KLEIN SHOULD FUND DARE, SAYS M.D.

The Alberta government needs to recognize the value of the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education program and fund it properly to help young children
stay away from drugs, says the M.D. of Big Lakes.

Council gave its full support to a resolution which calls for the Klein
government to fund the program. It will be considered at the Family and
Community Support Services Association of Alberta conference in Jasper on
Nov. 17.

Big Lakes Family and Community Services director Vivian Torrens wrote her
recommendation to council for debate at its Oct. 24 meeting.

"(DARE) needs to be recognized on a provincial level as it is currently not
being provided universally and is one of the most effective drug awareness
programs in the province," she wrote. "Community contributions vary across
the province and some children fall through the cracks."

Torrens added support for the DARE program in High Prairie was excellent
and that the RCMP have never come to FCS for money. However, that does
happen in smaller communities.

Council agreed unanimously to support the request.

The resolution was brought forward by Sturgeon County FCSS, who asked the
Alberta government to fund a province-wide Grade 6 program.

"The DARE program is one of few formal preventive drug resistance programs
targeted at young Albertans, and is currently offered in many
municipalities in Alberta by local police forces as a voluntary activity of
some members," reads Sturgeon's resolution. "The cooperation between many
school jurisdictions and police forces in the province has provided the
opportunity to reach children in Grade 6 for the delivery of the DARE
program; however, the DARE program can not be provided to all children due
to a lack of funding."

Council agreed to send two councillors and Torrens to the convention to
support the resolution.

Another resolution being supported by council is to continue to lobby the
Alberta government to ensure the current FCSS funding formula continues to
be addressed. FCSS officials are worried that funding will be frozen while
costs increase in the area of serving a rising population, the increased
cost of doing business, the increased demand for preventive programming and
reduction of services from other providers, to name a few.