DARE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL IN ALBANY

Others have dropped it, but police say it's worth keeping for contact
with young people

Albany police are the last remaining officers in Linn County to be
teaching DARE, a drug resistance education program aimed at
fifth-graders.

The program in Albany schools is "alive and well," said Officer Ken
Fandrem, one of the police department's three school resource
officers. "Our schools love it. The police department loves it. The
students love it."

The Linn County Sheriff's Office and Sweet Home and Lebanon police
departments at one time all taught DARE but have dropped the program
because of budget restraints or deciding to do their own programs for
kids of all ages.

DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a national
program taught by officers and deputies who have taken 80 hours of
special training.

Inside classrooms, the officers teach students about the dangers of
marijuana, inhalants, alcohol and tobacco. The program also covers
topics such as gangs and violence.

The program uses the acronym DARE to teach kids to "Define, Assess,
Respond and Evaluate" their decisions, whether about drugs or other
decisions such as sneaking out of the house.

Throughout the nine-week program -- the 10th week is a graduation
ceremony -- students work through a colorful workbook, ask and answer
questions, practice using the decision-making model in groups and
write an essay.

For Albany police, one of the main reasons to continue the program is
to have a positive interaction with kids.

Fandrem said he spends time on the playground with the students, talks
with them about his family and pets, and even lets the students pinch
his arm to see that he's a real person.

He said he wants kids to know that "I'm their friend. I'm trying to
give them information that will help them be successful in life."

Some studies on the DARE program's effectiveness have been
inconclusive.

"This is our chance to be effective in nine hours. How can you measure
how effective that's going to be in a child's life?" said Sgt. Curtis
Hyde, who supervises the school resource officers.

He posed this question: If a DARE graduate decides to use drugs but
later on gets clean and straightens out his life, is that a failure or
a success?

Police say the program requires three parts: police, schools and
parents.

Periwinkle Elementary School holds its DARE graduation in the evening
so parents can attend.

Fifth-grade teacher Burl Wheaton said his students get excited about
having an officer in the classroom, "somebody different than me."

He said it's a great program and wishes there was more follow up in
the middle and high schools.

+HOW TO HELP

DONATIONS: In Albany, the DARE program is funded through the police
department's budget and donations. Anyone wanting to donate to the
DARE program may call Sgt. Curtis Hyde at the Albany Police Department
at 917-7680.

CRUISE: The DARE to Cruise Albany car show, which will benefit DARE,
is planned for July 14 in downtown Albany.