Hispanic Safe Communities Coalition

ILLINOIS

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Innovative or non-traditional approach   Safe Communities
  Strong evaluation component   Injury Prevention
  Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population    Diversity
       
TYPE OF JURISDICTION    
  State    
       
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  Hispanic Americans   11,846,544


PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The Hispanic population in the State of Illinois is increasing rapidly. Past research indicates that this population group is at higher risk of traffic injuries and fatalities than the general population. This is reflected in data from the Illinois Department of Public Health Vital Statistics, indicating that 22 percent of Illinois motor vehicle-related fatalities in 1995 involved Hispanics—more than double the representation of Hispanics within the general state population.


GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Illinois Hispanic Safe Communities Coalition was the reduction of traffic-related fatalities and injuries involving Hispanics. This goal was addressed by the Illinois Department of Transportation through the following objectives:


STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

Initiated in 1996, the Hispanic Safe Communities project grew from the recommendations of the Illinois DUI Task Force. The task force recognized a need for alternatives to traditional traffic injury prevention programs for Hispanic communities.

The primary strategy of the project was the organization of a statewide Hispanic Safe Communities Coalition, which would sponsor a further network of Hispanic Safe Communities Coalitions in those communities with rapidly increasing Hispanic populations.

Project leadership was provided by the University of Illinois at Chicago, and included the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Chicago Police Department, Commonwealth Edison, the Cook County Department of Public Health, the Elgin Police Department, the Latino Community Advisory Council, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Pan American Chamber of Commerce, and many more community, state and national based organizations.

The Coalition provided public information and education programs adapted for the Hispanic community, promoting occupant protection, bicycle and pedestrian safety, motorcycle and helmet use; and informing the community about policy, laws and the cost of traffic crashes and injuries to the Hispanic community.

The community based coalitions were instructed to gather data about traffic safety issues specific to their particular community, then share this information during a conference held in September 1997. The conference featured topics such as: "How to Implement a Safe Communities Project" and "Traffic Safety Issues for the Hispanic Community." Exhibits and demonstrations included "The Fatal Vision Program," "The Little Convincer," and crash dummies Vince and Larry®. Panelists discussed topics such as: "Perception of the Police," "The Role of the Family and Kinship," "Diversity Within the Hispanic Community," "Health and Wellness, Spirituality and Fate" and "Communicating Risk."

RESULTS
The Hispanic Safe Communities Coalition Project was initiated in November 1996, and has since that time has continued to be involved in planning exercises and development of coalition-building activities.

FUNDING
  Section 402:

$135,008

CONTACT  
  John Moulton
Illinois Department of Transportation,
Division of Traffic Safety
3215 Executive Park Drive
Springfield, IL 62794
(217) 785–3038


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Fall 1997