The mission of ThinkFirst is to prevent traumatic injuries through education, research and policy. The award-winning programs of ThinkFirst educate people, especially high-risk young people, about their vulnerability to brain and spinal cord injury, common causes of these injuries, and how to prevent them.
ThinkFirst Missouri is a program of the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and serves as an affiliate chapter of the ThinkFirst National Injury Prevention Foundation. The office of ThinkFirst Missouri is located in the Howard A. Rusk Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health and MU Health Care, in Columbia, Missouri.
Why it matters
Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of traumatic injury among young people, followed by falls, violence and sports. Among the most severe are disabling injuries to the brain and spinal cord. These permanent and life-changing injuries are painful, heartbreaking and costly beyond measure.
Be Part of the Solution
INVITE ThinkFirst to your school or organization and be part of the solution to reduce the impact of injuries in Missouri.
Schedule a Program Today
Our award-winning programs are available at NO COST to schools, businesses and organizations statewide.
First Impact
First Impact offers a FREE 90-minute evidence-based traffic safety program educating parents about Missouri’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) law.
What Else We Offer
In addition to our award-winning injury prevention programs, we serve as a National Chapter Training Center and ThinkFirst VIP Speaker Training Center. Our team also provides public policy support and is committed to injury prevention research and program development.
