Teaching children the skills to say “NO” to alcohol, drugs & violence is the focus of D.A.R.E. The program was developed in 1983 as a joint venture of the Los Angeles Police Department & the Los Angeles Unified School District. The program is taught to 6th grade students and provides coping skills necessary for managing the personal pressures, which can lead to drug & alcohol experimentation, and/or violence.
The Downers Grove Police Department began its D.A.R.E. program in 1993. The unique feature of D.A.R.E. is the use of police officers as instructors. These officers receive intensive training, to enable them to effectively teach in the classroom. In the selection of officers, great emphasis is placed on human relations & communication skills.
The schools in the program include the 11 elementary schools in District 58,as well as Herrick & O’Neill Jr. high schools and parochial schools St. Mary of Gostyn, St. Joseph and Downers Grove Christian.
The 10-week D.A.R.E. program focuses on four major areas:
Each school has a D.A.R.E. officer assigned to the school. The officer spends the entire day at the school spending recess & lunch with the 6th grade. When not teaching the 6th grade, the officer will visit the 5th grade for the 4 week V.E.G.A. program. As time allows, the D.A.R.E. officers also visit the K – 4th grades, with a D.A.R.E. curriculum specially designed for each grade level.
While assigned as a D.A.R.E. officer, officers participate in school activities, coordinated community-based presentations, & work to further relations with the community by supporting civic events.
The position of D.A.R.E. Officer is a specialty assignment, which the Officer serves for 5 years. After being chosen for the position, the Officer receives specialized training to become certified to teach the D.A.R.E. program.
Downers Grove currently has 2 active D.A.R.E. Officers, Officer Rob McMahon and Officer Jim Edwards. Please email your DARE Officers. with any questions, comments or concerns.
V.E.G.A. (Violence Education and Gang Awareness) is taught in the classroom to Downers Grove 5th graders to reduce & prevent gang involvement & violence among young people. The purpose is to help students become aware of the destructive nature of gangs and violence and to develop more positive ways of dealing with these issues.
The 4-week V.E.G.A. program offers prevention strategies and discusses communication skills, decision-making, conflict resolution, self-esteem, peer & social pressures, positive alternative activities to gangs, and other negative activities.
The program is taught by a specially trained police officer that is D.A.R.E. certified.
The V.E.G.A. curriculum was developed by the Illinois State Police DARE Division and Illinois educators.
Lesson 1 – Gangs – A Matter of Choice. This lesson is designed to help students develop knowledge of basic facts about gangs & the destructive consequences of gang membership.
Lesson 2 – Violence & its Victims This lesson is designed to help students understand what causes anger and frustration & that violence IS NOT a constructive solution.
Lesson 3 – The Circle of Violence This lesson is designed to help students recognize how different ideas & feelings cause people to disagree, which can cause situations to escalate to the point of violence & victimization.
Lesson 4 – Peacemakers Not Peace Breakers This lesson is designed to help students apply the problem solving skills and pro-social skills in a situation to avoid the risk of impulsive or aggressive behavior.
Last edited by Public Relations Specialist, 10 days ago
