Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
- How does a police officer become a DARE Officer ?
- How much does it cost to operate a DARE Program ?
- Does the DARE Program really work ?
- As a concerned parent can I observe D.A.R.E. presentations ?
- I have heard that D.A.R.E. Officers do not allow their students to take their workbooks home. Why ?
- Are the side effects listed in your drug information page common ?
- Do police officer really eat donuts ?
How does a police officer become a DARE Officer ?
Each agency has their own set guidelines and qualifications to fill the position of DARE Officer. Once an agency has selected their officer, the officer must attend and pass a DARE Officers Training (DOT) course located at one of the Regional Training Centers. This course is extremely challenging and at the same time rewarding. Not all officers that attend the "DOT" become certified and therefore cannot teach the program.
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How much does it cost a community to operate a DARE program?
The cost to operate a DARE program in a community varies on several things. Depending on what extent the program is taught, how many officers are teaching the program at their respective pay levels, and where the community is getting their money to pay for the program.
Some communities can only afford to present the core curriculum which is taught at either 5th or 6th grade level. Others have Kindergarten through Senior High School, and Parent Programs. Some police departments pay for the program totally, some share the expense with the school district they serve, and some school district pay for the program totally.
States can apply for Federal funds through the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Formula Grant Program. The States make subawards to State and local agencies for drug and crime prevention and control programs and for criminal justice system improvements. The funds may be used for any of 26 authorized purpose areas, one of which is "demand reduction education programs in which law enforcement officers participate," such as D.A.R.E. Any community interested in obtaining funding for a D.A.R.E. program should contact its State office responsible for administration of the Formula Grant Program. The addresses and telephone numbers of the State offices are listed below.
Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 6000 Rockville, MD 20849-6000
Phone# 800-688-4252 U.S.Department of Justice Response Center
Phone# 800-421-6770
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Does the DARE Program really work ?
Yes it does. The DARE Program is an international program taught in countries all over the world. There have been a number of studies done on the effectiveness of DARE. I have listed some of the studies on the Effectiveness Page of this site. Being a DARE Officer myself, I have seen the effects that educating our youth has. Some people have implied that DARE does not work because drug use in our country is on the rise. DARE never said it was a cure all for the drug problem our country faces. Only part of the solution, through education.
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As a concerned parent can I observe D.A.R.E. presentations ?
Yes, I encourage parents to come and observe my classes. I had a parent attend one of my classes and was so impressed with the program they came to the rest of the sessions. As with all visitations to a school in session, you must check-in with the school office or administrator of the school to properly gain access. Check with your local D.A.R.E. Officer or school official to see if there is any other information you might need.
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I have heard that D.A.R.E. Officers do not allow the students to take their workbooks home. Why not?
During the D.A.R.E. curriculum, students are given their own book to write and work in. If they take the book home and forget it, they do not have anything to work in when the program resumes. At the end of the program they keep the workbook and may take it home. My first year as a D.A.R.E. Officer I forgot to tell a 6th grade class on the first day of the curriculum, not to take the workbook home. The next day for D.A.R.E., 30 percent of the students had either forgotten it or lost it, just because they removed it from the classroom. I never made that mistake again. I just do not have enough books to keep replacing them.
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Are the side effects listed in your Drug Information page common ?
We in Law Enforcement deal with all aspects of drug use and abuse, from the common to the bizarre. The possible side effects listed in the Drug Information Page are just that, Possible. Some are very rare where others are quite the norm. In dealing with these uses or abuses, we want to know the worse-case-scenarios of what could happen, so that we are properly prepared. After all, it is expected of us. I like to put it into this context: Wouldn't you want to know ALL of the possible side effects if you were going into surgery, or taking a new medication that the Doctor has prescribed for you ?
We are talking about a persons well-being now, aren't we ?
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Do police officers really eat donuts ?
No! Police Officers do not eat donuts; we eat pastries.