, and multiple EMS agencies.

Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration