The DARE Program - Supporting Young People's Choices
For quite some time, a dedicated effort has been helping young people learn about making good choices. This work, known as the DARE program, reaches millions of school-aged children every year, aiming to give them the tools they need to live safer, more productive lives. It's a significant undertaking, with many individuals and groups putting in the effort to support the growth and well-being of our community's youngest members.
This program, you know, has been around for a while, growing from its beginnings in a single city to becoming something that touches communities all across the nation and even in other countries. It's about providing a type of education that goes beyond just books and classrooms, trying to prepare kids for real-world situations they might face as they get older. The goal, in a way, is to build up a child's inner strength and decision-making skills.
What the program tries to do, basically, is equip young folks with the ability to resist things that could lead them down difficult paths, like involvement with certain substances or groups that might not have their best interests at heart. It's a broad approach, aiming to cover many aspects of a young person's life, and it has evolved quite a bit over the years to better serve its important purpose.
Table of Contents
- What is the DARE Program All About?
- The Roots of the DARE Program
- How Does the DARE Program Help Young People?
- Training for the DARE Program's Educators
- What Have We Learned About the DARE Program's Impact?
- Changes and Growth in the DARE Program
- What's Next for the DARE Program?
- The "Keepin' It Real" DARE Program Approach
What is the DARE Program All About?
The DARE program, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is, in some respects, a kind of school-based initiative that aims to teach young people how to avoid getting involved with harmful substances. It goes beyond just discussing drugs; it also addresses situations that could lead to gang involvement or acts of aggression. This program is designed to give kids practical abilities they can use in their daily lives, helping them make sensible choices when faced with various pressures. It's about building a foundation for healthier living and safer communities, really, by starting with the children themselves.
The Roots of the DARE Program
This particular program got its start back in 1983, a time when communities were looking for new ways to support young people. It was established by the Los Angeles Police Department, which saw a need for direct, preventative education within schools. From those early days, the program, you know, proved to be quite effective in its initial settings, leading to its adoption in many other places. It grew steadily, becoming a widely recognized effort to protect young individuals from various risks. Today, there are, apparently, more than 15,000 officers and deputies who work with the DARE program in over 10,000 communities all over the country, acting as a crucial first line of defense for America's young population.
How Does the DARE Program Help Young People?
The core idea behind the DARE program is to give children the necessary knowledge and abilities to resist negative influences. This means providing them with ways to say "no" to things that are not good for them, whether that's certain substances or situations that could lead to trouble. It's about empowering them, so to speak, with the confidence to make independent, sound decisions. The program tries to build up a child's personal strength, helping them navigate peer pressure and other challenges they might encounter as they grow up. Millions of school children all over the globe, actually, gain from this program each year, learning important lessons about staying safe and making positive life choices.
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Training for the DARE Program's Educators
For the DARE program to work as intended, the people teaching it need to be properly prepared. This involves a specific kind of instruction for the officers who deliver the lessons in schools. Over the past three years, for instance, a good number of these dedicated individuals have completed their training, with nearly 2,500 new officers receiving instruction in classroom settings. There's even an online learning resource that acts as a reliable place for DARE officers and other community members to find educational materials. This resource offers lessons about preventing problems, ensuring safety, and promoting good health. It includes, or might include in the future, coursework that officers and training staff complete as part of their initial preparation for teaching the DARE program, making sure they are well-equipped for their important role.
What Have We Learned About the DARE Program's Impact?
Over the years, people have looked closely at how well the DARE program works. For example, a survey conducted in 1993 by Gallup, involving just over 2,000 people who had completed the program, showed that more than 90 percent of them felt it had helped them stay away from certain substances. This kind of feedback, you know, gives us a sense of the program's perceived value from those who went through it. However, like many long-standing efforts, the program has also faced some discussions and viewpoints that suggest it might have limitations in bringing about lasting changes in behavior. These kinds of assessments have led to ongoing conversations among experts in school psychology about just how much of an effect the DARE program truly has over time.
Changes and Growth in the DARE Program
Recognizing the importance of staying current and effective, the DARE program has gone through significant adjustments. The idea behind these updates was to fix some of the issues that its earlier versions might have had. One key change, for instance, involved setting up an oversight group called DARE America. This group is a non-profit organization made up of people who specialize in preventing substance use and related issues. Their job, essentially, is to evaluate the program based on ongoing studies that look at how well it actually works, rather than focusing on political advantages. This shows a commitment to making sure the DARE program remains relevant and impactful. Back in the 1990s, for example, the United Kingdom taught the DARE lessons and was listed among the certified international DARE efforts. Over time, however, the main organization overseeing their DARE program changed the lessons and started using people other than just trained law enforcement officers to teach it, showing how the program can adapt and shift in its approach.
What's Next for the DARE Program?
The DARE program has certainly seen its share of changes and adaptations, and it continues to evolve. While some earlier versions of the program may have faced difficulties, the current DARE program has worked to address and correct many of those past challenges. It now aims to reach students from different backgrounds, recognizing that young people come from varied life experiences and may need different approaches. For instance, by the year 2000, when the program was, perhaps, at its most widespread, it was used in up to 75 percent of American school districts, reaching more than 26 million students each year. This shows the vast reach and influence the program has had. The growth of the DARE program across the nation has meant a continuous need for evaluation and improvement, so it can keep providing valuable support to young people. Regional Training Centers, or RTCs, were established to help spread the DARE program, with grants given to departments like the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Illinois State Police, the Los Angeles Police Department, and Virginia State Police. In 1989, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation was also funded as the fifth RTC, further expanding the program's reach.
The "Keepin' It Real" DARE Program Approach
One of the newer parts of the DARE program is called "Keepin' It Real," and it's offered in three different versions, which is pretty interesting. This particular part of the program is seen as more than just a set of lessons; it's considered a promise to give young people the knowledge and abilities they need to resist using harmful substances and to live lives that are healthier and more fulfilling. It's about helping them make sensible choices that lead to a better future. The people involved with the program are, apparently, quite proud of the good influence it has had so far and are looking forward to what it might achieve in the future. For example, the Florida Drug Abuse Resistance Education program recently saw 27 officers from 12 different law enforcement groups complete their training, showing the ongoing commitment to this work. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, or FDLE, acts as the state coordinator for DARE, with key people like Inspector David Bullard and Research and Training Specialist Lee Herring involved in its efforts. People like Julia Manning, who was a very active member of the Youth Advisory Board from 2016 to 2019 and is now an alumni, show the lasting connection people have with the DARE program, with Julia even being recognized with a special DARE award in 2019.
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