D.A.R.E.

(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program is a cooperative effort between the local school system and local law enforcement to equip children with the knowledge and tools necessary to make healthy choices about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and violence. All D.A.R.E. Officers are trained and certified by D.A.R.E. America.

As part of the crime prevention strategy of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, one Deputy serves as a D.A.R.E. Officer for the county elementary schools. The D.A.R.E. Officer works primarily with fifth grade students at Bethel, Jonathan Valley, Junaluska, Clyde, and Riverbend Elementary Schools and serves as a School Resource Officer for these schools.

In 2007 there were 474 students who graduated from the 9 week D.A.R.E. program. The D.A.R.E. Officer taught programs to fourth grade boys in all five elementary schools about the signs of, and ways to deal with, bullying.

An additional goal of D.A.R.E., besides drug and violence prevention, is to act as a role model and to build rapport between the youth of Haywood County and the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. The D.A.R.E. officer routinely joins students for lunch and is regularly approached by students in crisis.

The D.A.R.E. officer works closely with Guidance Counselors and Principals of the elementary schools as a School Resource Officer and addresses such matters as school security, health and safety, parking issues, and domestic and custody issues involving parents of the students.

The D.A.R.E. Officer is regularly called on to counsel students about absenteeism, behavioral problems, and making wise choices. The D.A.R.E. Officer routinely makes appearances outside of the D.A.R.E. classes to speak to special children’s and community groups about drug use and prevention. These events often included the Child Identi-kit Program giving parents peace of mind.