| Project
Characteristics |
Innovative
|
| Program
Areas |
| Multicultural
Outreach |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
| State |
Targeted
Population |
| Minority
Populations |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| 8,414,350 |
Funding |
| Section
405: $270,000 |
Contact |
Roberto
Rodriguez
Director
NJ Div of Hwy Traffic Safety
PO Box 048
Trenton, NJ 08625-0048
(609) 633-9300
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Digest
Listing
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NEW JERSEY
Reaching Diverse
Communities
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The
year 2000 census clearly showed a significant growth in the minority
population of New Jersey over the past ten years. As of the year 2000,
minorities made up 34 percent of New Jersey’s population; with African
Americans comprising 13 percent, Hispanics or Latinos 13.3 percent, Asians
5.7 percent, and others 0.3 percent.
Data
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates
that minorities are more at risk than non-minorities of being killed or
injured in crashes. Additionally, many of the previously conducted traffic
safety campaigns and education efforts were not reaching minority
communities. In response to this information, the New Jersey Division of
NHTSA developed an aggressive plan to educate minority leaders about these
traffic safety facts.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Reaching Diverse Communities project is to
involve the minority populations in conducting traffic safety programs
within their own communities. The main objectives include:
-
Increasing knowledge about traffic safety as a health problem
in minority communities;
-
Identifying individuals in minority communities to conduct
traffic safety projects and develop strong community partnerships; and
-
Developing and disseminating educational materials and safety
equipment.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
In order to reach this large population, the initial steps of
the program focused on obtaining diversity liaisons to work with the
highway safety office. The long-term goal is to have three liaisons, each
covering a geographic section of the state, Northern, Central, and
Southern.
Major activities include:
-
Holding diversity leadership meetings.
-
Conducting a full-day Diversity Summit to roll out the
diversity plan for 2004, including specific project funding. The
Summit will also contain a grant planning workshop and a special
enforcement panel.
-
Developing and providing educational materials in different
languages, starting with Spanish.
-
Building strong relationships with the African American and
Hispanic media. This involves working closely with a media company to
ensure that minority media are invited to all regional press events.
-
Securing a commitment from the Governor of New Jersey and his
family to be “the poster family” for seat belts and child safety
seats.
RESULTS
The results to date include the following:
-
Three diversity leadership meetings have been held with over
150 Hispanic, African American, and Asian Pacific key leaders and
representatives. The meetings discussed traffic safety issues,
examples of current diversity programs in New Jersey, and provided the
opportunity to meet key NHTSA and state highway representatives. In
addition, educational resources were provided and the Director of
Highway Traffic Safety led a question and answer session.
-
Support for this effort has been obtained from minority
officials such as the Attorney General and the Secretary of State, and
organizations such as the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey and
the Conference of Black Mayors.
-
Nine grants have been awarded to communities in the Northern,
Central, and Southern sections of the state (three grants to each
section) through the Department of Community Affairs.
-
The Governor of New Jersey and his family will be the
“poster family” for seat belts and child safety seats.
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