The D.A.R.E. Program

The D.A.R.E. Program is a curriculum teaching fifth-grade students about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. In addition, students are introduced to the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model. This component can be used by students to help them make wise choices about alcohol and drugs or to assist in making decisions about any of life’s problems. The 12 lessons taught for the D.A.R.E. Program cover other topics such as the harmful effects of smoking, alcohol, and drugs as well as peer pressure and bullying. This program is offered to schools within the city to include Sioux Falls and Harrisburg public and Sioux Falls private and Catholic schools.

Three full-time D.A.R.E. Officers teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum. Last school year, we delivered the program to approximately 71 fifth-grade classrooms in 30 different schools. This school year has 31 schools with the addition of Rosa Parks, and we will have right at 80 classrooms involved. As you can see, we share the growing pains right along with the schools.

Drug-free activities promoting healthy lifestyles were continued in the program in 2007. This year, events were held at Great Bear, Carousel Skate, Canaries Baseball, and Wild Water West. After two successful years, the School Resource Officers handed over the responsibility of the Kids Camps to the D.A.R.E. Officers. With help from sponsor Sioux Falls Federal Credit Union, six Kids Camps were held at the various middle schools with a total of 285 kids attending. This three-day camp was offered to graduates of the D.A.R.E. Program and included several activities. A few of these activities included canine, S.W.A.T., Fire Rescue, and Rural/Metro Ambulance presentations as well as numerous handson activities like crime scene investigation.

All three D.A.R.E. Officers have attended basic and advanced school resource officer training and are assigned several elementary schools in that capacity and to assist the S.R.O.s at their schools. Other assignments they have assisted with include the training of new recruits, firearms range courses, and the child safety seat program. With these additional tasks, the Officers are assigned to the Community Services Division full-time rather than just the school year.