DAREING TO EXPAND WITH THE EXPERTISE OF PARTNERSHIPS

Fraser Cascade School District (SD #78) wants to implement a new,
comprehensive curriculum of anti-drug education in its schools and is
seeking help from its community partners.

Representatives from several drug and abuse prevention programs and
services were in Hope last week to provide input for the idea.

According to Superintendent Dr. Wes Neumeier, curriculum components
will be focused on prevention, intervention and treatment. The
curriculum will cross reference the components of existing school
programs that already teach students healthy decision-making and
refusal skills, he said.

Currently, schools are left to use their professional judgement as to
which learning outcomes require the most attention and how that
attention will be given.

"The Board of School Trustees felt that preparing young children to
cope with the ever present drug culture required a more comprehensive,
consistent approach," he explained. "The curriculum development effort
is a result of that vision."

He said the curriculum will "scope and sequence" existing community
support programs including the RCMP's D.A.R.E. program, and the school
district will fill in gaps with existing and new resources.

Dr. Neumeier met with SD #78's community partners at Hope Secondary
School. Several of them outlined their programs in brief
presentations. They included representatives of the RCMP's D.A.R.E.
program, Agassiz-Harrison and Hope Community Services, Mission's
Fraser House and the Canadian Red Cross.

"This effort cannot be done in isolation without our community
partners because our partners bring particular skills that we don't
necessarily have available inhouse," he said. "We want to be sure that
every student in every school in Fraser Cascade School District is
capable of saying no to substance abuse, and is supported in embracing
a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle."

RCMP Cpl. Sharon Cooke trains other police officers to teach the
D.A.R.E. program. She said she is excited at the prospect of seeing
these partners come together to create a "continuum" of awareness education.

"It is survival; what these kids are being faced with is frightening,"
she said. "It's the sign of the times what kids have to deal with."

Olive Harrison, Field Coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross, outlined
several abuse prevention programs being taught by her organization.
She said she is impressed with the school district's initiative. She
believes it will benefit youth and will help build healthier
communities.

"It is a big undertaking by the school district but it is a move in
the right direction," she said. "I think every agency around abuse
prevention education fits together in that we are working toward one
common goal - to provide safety for youth and help them achieve a
healthy lifestyle."

Dr. Neumeier said the curriculum's framework will take into account
that students are in various stages of awareness when it comes to
being exposed to drugs and alcohol usage.

Agassiz-Harrison Community Services Drug and Alcohol Addictions
Councillor Bill Turner was also present for the Hope meeting. He said
he can provide training for presenters, if the need arises, and has
various connections within the addictions field who can be brought
forward.

Turner calls the initiative wonderful and long overdue.

"I can assist a great deal simply in the knowledge department," he
explained. "Also very important is that I am in the Fraser Health
Authority System and can provide materials and possibly address some
funding needs down the road."