Local Notes

Volume 3, Number 6 - October 2000

  • The Turtle Mountain Safe Communities Program serves residents of a Chippewa Indian Nation reservation in North Dakota. The program takes advantageSafe Tribal Communities of the Chippewa belief that life should be honored and respected by raising questions about the effects of alcohol, driving under the influence, and other risk behaviors on the well-being of tribal members. Program sponsored activities include "Ghost Outs," in which high school students take on the roles of young people killed by alcohol-related injuries to bring home the impact of such events; seat belt, school bus safety, and bicycle safety programs for elementary and middle school students, and legislative change that now allows tribal courts to more effectively sentence those convicted of driving under the influence. In 1999, the Turtle Mountain program was instrumental in founding the first American Indian chapter of MADD. For more information, contact Sharon Parisien at (701) 477-6459.

  • The Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes Safe Communities Program is located on the Wind River Reservation in Fort Washakie, Wyoming. The program began in 1999 after research indicated that only 18 percent of those riding in motor vehicles on the reservation used seat belts. The program's initial activities included creating a website (www.wrtsc.org) and using the EPI-6 Epidemiology Software to begin tracking crash and injury data. Over the past year, the program has used the "Little Convincer" (which simulates the impact of a motor vehicle crash) to teach kindergarten students about safety belts, participated in National Child Passenger Safety Week, and collaborated with the Wind River Law Enforcement Agency on speed checks, saturation patrols, and a seat belt campaign. The program is also working with a local elementary school to replace all the rural route number signs (many of which are worn or missing) so that Emergency Medical Services, fire, and law enforcement agencies can promptly locate the site of a collision or other emergency. For more information, contact Raphaella Stump at (406) 768-3892.

  • The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta recently piloted the Community CATSAdvocates for Traffic Safety (CATS) program, which was developed by the 100% Drug-Free Clubs with funding from NHTSA. CATS involves youth in clubs that stress a drug-free lifestyle and cultural and personal pride while encouraging members to advocate for traffic safety in their communities. Each CATS youth group is assisted by an adult-leader role model and a Parents Who Care About Traffic Safety (P-CATS) group. The CATS program was also piloted with African American youth on Long Island, and with Mexican American youth in Arizona. The 100% Drug-Free Clubs are currently developing materials to allow the replication of culturally specific CATS programs in other communities. For more information, contact Frances Brisbane at (516) 444-2139.

    Top of Page


    http://www.edc.org/buildingsafecommunities/vol3_6/local.htm


    • IN THIS ISSUE

    Unbuckled Children and Impaired Drivers: Doubly Dangerous

    Building Safe Communities for All

    Local Notes

    National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month

    Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children

    National News

    Resources

    Resources from NHTSA