Program Outline

1.  Youth Involvement.   As a peer leadership program, Licensed for Life is a creative collaboration among youth, public schools, society, and law enforcement officers that promotes, improves, and preserves the quality of life in the community we serve.

*  Focus groups were conducted with teenagers to validate the materials being developed and taught.

*  Encourages long-term involvement/commitment by placing members of the teen community on our advisory board.

*  To foster cooperation/prevention/intervention effort.

*  To encourage other teens not to drug and or drink and drive.

*  To recognize the physiological and psychological signs of someone under the influence of alcohol or any other mood-altering substance.

*  To teach intervention skills to keep someone the know from driving while impaired.

2.  Interpersonal/Social development.  The program seeks to change youths' attitudes and behavior towards drug and alcohol use and its consequences.

*  To work with teens in an atmosphere of mutual respect, understanding the pressures that face them and provide them with skills and information that will allow them to make safe choices.

*  To educate our youths about current laws and how these laws impact their lives.

*  To promote/explain "zero tolerance" laws.

*  To explain Graduated Licensing and how it works.

*  Knowing the facts and effects of alcohol poisoning.

*  Educate students about safety and state laws.

*  Role-playing and use of Fatal Vision Goggles simulate exercises to help teens understand their own mortality when driving under the influence of any mood-altering substance.

3.  Community Projects.

*  Licensed for Life is a resource for the Illinois Department of Transportation Task Force.

*  Conducts youth-parent forums at peak "crash times".

*  Increase awareness among the community about the dangers of impaired driving, the risks associated with not using safety belts, and the importance of knowing the rules of the road

*  Reduce traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities among school children, teachers, parents, and others through participation in community traffic safety programs and awareness activities.

*  Provide speakers at judge's conferences to promote safe lifestyles.

4.  Evaluation.

*  Licensed for Life administers pre- and post-tests to students to measure effectiveness.  Both students and teachers complete a one page evaluation/questionnaire on the class presentation.   In this format they are asked to evaluate instructors and their understanding of class materials.  Suggestions for future classes are also encouraged.

* Each Licensed for Life instructor is continuously evaluated by students and teachers.  The instructors submit these evaluations from every class taught, to the Program Director who then regularly meets with the instructors to evaluate their teaching performance.  The Program Director and hired for a probationary period of 8 classes.  During is probationary period new instructors present the class with constant monitoring by the Program Director and more experienced instructors.