Children face challenges and risks at school, on the street, and on their mobile devices. D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives.
The curriculum is evidence based, meaning that results of the lessons are proven to work. Officers go through a very tough process to be chosen. Those selected are sent to a two week school to learn how to teach the DARE program. Officers are taught each of the ten lessons, classroom management, confrontation/de-escalation skills and the correct way to send the message of DARE. The first lesson starts with responsibility and introduces decision making, with subsequent lessons applying these skills in increasing complex ways, such as to drug use and other choices to be made in their lives. These basic, core skills are needed for safe and responsible choices…skills that extend well beyond drugs to healthy and mature choices in life.
Three members of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office are currently teaching the 5th graders of Lincoln County the DARE program. Those members are: Chief Deputy Rand Maker, Sergeant Matthew Day and Deputy Chad Gilbert. Each one has been assigned a school and conduct the nationally certified, evidenced based curriculum to those 5th graders. The key to these officer's success will be through building relationships and making connections with students to make the DARE message clear:
"D.A.R.E. envisions a world in which students everywhere are
empowered to respect others and choose to lead lives free from
violence, substance use, and other dangerous behaviors."