Inevitably, every one of us will play a game of Truth or Dare in our lifetime. But in our East Orlando elementary schools there is another type of Dare going on and it is far from a game – and that’s the Truth. D.A.R.E. or Drug Abuse Resistance Education is a program designed to teach elementary school fifth graders to identify and resist the social pressures to use dangerous drugs and avoid violence. The nine lesson curriculum is a tool used to combat drugs and violence in local schools and communities. Arguably, there is a greater need for such education today more than ever before.

“Today’s youth are exposed to domestic violence situations, substance abuse and gang concerns within the

communities they live,” says Corporal Joe McCollom, first line supervisor for the Student Resource Officer (SRO) Elementary East squad for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. “This coupled with a continued focus on a crime control initiative against violent and overall crimes in the Orlando Area, now more than ever it is an important time to have a prevention program that promotes an anti-drug, anti-violence, and anti-gang initiative for our youth.”

Most parents are aware of the D.A.R.E. program and what it offers as far as curriculum is concerned, but did you know that it is also vital to building strong relationships in your community and helping reduce crime? In addition to the prevention program, there is often a strong rapport developed between the Elementary SRO, the students and faculty, according to McCollom. “Because of this developed rapport it helps law enforcement for intelligence gathering in efforts to suppress crime.” And that means safer neighborhoods for all. “This helps the community overall by having students willing to help keep their own neighborhoods safe, so that they are not afraid to walk and play in their own streets,” he says. “They are continually taught to be positive citizens of their own communities and to help keep it safe and do the right thing.”

After a deputy completes their 80-hour training and certification they are assigned to a school and begin building relationships while rooting themselves in the school and community they swore to protect. “We believe in being an active participant with our youth and the Orange County Public Schools working together for safer schools and

communities,” says McCollom. In lieu of teaching the D.A.R.E. program, SROs also instruct supplemental lessons that address bullying, gangs, and over-the-counter drugs to students. Officers also conducts visitations with kindergarten through forth grade by teaching overall safety tips. They are also responsible for assisting the school, road patrol and other various units of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office with school related matters, traffic enforcement, crime prevention efforts and address various law enforcement matters at the schools to which they are assigned.

Having an SRO at the school to D.A.R.E. kids to resist drugs and violence helped 24 elementary schools in East Orlando throughout 2007-08 teach 2,798 students search for the truth in a D.A.R.E. With more than a 96 percent graduation rate, students are paying attention to what law enforcement has to say.

“We are another voice that can positively emphasize those dangers and provide an added insight to the pitfalls of being involved in drugs, violence and the consequences of making the wrong choices in life,” says McCollom. “The impact on the youth is only enhanced.”

Article By Corey Gehrold

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Does your child’s school offer a D.A.R.E. program? Find out right here.

East Orlando Elementary Schools Offering D.A.R.E.  Programs:

• Aloma
• Andover
• Arbor Ridge
• Avalon, Camelot
• Castle Creek
• Cheney
• Chickasaw
• Columbia
• Cypress Springs
• Deerwood
• East Lake
• Hidden Oaks
• Lawton Chiles
• Little River
• Moss Park
• Pinar
• Riverdale
• Stone Lakes
• Sunrise
• Three Points
• Timber Springs
• Union Park
• Waterford