DARE OFFICER HEADS TO PHILIPPINES

Joins Canadian Team Offering Assistance

It took a dare for Wendy Moraghan to finally get to do some overseas
travel. That's DARE as in the police enforcement program Drug Abuse
Resistance Education.

The DARE constable with Halton Regional Police has been selected to be part
of a team of six officers from across Ontario to represent the Canadian
Training Team which went to the Philippines yesterday (Thursday).

Halton police say it marks the first time that DARE International has
sought outside assistance in training and certifying new DARE officers.
Until now the Canadian Training Team, in existence since 1999, had only
trained officers within Canada.

Most police officers in Ontario, and some from other provinces, receive
their DARE training at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer.

The upcoming overseas mission is to impart trained officers' knowledge
about the internationally-recognized DARE program to 36 Philippine police
officers and five Philippine educators.

Moraghan and five other Ontario-based officers, plus a retired civilian
school educator, will be stationed in the island nation's southern city of
Davao City for 2 1/2 weeks.

There they will branch off and each teach a core group of six Philippine
police officers. The goal is to certify the contingent as DARE officers in
their own country so they can carry on the program's teachings.

DARE is a worldwide program that seeks to forewarn and educate primary,
elementary, middle school and high school students, and their parents,
about the potential perils of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

However, when it comes to DARE in Canada most people think of its work with
Grade 6s.

Moraghan is a 20-year veteran of Halton police. The 41-year-old Nelson High
School graduate spent the first 10 years as a civilian member as a
dispatcher, summons server and an escort officer. She has been involved in
Halton's DARE program for the last five years.

"There are about 3,500 kids at least that I've taught, mostly in the Milton
area."

All of the children in her blended family have gone through the program as
well.

She swears by the messages that DARE officers bring to young,
impressionable minds.

"In Halton, the impact the program has on kids is it gives them the
knowledge to make good decisions for a lifetime, and that they can approach
police and talk to them.

"If you can reach a few kids in every class, then you've achieved
something," she said.

That's the goal of DARE world wide.

The DARE International Web site says its specially trained police officers
don't just tell adolescents to say 'no' to getting involved in drugs,
alcohol, tobacco or violence, they also teach them how to say 'no'.

DARE says it aims to accomplish that by providing students in 58 countries
with accurate information about drugs, alcohol and tobacco, teaching
students about decision-making skills and the consequences of their
behaviour. In addition, the program builds students' self-esteem while
teaching them how to resist peer pressure and make responsible choices.

The journey to the Philippines is not due to any pressing issues in that
country, said Moraghan. When a country calls for whatever reason, DARE
responds she said.

"I wouldn't say there is a worse drug problem there than here. We want them
to go through the process before they face those decisions," she said of
pre-teens and teens everywhere.

"They already have a DARE program; they just want to train more officers."

On the DARE International Web site there is a quote attributed to a master
teacher in General Santos City in the Philippines praising the program.
"DARE provides the most comprehensive and preventive education for kids to
keep away from drugs and violence," said Leonida Domantay.

Moraghan noted there have been two new developments within DARE.

An additional thematic phrase for the acronym has been added -- Define
Assess Respond Evaluate.

Also, the patented program has been re-written, resulting in the need for
the teaching officers to be re-trained.