Pubdate: Fri, 19 Sep 2014
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2014 Daily Herald Tribune
Contact: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/letters
Website: http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804
Author: Alexa Huffman
Page: A5

DARE DISCONTINUED IN CATHOLIC, PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Resource shortage, increased school enrolment strains RCMP school
outreach program

Fewer resources, the opening of a new high school and a growing school
population has led to the discontinuation of the DARE program for
schools in Grande Prairie this year.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program has traditionally
been offered to Grade 6 students through 10 weeks of classroom
instruction from the Grande Prairie's RCMP school resource officer
(SRO).

But following the transfer of Cst. Jennifer Fraser, who is in the
process of moving to St. Albert, the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment is
down to three SROs, forcing a re-evaluation of their priorities within
the public and Catholic school districts.

"We decided to try and use our resources a little differently this
year but we still will be a strong presence in the school," said Cpl.
Roy Kennedy, media relations officer for the Grande Prairie RCMP detachment.

The RCMP also looked at the rising number of students in the Grande
Prairie Public School District (GPPSD) and Grande Prairie and District
Catholic Schools (GPCSD) before deciding not to offer the DARE program
this year.

"We just want to make sure that we're having the most influence over
the greatest amount of students and not just focusing on one segment
of the students," said Kennedy.

Currently, a replacement hasn't been identified for Fraser but the
position will be filled as soon as soon as possible.

"There has been other competing priorities at the detachment so
sometimes you get put in a cue. It's not to say we're any less
important but you get your pre-priorities even at a detachment level
that could possibly delay filling that vacancy," said Kennedy.

Kennedy says having only three SROs creates time constraints as the
SROs also have other roles with the programming of the Community
Policing Unit, which include Grande Prairie & District Victim
Services, the Citizens on Patrol program and Auxiliary Constables.

They are also the specially trained members who conduct the interviews
at the Caribou Centre. In addition, the number of investigations SROs
have been involved in to have risen from 247 in 2011 to 560 in 2013.

Kennedy raised the issue issue with Carol Ann MacDonald,
superintendent of GPPSD and Karl Germann, the superintendent for GPCSD
earlier this year.

"Obviously, the ones that have the most Grade 6 students were the
public and the Catholic schools. We didn't want to be in a position
where some of the Catholic schools would get DARE and some of the
public schools would get DARE and then some wouldn't," said Kennedy

According to Kennedy, the decision to stop the DARE program this year
is not due to a lack of support, funding or interest in the program.
The program operating costs were around $4,500 to $5,500 a year.

Although there are mixed reviews with the effectiveness of the DARE
program, Kennedy says it did help build a relationship between SROs
and students.

"It's like anything else that human beings learn, if it's not
revisited and reinforced throughout the adolescent and young adult
years, it decays like another learned program," said Kennedy.

"But what is inarguable is that it allows us a very structured
environment to create long-term relationships with Grade 6 students."

The SROs are focusing on building relationships through other programs
and services, including having a strong officer presence in the high
schools and dealing with enforcement issues at the school.

They also work on deterring crime, drugs coming into the school, and
acts of violence in and around the schools.

"We're the ones getting to know the young people," said Kennedy. "We
identify some youths that might be struggling to fit in or to be
positive, contributing members of our community and hopefully divert
them before their behaviours become more serious and
problematic."

MacDonald says the SROs will also be participating in healthy choices
workshops in the public schools and they will also be invited to
school events.

"It's really important for our kids to see the RCMP having fun within
our schools and not just being called in if there's something that is
troubling happening," said MacDonald.

The GPCSD did have the option to employ an officer who could deliver
DARE, but Germann says they chose not to pursue that choice.

"We feel we need to make sure that all of our dollars are directed to
education in the classroom," said Germann.

Kennedy will be having a discussion with the Peace Wapiti School
Division (PWSD) regarding the future of the DARE program at Harry
Balfour school, the only PWSD with Grade 6 within Grande Prairie.

Both GPPSD and GPCSD will be meeting with Kennedy at the end of this
school year to review the results of not having the DARE program this
year.

"We're constantly trying to find efficiencies," said Kennedy.
"Sometimes we have to reassess the programs we're delivering just to
make sure they're having the positive impact on the most amount of
people."
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MAP posted-by: Matt