D.A.R.E.

The primary mission of DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is to provide children with the information and skills they need to live drug-and-violence-free lives.
It's mission is to equip kids with the tools that will enable them to avoid negative influences and instead allow them to focus on their strengths and potential.

Officer Havens teaches a DARE class

The DARE program is also designed to develop positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders. Every youngster should have the opportunity to grow-up healthy, safe, secure, and equipped with the skills needed to succeed in life. Contemporary America, however, is rampant with challenges that could keep children from a positive life path.

Click here to view the national DARE website

History

D.A.R.E. began as a collaborative effort between the LAPD and LAUSD in 1983, designed to educate students about the personal and social consequences of substance abuse and violence. Millions of U.S. children in more than 300,000 classrooms in 10,000 communities in all 50 states will benefit from D.A.R.E. this year. D.A.R.E. also benefits millions of children in 53 other countries. Additionally, all Department of Defense Schools worldwide and all U.S. Territories have D.A.R.E. programs in place. More than 50,000 local law enforcement officers are certified to teach the D.A.R.E. program.

Since its beginnings, the DARE program has undergone multiple revisions as research findings have increased knowledge of effective substance abuse prevention techniques among school-aged youth. The City of Oneonta Police Department believes in the mission established by the DARE program and dedicates a certified and sworn officer from the department to the full time duties of facilitating the DARE program. Oneonta Police Officer Steven Havens is assigned as the DARE Officer for the police department and brings over 20 years of police experience to the program. Officer Havens facilitates the program in all of the City of Oneonta elementary schools at the 5th and 6th grade levels. When Officer Havens is not in the classroom, he serves as a School Resource Officer for the Oneonta High School, where he maintains a permanent office.

Curricula:

The new K-12 D.A.R.E. curricula lessons focus on:

• Strong "NO USE" message
• Immediate consequences
• Normative beliefs
• Consequential thinking (Problem solving and conflict management)
• Self-management skills
• Voluntary commitment
• Credible presenter
• Character Education
• Protective factors
• Interactive participatory learning
• Social resistance skills
• Violence prevention
• Alternatives
• Role-modeling
• Set curriculum and quality training