South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program
Program Resource Page
The purpose of this page is to provide a location for certified course facilitators to access information and resources to assist with implementation of the South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program course.
Back Ground
In an attempt to reduce the number of re-offenses for first time DUI offenders, South Dakota developed a twelve hour, standardized, evidence-based curriculum for first time DUI offenders that included education and cognitive-behavioral components. A cadre of providers from across the state have been trained through 2-day certification training and annual refresher training. In addition, providers are required to implement the program consistent with outlined standards to maintain program fidelity.
Since its inception in 2003, the South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program has served over 19,000 DUI first offenders. Between October 1, 2018-September 30, 2019 there were 167 courses offered and 1,020 individuals took the course.
Key Findings
Upon completion of the course participants were asked “Overall how would you rate this course?” Of the individuals that participated in the program during FFY 2019, ninety-eight percent of all participants rated the course as “good” or “excellent”. Across all agencies and demographic groups (gender, age group, ethnicity) all ratings were higher than 90%. When asked about usefulness of course activities, 75.9% of participants rated the class discussion as “very useful”; 67.7% rated the workbook as “very useful”; and 67.8% rated the change plan as “very useful”.
Instructors were highly rated with over 99% of participants rating them “good” or “excellent” in each attribute: instructors made everyone feel comfortable (99.4%), involved everyone (99.4), explained material clearly (99.7%) and for overall quality 99.7% rated them as good or excellent. Ninety-nine percent of course participants thought the material was valuable or very valuable and would be helpful or very helpful in helping them change their drinking and driving behavior.
Individuals participating in the SD Public Safety DUI course completed a number of forms that provided information used to evaluate changed in knowledge and attitude in the form of a Pre and Post-test. Across all agencies and demographic groups studied, there was a significant move in the positive direction from Pre-Test to Post-Test on both knowledge and attitude questions. The average gain on the Post-Test was 3.2 points on knowledge questions and 5.0 points on attitude questions.
Course Adaptation For COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Due to recent circumstances created by the COVID-19 virus, the steering committee for the South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program has approved the conduct of the DUI course via a webinar format in this time of uncertainty. The success of the South Dakota Public Safety DUI Program remains a priority to the state and the program’s stakeholders. Outlined below are adaptations for conducting this class via a web-based meeting.
All of the principles covered in the program training as well as the annual refresher training apply. It may be even more important under these unique circumstances to utilize active listening, motivational interviewing, and individual as well as group engagement strategies. The participants will still be using the journal and viewing the same materials and the goals and objectives for this program need to remain intact.
The revised and recommend structure for delivery through a webinar format is in six 2 hour modules. This format fits well with the curriculum material and will ensure the curriculum can have the desired and intended effect. A detailed outline is included and attached to this email that lists the recommended format of the course.
We have worked closely with The Change Companies to provide you with a set of slides that will mirror the participant’s workbook and aid you in facilitation of the course via a webinar format. Additionally, we have set up the required data collection and paperwork as online surveys to aid in the collection of the required paperwork. These tools will be shared with you as soon as they are ready.
Prior to conducting the course, you should send each participant their work book. You may also wish to send them any additional paperwork or materials that you will not be sharing with them through the webinar format. It is also encouraged that you send the participants a schedule of the course and basic instructions on how to access and use the webinar platform that you will be using to conduct the course.
Following is a link to a basic guide for the six modules and some general suggestions to consider for each of the modules along with links to the slides for each module.
Format and Guide for Webinar Delivery
Module I: Introduction
If you’re not in the practice already, a team building exercise in this setting may be useful. A group question such as “what is your favorite food” or “If you could stay the same age forever, what would it be”. There are many options to accomplish this. In order to monitor engagement as discussed earlier it may be necessary to call on each participant to respond verbally to a majority of the written exercises. Keep in mind the participant may still feel uncomfortable in sharing the details of their arrest record for example, but this is an opportunity to practice the skills developed for engaging the more reluctant partaker. Make sure adequate time is reserved for working on the change plan.
Module II: Laws and Consequences
In exercises from this module it may be challenging to offer individualized help. Helping someone calculate their financial losses may seem impossible, but be frank with the group at the beginning. You may use and share hypothetical case to illustrate the costs and financial losses related to a DUI. There will be times that require some understanding and patience from the group as a whole to ensure that everyone gets the maximum benefit from the course. Make sure adequate time is reserved for working on the change plan.
Module III: Alcohol, Other Drugs and Their Effects
There are many written exercises in this module. You may consider assigning some of the activities as preparation work prior to this module and then use the time while on the webinar to share and review individuals responses. This module is also packed with valuable information. After sharing and reviewing the information, it may be beneficial to have the participants identify what they thought are key important points from the material. Make sure adequate time is reserved for working on the change plan.
Module IV: Patterns of Substance Use
You should consider using either the slides that will be provided or developing your own slides to share to provide a visual component to aid in conveying the information to the participants. Be sure and use techniques to keep individuals engaged at the highest level possible. Make sure adequate time is reserved for working on the change plan.
Module V: Feelings and Behavior
The feelings and behavior module conveys a rather complex model of the influence feelings on behavior. Take special care to check with participants, using active listening skills to ensure everyone comprehends these concepts to the best of their ability. Make sure adequate time is reserved for working on the change plan.
Module VI: Personal Change Plan and Feedback
The development and sharing of a personal change plan is a requirement for successful completion of this course. It is suggested that you ask each participant to share their change plan and then allow for feedback from participants and yourself. The importance of the Change Plan should be addressed during the introduction and reinforced throughout the course.
Please remember to establish group norms and expectations for behavior and provision of appropriate feedback. Additionally, it would also be important to underscore the importance of confidentiality in a digital format.
Data Collection Forms
Online survey links have been created to assist with the data collection process for the delivery of the course in an online format. Please email Bernice or Roland at Mountain Plains Evaluation, LLC to assist you with obtaining the survey links to accompany the online delivery.
For questions regarding the delivery of the course via online format, please call 605-425-3305.