D.A.R.E. is a drug abuse and violence prevention education program that began in Los Angeles in 1983 and has spread across the country, through urban and rural communities. Last year, the curriculum had been updated and improved. The program provides students with the skills to recognize and resist the social pressures to experiment with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Lessons include D.A.R.E. Decision-Making Model, Tobacco Education, Alcohol Education, The Real Truth in Advertising, and Friendship Foundation. It is structured to build positive relationships between the Police Department and the school faculty and community.

The D.A.R.E. Program works at building a trusted relationship between the officer and student and opening up an avenue of communication to influence a child's attitude and future course of action. Parents are also encouraged to participate in the program by assisting with instruction at home and with special activities that the children are encouraged to complete at home. This type of contact enables the parent/guardian to become involved with the child in a positive surrounding and establishes a strong foundation for the child to resist unwanted behaviors.

D.A.R.E. instruction is provided to the students in the 5th grade at Millington and Saint Vincent de Paul schools. Each D.A.R.E. officer has completed an 80-hour instructional course and has been trained to teach and instruct the students throughout the school year using a curriculum provided by the National D.A.R.E. Association. The program is taught once a week for fifteen weeks.  The D.A.R.E program is funded by completely by donations and D.A.R.E New Jersey.  Each year  we have been able to provide the D.A.R.E students  with tee-shirts, an all day field trip and a fun filled graduation held at Watchung Hills High School Performing Arts Center.  This is at no cost to the families.

If parents have any questions about the program, feel free to contact Officer Lisa Winstock 908-647-2038