Step-By-Step Guide

Setting up a YOVASO program at your school is simple. Just follow these steps and in a few short weeks, you will be sponsoring safe teen driving campaigns at your school. And, remember, YOVASO staff will help you every step of the way.

Step 1► Where Does YOVASO Belong at Your School?

YOVASO is flexible and will work with your school to find the most effective placement. You may want to form a new YOVASO Club that only targets traffic safety campaigns or you may elect to blend YOVASO into an already-existing club. Some schools work YOVASO programs through such clubs as SADD, FCCLA, SGA, Key Club, Driver’s Ed., etc. The school resource officer and driver’s education instructors are good sources for determining the best placement for YOVASO and often serve as the sponsor or advisor to the club. YOVASO staff can also assist you in finding the right sponsor and placement for your traffic safety programs.

Step 2► Select a Core Group of Students

• Once you have determined the placement for YOVASO, you will need to select a core group of students to work with the club. If you are forming a new club, use the school resource officer or drivers ed instructors to find students who are interested in traffic safety issues and community leadership, Students who have been involved in a crash or know someone who has are good candidates for training. Students with leadership skills and an interest in community service also make good candidates.

• If you are placing YOVASO in an existing club, work with the club sponsor and president to identify students in the club who would have an interest in being traffic safety advocates.

• If possible, select students from different grade levels to help ensure the continuity of the program. We typically like to have a core group of at least 10 and a mixture of male and female students.

Step 3► Select an Advisor

• If you are starting a YOVASO club, you will need to select an advisor who will help the YOVASO students set up the club and begin planning traffic safety initiatives. A teacher from driver’s education, leadership classes, or criminal justice would be the best fit for sponsoring this club. In addition to the teacher advisor, the School Resource Officer (SRO) should also be assigned to work with the club because of his/her expertise in safety.

• If you are placing YOVASO within an existing club, the advisor of that club will assist the students with the new YOVASO initiatives. It is also recommended that the SRO and/or a driver’s education instructor be asked to help with the club.

• Remember YOVASO is a youth oriented program in which we encourage students to brainstorm ideas, develop an action plan and implement their traffic safety initiatives. Advisors and SROs serve a supportive role.

Step 4► Set Up a Training

Once you have established a club for YOVASO and selected your core group of students, you are ready to set up a training session. The training sessions are offered during the school year and are designed to help club members become familiar with teen traffic safety so they feel comfortable in taking on an advocacy role. Typical trainings last 3 hours, but this is flexible based on the individual needs of the school. Trainings may be scheduled during the school day, after school, on weekends, or during your club meetings. School divisions may request a joint training if all or several of their high schools are starting a YOVASO club.
A staff member will make all the arrangements for trainings and answer any questions you may have.

Step 5► Complete the Training Course

YOVASO training sessions are fun and, of course, educational. Students will be provided with everything they need to begin implementing traffic safety awareness campaigns. Here’s a sample of what the training covers:

• Facts and statistics about teenage drivers

• Causative factors behind teen crashes

• Identifying driving problems specific to your school

• Creating an action plan for your activities

• Organizing awareness projects

• Recruiting students

• Fundraising and resource ideas

Students will be given sample resource materials and a list of YOVASO activities and resources.

*Yearly training through YOVASO is mandatory to ensure students stay informed about current issues facing teen drivers. Each school must be trained once per school year. YOVASO also offers leadership retreats and other avenues for educating students in a fun and creative environment.

Step 6►Begin Your Traffic Safety Campaigns

• Hold club meetings regularly

• Recruit members to help with activities

• Plan activities based on identified school problem areas

• Implement traffic safety awareness campaigns throughuot the school year. Ideas may include: Back To School Seat Belt Checks, “Save Your Tailgate, Buckle Up Campaign” for football season, Christmas Parade Floats, Operation Prom and Graduation Events, etc.

Step 7► Work Closely With YOVASO Headquarters

• Request support materials for projects

• Apply for grant funding through Erie Insurance

• Participate in YOVASO Safety Campaigns

• Ask for planning advice and guidance

• Request banners designed for hallways, parades, etc.

• Submit articles on activities for the YOVASO newsletter

• Send project reports on school activities to YOVASO for recognition at the annual Awards Banquet