Safe Teen Driving Circles, On the Road Together

2nd National Conference on Restorative Justice

May 14, 2009Kris Minerscvrjp@gmail.com715-425-1100

Safe Teen Driving Circles

• History, Mission & Process• Allstate Foundation – Chronic Report

http://www.allstate.com/content/refresh-attachments/citizenship/chronic.pdf

• On the Road Together –DVD

Using a cell phone Using a cell phone while driving is the while driving is the equivalent of .08 equivalent of .08

blood alcohol content.blood alcohol content.-Timothy Smith

Crashproof Your Kids! Make Your Teen a Safer, Smarter Driver

Urgency of the Issue• # 1 cause of death for 16 – 24

year olds.• More than 2 out of 3

fatalities/crashes another teen was driving.

• First crash is often the last.• Teen fatalities in WI every 3.3 days

Applying RJ to Public Health

• The health of the public, the public’s health.

• When the offender is deceased, how do you do restorative justice?

• What can victims, survivors or offenders offer, to the community, most at risk?

Restorative Justice Circles

• Design and Shape• Open and Close• Center Focus• Talking Piece, Listening Space• Engagement, Equality• Trust the process

Restorative Justice Circles

4 Stages-Getting Acquainted-Building Relationships-Addressing Issues-Taking Action

Why it works

• Teen age need for ‘novelty’.• Circles are safe, respectful.• Taps into the brain, with emotional

content.• Matches ‘social media’ conditioning.• Relevant to the teens community.• Instant relevance in Circle.

Program Components

• Circle Keeper/Facilitator• Co-Keepers• Storyteller/Guest Speaker• Classroom/Student group• Paper plates, Markers• Talking Pieces• Evaluation Forms

The Storytelling Process

• Promoting listening & learning• Designed to touch the heart• Non-judgmental• Details make a huge impact• Physical, emotionally, mental and

spiritually impacts• Encourage speakers

The 4 Stages of Restorative Story

• Introduction

• Incident

• Impact

• Reflection

Working with Survivors

• Grief and Trauma impact everyone differently.

• Respect the experience of another• Remain neutral yet genuine• Be aware of your own process

Role of the Circlekeeper

• Introduce, explain and guide the process

• Un-attach to the outcome, focus on the process

• Bring positive presence, be genuine and present

• Circles work for young people

Evaluating and Promoting

• Keep evaluation forms– Copy provided– Gather interested teens– Practice

• Use current community networks– Newspapers, coalitions, newsletters– Seek community foundation grants– Visit Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions– FACEBOOK & blog

Local Program Options

• Drivers Education Classes• High School Classes• Law Enforcement Partnerships• Grief groups/networking• Newspaper• County AODA program• Local VIP provider

Safe Teen Driving Circles

Manifest and Latent – Benefits

• Safer teen drivers. “I think by hearing this story, it just saved my life”

• Meaning/Healing for storytellers• Entry into schools, process

demonstration.

Evaluation Outcomes

• 96% report the experience “different”• 88% identified sharing an important

value• 97% report feeling respected• 94% report being impacted ‘a great

deal’• 99% made a ‘public commitment’

Additional Resources

• Upcoming Book ‘On the Road Together: Safe Teen Driving Circles’

• http://www.urthespokesperson.org/• http://allstateteendriver.com/ • www.scvrjp.org• http://

www.lowestpricetrafficschool.com/driver-education/teen-driving/