D.A.R.E. Program

About the D.A.R.E. Program

D.A.R.E. The Valdez Police Department is committed to the service and protection of the youth of our community. They truly are our future leaders! As the challenges which face our youth rapidly change so must all of our efforts to ensure each and every young person has an opportunity to not only survive those challenges but to succeed and flourish.

The youth of today are bombarded with enticement and risk of all kinds: Violence by individuals and groups, Internet Stalking, Alcohol use/abuse, Sexting (inappropriate/illegal pictures sent by text message), Drug use/abuse, Cyber Bullying through the use of the internet and cellular phones, Prescription Medication abuse, Sexual Assault, and many other complex challenges.

We are taking an "All Hands on Deck" approach and wish to partner with parents, churches, schools, and civic groups to assist in educating and strengthening our youth. One recent effort has been to prepare one of the VPD officers, through formal training, as a D.A.R.E. instructor. D.A.R.E. has made significant evolution since its inception in the early 1980s. The curriculum was reduced from 17 lessons to 10 providing the class room teacher more instruction time. The content of the lessons changed from a focus on drugs and alcohol, to helping kids make safe and responsible decisions using a decision making model. There is a lesson format for 5^th graders and a lesson format for 6-9^th graders. At the conclusion of the 10 lesson course the kids graduate from D.A.R.E. in a formal ceremony.

There are other presentations for youth, parents and the community as well. They are enhancement lessons designed to address specific issues. They are typically one or two lessons in length and may be used on a "need" basis. One lesson is typically one hour, they are as follows:

-Basic D.A.R.E. 5 lesson course for k-4^th graders

-Rx OTC Drugs specific to 5^th grade, 6-9, 10-12^th graders and a community presentation

-Internet Safety specific to age groups, and a parent/community presentation

-Cyber Bullying 5^th grade

-Gang and Group Violence 5^th grade

-Current Trends in Drug Use a parent/community presentation

These presentations may be altered to accommodate a variety of age groups. Our D.A.R.E. officer can address other needs and customize presentations when requested. We are excited to offer this resource to the community and look forward to working together to have a positive impact on the success of the great youth of Valdez, Alaska! To visit with the D.A.R.E. officer please contact the Valdez Police Department at 907-835-4560.