Overwhelming national and international demand for D.A.R.E. led to the creation of a national non-profit organization. D.A.R.E. America serves as a resource to communities, helping to establish and improve local D.A.R.E. programs. D.A.R.E. America provides officer training, supports the development and evaluation of the D.A.R.E. curriculum, provides student educational materials, monitors instruction standards and program results and creates national awareness for D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. goes beyond traditional drug abuse and violence prevention programs. It gives children the skills needed to "Just Say No". D.A.R.E.is a collaborative effort by D.A.R.E. certified law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents and the community to offer an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse and violence among our children and youth.

The D.A.R.E. curriculum was designed to be taught by police officers whose training and experience gave them the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about drugs and crime. Prior to entering the D.A.R.E. program, officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques, and communication skills. 40 hours of additional training are provided to experienced D.A.R.E. instructors to equip them to teach high school curriculum.

The core curriculum is delivered by our D.A.R.E. officer, C.J. Jones, to fifth grade students and includes one lesson per day for 17 consecutive weeks in the Health classes. Each lesson averages between 45 and 60 minutes. Student participation in the D.A.R.E. program may be incorporated as an integral part of the school's curriculum offering in health, science, social studies, language arts, or other subject(s)as appropriate. The classroom teacher maintains a supportive role in classroom management while the officer is teaching.

Part of the reason D.A.R.E. works so well is because it is a collaborative effort between your police department, your school, parents, and community leaders. D.A.R.E. works because it surrounds children with support and encouragement from all sides. The strategies focus on the development of social competence, communication skills, self-esteem, empathy, decision making, conflict resolution, sense of purpose and independence, and positive alternative activities to drug abuse and other destructive behaviors.

D.A.R.E. teaches kids how to be assertive and to deal with peer pressure by saying no effectively. Students learn about the dangers of drugs and gain self-confidence by acting out problem situations. They are taught to keep their bodies healthy, control their feelings when angry or under stress and decide whether to take a risk. Students are also taught how to respond when a friend pressures them to use alcohol or drugs and to recognize forms of influence from peers, parents, and the media. They even get suggestions for alternative activities to "hanging out" on the streets.

Talk to your children, talk to the teachers, talk to other parents, and then, be thankful for each very special police officer who accepts the challenge of becoming a D.A.R.E. Roll Model. These special officers "DARE" our grade-schoolers to stay away from the drugs and violence. What do they teach? The values of truth, commitment, responsibility, and consequences.

D.A.R.E.

A Different Look At D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. AMERICA

MARKS'S REALM

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