D.A.R.E. Program

What Is D.A.R.E.?

D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.

D.A.R.E. is a comprehensive prevention program designed to equip elementary school children with the life skills to recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. This program was designed and created in the early 1980’s by Los Angeles, California Chief of Police Daryl F. Gates. The 17-lesson D.A.R.E. core curriculum is taught by specially trained, uniformed law enforcement officers, which provides for a unique relationship between the officers and the students. This interaction promotes a positive role model identification as well as a healthy bonding with a trusted adult. Officer Dramane Taylor currently serves as the Washington Police Department D.A.R.E. Officer. If you have any questions about our D.A.R.E. program please feel free to contact Officer Taylor at 309.444.1148.

What Are The Goals and Objectives Of D.A.R.E.?

The primary goal of D.A.R.E. is to prevent substance abuse among school age children. The D.A.R.E. program targets children at an age when they are most receptive to drug prevention education and before they are likely to have experimented with tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. D.A.R.E. seeks to prevent adolescent substance abuse, thus reducing the demand for drugs. The D.A.R.E. curriculum focuses on the following objectives for student learning.

  • Provides the skills for recognizing and resisting social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
  • Helps enhance self-esteem.
  • Teaches positive alternatives to substance abuse and other destructive behaviors (particularly gangs and violence).
  • Develops skills in risk-assessment, decision making and conflict resolution.
  • Builds interpersonal and communication skills.

Who Receives D.A.R.E.?

The D.A.R.E. core curriculum is delivered to fifth grade students in all of the grade schools in the corporate limits of Washington.

What Is Included In The Core Curriculum?

The core curriculum "emphasizes a no-use message" which is life-skills based and focuses on peer pressure resistance training, self-concept improvement, personal safety and decision-making skills. A wide range of teaching techniques - including interactive peer leadership and cooperative learning groups - are used to encourage student participation and response. The curriculum is updated to keep it responsive to current research findings, modern teaching methods and emerging social concerns regarding drugs and violence.

Who Is Eligible To Teach D.A.R.E.?

To teach the D.A.R.E. program, the individual must:

  • Be a full-time sworn, uniformed police officer.
  • Have two years of prior law enforcement experience.
  • Undergo a screening process which includes a personal interview.
  • Upon successful completion of the screening process, the D.A.R.E. officer candidate attends an 80-hour D.A.R.E. Officer Training to become a certified D.A.R.E. instructor.