FIFTH-GRADE PARENTS GET SCHOOLED BY D.A.R.E. IN DRUG PREVENTION

Dover Police Chief William W. Fenniman, Jr. announced last week that the
Dover Police Department will be offering a special drug prevention program
for the parents of fifth-grade DARE students. The program is known as the
Drug Free Dover - Parents Program.

The Parents Program will be offered in the months of November, December,
and January. A culmination celebration follows the conclusion of the
program as an incentive for those parents and students that complete the
program. The three sessions, which last approximately two hours each, will
be offered several times to make it easier for the parents to attend. Child
care will be available.

The purpose of the Parents Program is to ensure that parents have the most
up-to-date information about current drug and alcohol trends and issues, as
well as strategies used in the D.A.R.E. curriculum. Fenniman said, "Parents
are our most critical allies. If their messages at home support and are
consistent with what is taught by the D.A.R.E. officers, then the D.A.R.E.
message becomes that much more powerful."

If a parent is unable to participate, a grandparent, adult sibling or any
other responsible adult involved with the student's life may participate.
Two parents from the same household can split the responsibilities for
attending the training sessions. In addition to the culmination event,
participating parents will be provided with a Drug Free Dover sweatshirt.
Students of participating parents will receive a T-shirt and their Drug
Free Dover ID earlier.

This is the eighth year that the Police Department has offered the Parents
Program. Last year the parents of 122 students participated. Information
sheets and registration forms have been sent home with students during the
first week of D.A.R.E. classes. Any parent with questions regarding the
Parents Program may call Officer Stephen Meserve at XXX-XXXX.