The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 24, Number 7 | Page 20
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | October 2018
U Got Brains Champions Schools Program
The U Got Brains Champions Schools Program is a peer to peer program that
empowers high school students to develop teen safe driving campaigns in their
schools, communities and beyond. The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey
(BIANJ) has hosted this program for the past nine years, working with over 145
high schools in all 21 counties across the state. Evaluation provided by the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute show that the Champions
Schools Program is effective in increasing knowledge about safe driving and
actually changing teen driving behavior.
Students work within groups at their high school under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Participating schools
receive a $750 stipend to help implement their campaign. Brainstorming for project ideas and technical support is
offered by BIANJ staff during a visit and through follow up contact. Schools are asked to submit a midterm update
and a final report which consists of a written and video component. Final projects are judged by a panel of experts
and the top three grand prize winners are awarded a driving simulator for their school. Announcement of the grand
prize winners take place at Six Flags Great Adventure where over 700 students from participating schools gather to
showcase their campaigns. Funding for the Champion Schools Program is provided by the New Jersey Division of
Highway Traffic Safety, and Founding Sponsor NJM Insurance, along with other private and public sponsors.
Law enforcement plays an active role in the Champion Schools program
as many schools partner with their local departments to help develop and
deliver their safety messages.
For example, Riverside High School,
located in Burlington County, has participated in the Champion Schools
Program for the last four years. The faculty advisor to the student team
is Ptl. Anthony Cicali, the School Resource Officer for Riverside High
School. Their project for the 2017-18 school year, RHS Drives Safe,
incorporated a wide-range of safety messages for teen drivers. They
partnered with local police to create mock car stops to teach students how
to act and respond when being pulled over by the police. Then they did a
role reversal where the students got to act like police officers and see
what it felt like from an officer’s perspective when they stopped teachers /
staff who weren’t listening or not following directions. With the mock car
stops the students were put into a live simulation in a safe environment
so that they could experience a traffic stop.
The Champion Schools Program has been an ongoing community project for them. The Riverside Township Police
Department promoted the program on the township electronic boards and posted on their blog and shared their PSA
video. The impact of the program can be seen in the reduction of local crashes. In 2014, Riverside Twp. had 123
reported traffic crashes. Since joining the Champion Schools Program in 2015, the community has seen an overall
decline in crashes every year. In 2015 there were 108 crashes, in 2016 there were 99 crashes and there were 105
crashes in 2017. Riverside Township police are projecting safer roads in Riverside and less traffic crashes as they
continue to educate their students. New drivers will be able to take their knowledge and help promote safe driving as
they develop into leaders in Riverside.
Each school makes an impact within their town and often beyond. The U Got Brains Champion Schools Program is a
wonderful opportunity to engage law enforcement in a positive community program. Applications are currently being
accepted for the 2018-2019 school year. To learn more, visit https://jerseydrives.com/champion-schools-program/
or contact Wendy Berk at [email protected] or 732-745-0200.
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