| Project
Characteristics |
Innovative
Approach
Easily Replicated
|
| Program
Areas |
Youth
Programs
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Safe Communities |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
| State |
Targeted
Population |
Youth
(ages 15-24)
Community Coalitions |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| 691,516 |
Funding |
| Section
402: $60,700 |
Contact |
Janice
Williams
Co-coordinator
LA Youth Prev Svc/LA SADD
1408 Mohan St.
Alexandria, LA 71301
(800) 407-6343
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Digest
Listing
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LOUISIANA
Louisiana
Highway Safety Commission (LHSC)/LA SADD Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The Taking Action (TA) youth conference, which focuses on
traffic safety issues, was established in 1988 by a small group of youth
and an advisor. Since that time, the conference has been well-attended by
both youth and adults who work with youth. This year, 2003, marks the 15th
annual conference.
In 1993, responding to a need for organization
and consistency of youth programs, a group of approximately 25 student
leaders from state high schools applied, and were selected, to serve on
the LA SADD Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The original purpose of the YAC was to plan and assist with
the implementation of the TA conference. The current goals and objectives
of the YAC are to:
-
Reduce the fatal crash rate among drivers ages 15-24 years
old (from 74 to 65 per 100,000 licensed drivers) by the year 2003;
-
Reduce the injury crash rate (from 6,404 to 5,400 per 100,000
licensed drivers) by the year 2003; and
-
Increase the number of youth involved in traffic safety and
underage drinking prevention activities across the state.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Through training, the members of the YAC have become
consistent advocates for traffic safety and underage drinking prevention
both in their communities and at the state level.
-
Youth who attend the TA conference are eligible to apply for
membership to the YAC. Applications are screened by youth and adults
involved with the conference.
-
Selected youth (20-25 members) meet three times prior to the
conference: summer, fall, and the first of the year. The fall weekend
meeting is for conference planning and receiving training in public
speaking, meeting facilitation, working with the media, and event
planning.
-
The conference is held in the spring of each year. Members of
the YAC serve as the conference staff.
-
The members of the YAC are also active in their communities;
becoming involved in local government meetings, supporting traffic
safety issues, and underage drinking prevention.
-
The members of YAC recruit other youth by increasing
membership in local youth prevention clubs (such as Students Against
Drunk Driving (SADD) or similar organizations) or by helping schools
start such organizations.
-
The YAC provides youth advisors, upon request,
for various other state agencies connected to the goals of highway
safety.
RESULTS
-
Conference attendance was 250 people in 1988 and has
consistently remained at 1,000 people for the past five years.
-
Youth prevention organizations have doubled in number since
1995, especially in communities with YAC members, from 200
organizations in the late 1980’s to 400 active high school chapters
across Louisiana.
-
The degree of youth involvement in Louisiana’s Youth
Prevention network has increased. This is evident in the strong
network established between a number of youth organizations (such as,
the Attorney General’s office, MADD, LA Underage Drinking Task
Force, and Blue Cross-Blue Shield Youth Prevention Program) that
allows the coordination and collaboration of activities.
-
YAC members are tracked after graduating
from high school. Fifty percent of members have chosen to remain
active in traffic safety issues and underage drinking prevention. They
also tend to select service related careers that focus on creating
better lives for people and communities (such as, law enforcement,
teachers, and social workers).
-
The number of applications for positions on the YAC has tripled since 1995.
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