D.A.R.E. Program
The D.A.R.E. program is taught in all 50 states and internationally in 49 other countries. D.A.R.E.'s main goal is to teach students good decision-making skills to help them lead safe and healthy lives. Making safe and healthy decisions induces resisting drugs, peer pressure, and violence through alternative activities with positive consequences.
D.A.R.E. is taught in fifth-grade classes. Research has shown this to be a time when children are very receptive to anti-drug messages, particularly as they approach the age associated with drug experimentation. The curriculum focuses on knowledge and skill development in seven areas: 1) cognitive information, 2) recognizing pressures, 3) refusal skills, 4) consequential thinking and risk-taking, 5) interpersonal and communications skills, 6) decision making, and 7) positive alternatives. Some of the D.A.R.E. lessons focus on raising awareness in these skill areas, while others emphasize their practical application.
D.A.R.E. requires that specially trained, uniformed police officers conduct the lessons in the classroom. D.A.R.E. brings firsthand accounts of the officers' experiences from the street to the classroom. This not only intrigues students but also helps to foster a positive relationship between the students and police officers. While the officers conduct the D.A.R.E. lessons, a licensed teacher is required to be present in the classroom. The D.A.R.E. program meets the core educational standards of health sciences, language arts, and math. Not only are the officers reinforcing the school's curriculum, but the teachers are reinforcing the D.A.R.E. curriculum.
The lessons provide factual information about drugs with an emphasis on alcohol and tobacco. D.A.R.E. also provides supplemental lessons about synthetic drugs, marijuana, and methamphetamines. Refusal skills are taught through role-playing and other techniques. D.A.R.E. has undergone revisions to address a curriculum that is science-based and age-appropriate. D.A.R.E. has broadened its focus to include conflict resolution, bullying, gang prevention, and parent education.
Sedalia is proud of our 20+ year involvement with D.A.R.E. The Sedalia Police Department has had D.A.R.E. officers of every rank teaching in the classroom. The Sedalia Police Department has two of the ten Missouri D.A.R.E. Mentors, or those who aid in the training of new D.A.R.E. Officers. The current D.A.R.E. Officers/Mentors are Sergeant Brad Beard and Officer Rodney Collins. Visit DARE.com for more information.
D.A.R.E. Program College Scholarship
The Sedalia D.A.R.E. program offers one $500.00 college scholarship to the graduating seniors of Smith-Cotton and Sacred Heart High Schools who graduated from the D.A.R.E. program. This scholarship may be applied to college enrollment, books, or any other college expenses. Please contact the D.A.R.E. officer for more information.
D.A.R.E Officer
Sergeant Brad Beard
Sedalia Middle School & St. Paul's Jr. High
(660) 826-8100
bbeard@sedaliapolice.com