Pubdate: Sat, 13 Sep 2008 Source: Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan (SD) Copyright: 2008 Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan Contact: http://www.yankton.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1046 Author: Shauna Marlette Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) D.A.R.E. REINTRODUCED IN YANKTON SCHOOLS The Yankton Police Department, Yankton School District and Sacred Heart Schools have renewed their joint effort to keep kids away from drugs and alcohol by reintroducing the D.A.R.E. program to the local elementary schools. Entering into its 19th year of joint education, the D.A.R.E. program was initially started in Yankton in 1989. Offered nationally to children in grades k-12, the local program is targeted at the elementary school-age children, with the fifth grade classes of Yankton receiving the entire 10-12 week program. "Without a doubt, this is a good program," Officer Jeff Johnson said. "A lot of kids I have taught over the years will come back and say 'You taught me about this or that.' That positive feedback is what keeps me going. Until something better comes along, we will keep using the D.A.R.E. program. Right now, it is the best program out there." Annually, the local D.A.R.E. program graduates more than 300 fifth graders from the program. The D.A.R.E. Officers also visit with students in grades k-4, educating them on child safety and prevention issues. The visits with the younger students affect more than 1,200 students each year. D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles as a way to help reduce the gang, drug and alcohol problems that the city was experiencing. Since 1983, the program has expanded to the point where it is now used in 75 percent of the school districts in the United States and is used in 43 countries around the world. There are several reasons the D.A.R.E. program has been so successful in its goals to reduce drug abuse and increase violence prevention programs. The national D.A.R.E. Web site says the prorgram humanizes the police, helping young people to relate to Officers as people. D.A.R.E. also permits students to see the Officers in a role other than enforcement, a more helping role. D.A.R.E. opens lines of communication between youth and Officers. In addition, Officers can serve as conduits to provide information beyond drug-related topics from students and also through the school and parents. Throughout the 10-12 weeklong course, the fifth-grade students will receive information on drugs and alcohol and learn decision-making skills. Officers will show the students positive ways to resist peer pressure, as well as offer alternatives to drug and alcohol. Teaching techniques are varied but do include question and answer sessions, group discussions and workbook exercises. "The variety of the program is what makes it so great," Johnson said. "Plus, they keep everything pertinent to what is happening today. Current lessons include information on the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, prescription drug abuse, peer pressure - what it is and how to respond to it - and self esteem issues - specifically how they affect choices and good decision making." One visual representation of the local program is the D.A.R.E. car. Siezed in a routine traffic stop near the Meridian Bridge after drugs were found in the car, the Yankton Police Department petitioned the state to have the car returned once the trial was completed. The car, which was in bad shape when seized, was taken to the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield for restoration work and repainting, Johnson said. The Yankton Police Department has four elementary D.A.R.E. instructors. To be eligible to become D.A.R.E. certified, Officers must have the training and experience to be able to answer the questions asked by the local students. They must also undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques and communication skills. Two of the Yankton Officers have also attended an additional 40 hours of training that allows them to teach the curriculum to middle school-age students. The training does not end there, as all four Officers must recertify every year by taking an additional 16-20 hours of classes. Local D.A.R.E. Officers that will be instructing the children include: * Officer Greg Shoeberg, who has been involved with D.A.R.E. for at least 10 years, is junior high-certified and will be teaching the course at Webster and Sacred Heart Elementary Schools. * Officer Michael Burgeson, who has been involved with D.A.R.E. for at least 10 years, is junior high-certified and will be teaching the course at Stewart Elementary * Officer Jeff Johnson, has been involved with D.A.R.E. for eight years, will be teaching the course at Beadle Elementary. * Officer Jacob Zajic, in his second year of D.A.R.E. involvement, will be teaching the course at Lincoln Elementary. More information regarding the D.A.R.E. program and the courses being taught are available at www.cityofyankton.org/policeDare.htm . - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath