D.A.R.E. Program
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
The D.A.R.E. program was started in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department along with the Unified School Systems of Los Angeles. To teach children about the dangers of drugs.
The D.A.R.E. program is a 17-week course aimed at 6th Grade students. The reason for teaching 6th graders is to reach children before they hit middle school where the peer pressure is prevalent. We want our youth to have a choice in their future.
Students learn "8 Ways To Say No" to drug offers, the consequences of drug use and abuse, different types of peer pressure, and alternatives to drug use. At the end of the curriculum, students must do an essay titled "Taking a Stand." Students tell what they plan to do instead of using drugs. The best essay written from each class will be read during the D.A.R.E. graduation, which will be announced later on during the school year.
This program had a profound effect in many civilian schools and military communities around the world, including the Vicenza community.
The program needs your assistance to continue to provide materials for the students that go through the curriculum and graduate. Help give the children of today a better tomorrow.
D.A.R.E. Visitation Classes
D.A.R.E. visitation classes are taught by trained and certified law enforcement officers. The visitation classes are not the same as the 6th grade D.A.R.E. curriculum.
D.A.R.E. visitation classes are scheduled for grades K through 4. These classes are held only once a month lasting from 15 to 30 minutes. For grades K through 2, there are four lessons and for grades 3 and 4, there are five lessons.
D.A.R.E. visitation classes help reinforce what children are taught by their parents, teachers, and police officers about being safe, never talking to strangers and learning to say no to drugs.
For the D.A.R.E. visitation program to be successful, parents must be there for their children. Parents must listen to their children, respect their feelings and points of view, and show they care by taking an active role in their children's lives.
Vicenza D.A.R.E. Instructor can be reached at 634-6702