The highly-acclaimed Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Program was founded in 1983 in Los Angeles and has been implemented in more than 43 countries around the world.
The current D.A.R.E. curriculum, targeted at Grade 6 students, is comprised of ten lessons that explore the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, marihuana and other drugs, and provide students with a decision-making model to assist them in making positive choices.
Students spend approximately 7.5 hours in the program over the course of a semester. A graduation ceremony takes place at the end of the program.
The D.A.R.E. curriculum is designed to be taught by
police officers whose training and experience give them the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by youth about drugs, crime and police work.
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 communications skills.
In addition to the D.A.R.E. Program, these officers provide other educational programs to primary grades (K-8) and act as resource officers for school administration.
Support for D.A.R.E.:
Since its inception, the Halton D.A.R.E. program has received enthusiastic support from both Boards of Education and Service organizations throughout Halton Region.
For more information about the D.A.R.E. program or to get involved, contact:
Sergeant Kim Hill
905-825-4747 ext. 4901