D.A.R.E. PARENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Background

Following the introduction of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) to fifth and sixth graders, school administrators and adults associated with the program saw a need to involve the family and community in the prevention effort. It was felt that families and communities have the greatest affect on child rearing practices, attitudes, values and behaviors which may in turn influence whether children will abuse drugs or become involved in violence. Current research in this area substantiates these perceptions and reinforces the need to involve families in prevention programs. The Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Prevention Resource Center and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, designed this program for families and other interested adults in order to enhance their knowledge and the skills needed to reduce children's risks of substance abuse and violent activity.

The D.A.R.E. Parent Program was piloted at 30 sites throughout Illinois during the 1990 Spring semester as part of the Illinois State Police D.A.R.E. expanded activities program. Approximately 500 adults participated in the pilot program. The following activities were used to evaluate the program's effectiveness: participant completion of individual session evaluations; instructor involvement in a debriefing session; and summary data analyses. These results indicated a distinct need to continue the program. The current D.A.R.E. Parent Program is the result of the pilot program revisions and the dedication of many adults, parents, teachers, school administrators and police officers who have given their time, encouragement and feedback to support continuing efforts to guide our children toward a drug-free society.

D.A.R.E. Parent Program Curriculum

The D.A.R.E. Parent Program is intended for families of children who are presently in the D.A.R.E. program and other interested adults. The focus is on developing better skills to interact with children, learning about peer pressures and identifying signs and reducing risks of potential substance abuse and violent behavior.

The program consists of six two-hour sessions generally held in the evening. Sessions address:

The D.A.R.E. Parent Program is taught by a D.A.R.E. Officer who has completed teaching two semesters of the core curriculum. Additionally, officers must attend the 36-hour training program available through a D.A.R.E. Regional Training Center.

An evaluation is given after each session to allow participants the opportunity on the content and delivery of the program.

Goals

The goals of the D.A.R.E. Parent Program are to: 1) help strengthen the basic elements taught to students in the D.A.R.E. program; 2) enhance and help develop awareness of drug trends existing in the community; and 3) assist families in acquiring the information and skills necessary to reduce their children's risks of substance abuse and involvement in violent behavior.

Objectives

The objectives of the program are: 1) to practice communication and listening skills, and to identify self-esteem building skills; 2) to help families recognize the scope of the drug abuse, violence and the risk factors for young people associated with each; 3) to discuss attitudes and consequences regarding the use of alcohol and other drugs; 4) to help families obtain basic drug information and gain an understanding of the stages of adolescent chemical dependency; 5) to evaluate the impact of pressure to use drugs by peers and the media, and to identify resistance skills; 6) to help families become aware of the overall drug picture as it relates to their community as a whole, to identify community resources and referrals, and to identify risk factors which may be addressed in the home; and 7) to identify violence young people may encounter, possible causes of violent behavior and to discuss strategies to reduce violent behavior.

Sessions/Descriptions:

Session 1: Effective Communications

Self-esteem, listening and communication skills are critical in adult-child communication. The practice of these skills will assist in the development of stronger family communications essential to prevention. Session 1 serves as the foundation for the program and will be referred to throughout the other sessions.

Session 2: Drug Abuse Prevention - Birth Through Eight Years

Designed specifically for parents of children ages birth - 8, this session provides an awareness of safety measures which can be used in the home to reduce the likelihood of dangerous exposure to drugs. In addition, the session introduces strategies parents can use to reduce the likelihood that young children will be at risk of drug abuse when they become adolescents.

Session 3: Drug Abuse Prevention and Intervention - Ages Nine Through Adolescence

This session introduces the risk factors for substance abuse in early adolescents, and introduces parents to basic drug identification and the stages of adolescent chemical dependency.

Session 4: Youth Pressures/Resistance Skills

Through this session, awareness and understanding of life skills, particularly in the areas of dealing with peer pressure and media influences, the family network is strengthened.

Session 5: Violence-Prevention Strategies and Conflict Resolution

This session will introduce sources of violence, gang indicators and prevention strategies which relate to homes, neighborhoods, schools and communities.

Session 6: Panel Discussion

Members of the community from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds will discuss the scope of substance abuse and violence locally and exchange ideas on resources and referrals. Panel members are selected from a cross section of the community and may include: educators, students, therapists/counselors, prevention professionals and other community leaders.

Summary

The D.A.R.E. Parent Program is designed to stimulate interest in the community and to motivate families to take a more active role in the prevention of substance abuse and community violence. The content of the sessions provides participants the opportunity to become more involved and gives them access to community resources. This pooling of resources can assist participants in making a more positive impact on the future of children.

The D.A.R.E. Lessons
K, 1st, or 2nd Grade Curriculum
3rd / 4th Grade Curriculum | 5th / 6th Grade Curriculum
Junior High Curriculum | Senior High Curriculum
Parent Program Curriculum