Pubdate: Wed, 21 Dec 2005
Source: Sioux Lookout Bulletin (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Sioux Lookout Bulletin
Contact:  http://www.siouxbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4062
Author: Tim Brody
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

DARE PROGRAM A POSITIVE INFLUENCE

Ontario Provincial Police in Sioux Lookout are asking businesses and 
community service clubs in Sioux Lookout if they DARE to assist police in 
teaching the community's youth how to make the right choices concerning 
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs.

Sioux Lookout OPP Community Services Officer Mark Gaudet was joined by For 
Frances OPP CSO Caroline Spencer in a presentation about the Drug Abuse 
Resistance Education (DARE) program to businesses and community service 
clubs Thursday afternoon at OPP headquarters in Sioux Lookout.

Gaudet will be conducting the program in Sioux Lookout starting in January 
with Grade students from Hudson and Sioux Mountain Public Schools and 
Sacred Heart School.

The DARE program taught in Fort Frances for almost a decade, is currently 
targeting students in Grades 3,6 and 10.

Spencer, a teacher of the program for three years, explained, "The kids 
build life skills from the program.  It's not just about drugs and alcohol 
and violence.  It's life skills that they can use anywhere in their growing 
years.  I'm passionate about it and I think it reflects in the way they 
participate in the class."

Spencer said the program isn't about preaching abstinence, but rather 
educating students about the consequences of their decisions.

"The reality is that they're going to make their own decisions.  So our job 
as their instructors is to arm them with all the information to make the 
right decisions.  If you tell a child, you can't do it, what's the first 
thing they do?  They go and do it.  So instead of saying you can't do it, 
you say, okay this is what's going to happen if you do it.  This is what 
might happen if you don't do it.  So you give them those good and bad 
consequences and they come to the decision, hey, you know what?  Drugs and 
alcohol are the wrong path for me.  That's our message more than anything."

Think Grade 3 students are too young to know anything about drugs or 
alcohol?  Think again, said Spencer.  Recently she asked a Grade 3 student 
what types of drugs that student had heard of and that student replied, 
crystal meth.

Does the program work?

Spencer said that on the community's 2004 policing for results survey, a 
telephone survey conducted within the community, 92per cent of respondents 
stated they know what the DARE program was about and they felt it was a 
positive influence on local youth.

Gaudet explained that community partners for the program are essential to 
help pay for the course materials and any teaching aids required.

Gaudet would like another officer from the detachment to receive the 
training and he would like to receive additional training to teach the 
program at the high school level.

Sioux Lookout's Community Policing Committee has been the program's main 
sponsor. The committee has purchased a laptop computer and projector to 
assist Gaudet in his presentation.

The committee has also set up a DARE bank account.

Gaudet received positive feedback following the presentation, stating that 
some businesses signed up to support the program right after the meeting.

Home Hardware owner Tom Nebbs was in attendance for the presentation and 
commented, "It was great." The best thing to see is that our officers want 
to be there in the presence of the kids so kids have someone to talk to, 
feel comfortable with, and they're being reached at a young age when it's 
important and it's going to be followed through to the end, which is great. 
It is all good stuff."

Joy Bridgwater represented the Northern Lights Credit Union at the meeting. 
"I think this is great. The biggest key is to educate the kids when they're 
young," she said.

CPC past chair Candace LaFrance commented, "I think this presentation that 
was given to us today was absolutely wonderful. I believe that to have DARE 
in the schools is not a nice to have. It's something that fills in the gaps 
that maybe the main curriculum doesn't teach. It's also taught from someone 
who has a direct connection to the pitfalls of what drugs and alcohol, 
tobacco, can have. So I think that this is a win-win for Sioux Lookout.

Anyone who would like more information on the DARE program or would like to 
sponsor it is urged to contact Gaudet at 737-2020 or speak with a member of 
the CPC executive.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D