D.A.R.E.

D.A.R.E. — Drug Abuse Resistance Education 

D.A.R.E. is a collaborative effort by certified law enforcement officers, educators, students parents and the community to offer an educational program in the classroom to prevent or reduce drug abuse, violence and gang involvement among children grades K-12. Currently the Newfields Police Department offers D.A.R.E. Keepin’ It Real to the fifth grade class.

D.A.R.E. Program Keepin’ It Real Elementary School Curriculum

D.A.R.E.’s keepin’ it REAL Elementary School curriculum continues a more than thirty year commitment to providing cutting edge instruction that helps prevent drug use by developing basic, core skills needed for safe and responsible choices…skills that extend well beyond drugs to healthy and mature choices in life.

The curriculum, designed based on the Socio-Emotional Learning Theory (SEL), identifies fundamental, basic skills and developmental processes needed for healthy development including:

·       Self-awareness and management

·       Responsible decision making

·       Understanding others

·       Relationship and communication skills

·       Handling responsibilities and challenges

SEL theory teaches youth to control their impulses and think about risks and consequences resulting in more responsible choices. D.A.R.E. believes that if you can teach youth to make safe and responsible decisions, it will guide them to healthy choices, not only about drugs, but across all parts of their lives. As they grow to be responsible citizens, they will lead healthier and more productive drug-free lives.

The course’s ten lessons are arranged in a scaffolding process, starting with the basics about responsibility and decision making and then building on each other allowing students to develop their own responses to real life situations. The very first lesson starts with responsibility and introduces decision making with subsequent lessons applying these skills in increasing complex ways to drug use and other choices in their lives.

Becoming a D.A.R.E. Officer

Initially an application is submitted to the New Hampshire State Police D.A.R.E. Coordinators Office in Concord with the approval of both the Chief of Police and the Principal of the Newfields Elementary School.  After receipt of the application and further review by the D.A.R.E. Coordinators Office, an officer is scheduled for an oral board interview with a four-member panel. After successful completion of the interview, selection is made and the officer is scheduled for D.A.R.E. Officer training.  During the two weeks of D.A.R.E. Officer Training, the officer becomes familiar with the lesson plans associated with the D.A.R.E. Program. They also have the opportunity to make presentations on an assigned lesson plan.  In addition to written tests and homework, They are required to present an entire lesson plan to a fifth grade class.  During this lesson plan presentation, both a classroom teacher and a D.A.R.E. Mentor observe.  After successfully completing this task and others, graduation is complete.

For more information about D.A.R.E. check out D.A.R.E.America.com or the D.A.R.E.NH site.  For the kids, check out fun and games at the D.A.R.E. for Kids website.