Welcome to the Windsor Locks Youth Services Bureau Shattered Dreams Page!
Shattered Dreams empowers families and communities by creating a series of life-changing experiences to prevent underage drinking and impaired driving, carried out through community mobilization, meaningful family dialogue, and education on the consequences of choices emphasizing the importance of decision-making skills.
The two-day program is designed to provide high school students with a dramatic impression of drinking and driving risks. "SHATTERED DREAMS" was presented at Windsor Locks High School in – 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 canceled in 2020 due to Covid-19. The tradition continues with a presentation every four years so that students can experience the program once during their High School career.
During the Shattered Dreams Program the Windsor Locks Youth Services Bureau, Windsor Locks High School, Windsor Locks Fire Department, Windsor Locks Police Department, Windsor Locks Lions Ambulance, and Windsor Locks Funeral Home collaborate to present "SHATTERED DREAMS."
The program coincides with "prom season," a time of year to remind teenagers of the importance of responsible decision-making, the dangers of underage drinking, and the risks of impaired driving (or riding with a drinking driver).
"SHATTERED DREAMS" is based on the Chico, California "Every Fifteen Minutes" prevention program, so named to show the number of alcohol-related fatalities in the United States during the mid-nineties. Shattered Dreams is a very intense program that will challenge students to think about drinking, personal safety, the responsibility of making mature decisions, the shattered dreams of those who drive after drinking, the innocent victims, and their friends and families.
Following is a synopsis of the program:
On Thursday, day one of the program, approximately every 15 minutes a student will be removed from a classroom by the "Grim Reaper." While the student is being removed from the classroom, a uniformed police officer will read the student's obituary, prepared by the parents. These obituaries will be posted in the classroom and remain there throughout the day. The removed students will be made up to resemble a "living dead" victim and then return to classes for the remainder of the day. When back in class, the students will not be allowed to interact with other students verbally.
There will be a staged drunk driving accident on the Windsor Locks High School campus during the morning on Thursday. There will be a variety of injuries and emergencies dealt with by the emergency responders listed above. The entire school community will view the accident and watch the "victims" and the help they receive. The accident will result in one "fatality," with the victim's parents receiving a mock death notification at work from a police officer and a clergyman.
At 2:00 p.m., the "living dead" students will leave to participate in an overnight retreat that will provide them with activities and the opportunity to process the events of the day – with the guidance and supervision of adults trained to deal with crises.
On Friday morning, day two of the program, an assembly is held in the high school auditorium. Guest speakers, along with presentations and a review of the previous day's experiences, will demonstrate the accident's impact on the school community.
You may also visit the following websites for more information on the program's components. These websites contain an overview of the program and past examples from programs in Texas.
Websites: http://sthrc.uthscsa.edu/stiprc/Shattered%20Dreams/overview.htm and http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/educa/shatdreams.htm.