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September 5, 1996
D.A.R.E.
Background[Click here to see photographs of common illegal drugs] courtesy of Shryock Communications
An increase in youth violence causes national D.A.R.E. leaders to change course curriculum. Drug awareness - helping children learn of the various effects of drugs - and teaching them how to say no is a big responsibility. The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office Drug Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) team has accepted this responsibility for the past four years.
The D.A.R.E. core curriculum is a 17-week series of officer-led classroom lessons that helps young people build self-esteem, learn how to deal effectively with unwanted peer pressure and find healthy and productive alternatives to drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs. Caddo Parish students are but a small part of the 25 millions students who will receive a positive impact of the dynamics of the D.A.R.E. program this year. Shreveport police department has five D.A.R.E. officers assigned.
Because of the alarming increase in youth violence, D.A.R.E. has changed its course curriculum nationally to incorporate lessons on violence prevention. Just as D.A.R.E. teaches children the practical skills they need to reject drugs and alcohol, it also focuses on keeping them from ever getting involved with violence through lessons on anger and conflict resolution.
Deputies Ron Holder, Al Newman, Larry Nunnery and Carl Wilkinson take on the challenge of teaching children within Caddo Parish the values of drug awareness and why they should say no to drugs.
Deputy Al Newman said the job gets difficult at times, "but you have to understand the importance of drug awareness and the important role it plays in keeping children throughout the Parish alerted to the harmful effect of drugs on their lives."
"We all should remember and/or realize these children are our tomorrow," Deputy Carl Wilkinson added. "If we don't do the right thing today, tomorrow will be to late. Then where will our country be?" he concluded.
Deputy Ron Holder says, "as part of a national effort, the curriculum for the fifth and six-graders has been changed to include lessons on violence prevention. It's equally important we reach our youth with a message on violence. It's a sad fact, but today more and more young people are both the victims and perpetrators of violent crimes."
"Many times these acts are drug related" he continued. "Just as D.A.R.E. teaches children the practical skills they need to reject drugs and alcohol, it is now focusing on preventing them from ever getting involved with violence through lessons on conflict resolution and anger as part of the D.A.R.E program."
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office conducted its pilot program for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Parent Program, the first to be offered in Northwest Louisiana.
The program, which was run in cooperation with Calvary Baptist Church, 9333 Linwood Ave., began Sept. 6 and continued each Wednesday for six weeks. Each two-hour session began at 7:00 p.m., with an optional meal beginning at 5:30 p.m. for a nominal fee. Calvary Baptist also provided free child care.
The D.A.R.E. Parent Program is intended for families of children who are currently in the D.A.R.E. program and other interested adults. The focus is on developing better skills to interact with children, learning about peer pressures and identifying signs and reducing risks of potential substance abuse and violent behavior.
The sessions address such topics as building self-esteem, listening, communication, and resistance skills, risk factors, peer pressure, media messages, drug recognition, reasons for drug use, conflict resolution, violence and gangs, stages of chemical dependency, resources and referrals. The content of the sessions will provide participants with the opportunity to become more involved and give them access to community resources.
The D.A.R.E. Parent Program is designed to help strengthen the basic elements taught to students in the traditional D.A.R.E. program, to enhance and help develop awareness of drug trends existing in the community, and to assist families in acquiring the information and skills necessary to reduce their children's risks of substance abuse and involvement in violent behavior.
The pilot Parent Program was taught by Caddo Sheriff's Deputy Carl Wilkinson, the only Northwest Louisiana D.A.R.E. Officer certified to conduct the course.
First D.A.R.E. Parent Program Course ends tomorrow night
The final class of the first D.A.R.E. Parent Program in Northwest Louisiana was held Wednesday, October 11, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in Room A-103 at Calvary Baptist Church on Linwood a half-mile north of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway will attend the closing session to answer questions about law enforcement's role in dealing with juvenile crime.
Caddo Parish Sheriff's Deputy Carl Wilkinson, the only Northwest Louisiana D.A.R.E. Officer certified to conduct the Parent course, began the pilot program Sept. 6. The closing session will feature a panel to discuss juvenile crime and what parents can do about it. In addition to Sheriff Hathaway, the panel will include will be Caddo Juvenile Judge David Matlock and Caddo Parish Schools Asst. Superintendent Ed Herron.
May 19, 1995
News Release
'Penny Power' at Timmons raises vest contribution
They called it "Penny Power" at Jack P. Timmons Elementary School in western Caddo Parish and they wanted it to make a difference.
As a result, a check to Caddo Parish Sheriff Don Hathaway for $102 was presented to Sheriff's Office Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Officer Ron Holder yesterday at the conclusion of D.A.R.E. graduation ceremonies for the school's fifth graders.
Over the past several weeks, "Penny Power" rounded up some 10,200 pennies from "the bottoms of mothers' purses" and anywhere else the children came across the copper-colored coins, Timmons Principal Sandra Denmark told Holder as she presented the check to him. She said the school's children want the donation earmarked to help purchase a protective vest for a Caddo Sheriff's deputy.
"In appreciation for the care you have given us this year," Denmark read from the students' letter to Holder that accompanied the check, "we as students of Jack P. Timmons would like to present the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office with this check. This donation is to be placed in a fund that will be used toward the purchase of a protective policeman's vest. The D.A.R.E. program has made a difference in our school. Thank you for your time and special efforts."
"We appreciate the commendation from the students regarding our D.A.R.E. program," Sheriff Hathaway said when Holder handed him the check today, "and the students' generosity as evidenced by this check." The Sheriff said the check will be credited to the account the Sheriff's Office has for protective vests. He said citizens routinely make donations for vests, but it is very unusual to receive such a donation from school children.