North Bend's School Resource Officers are stepping up their game for the upcoming school year. Officers Jaehnig and Sanne recently wrapped up an intensive two-week D.A.R.E. instructor course, preparing themselves to engage with students from elementary to high school. The North Bend Police Department shared that this training is pivotal in nurturing a bond between law enforcement and the youth.
By completing the course paid through state grants, they have qualified to be instructors in the widely acknowledged Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, as reported by North Bend's official news. The Police Chief, Cal Mitts, heralded this as a development that "sharpens the connection between law enforcement and our kids," ensuring that the officers are equipped, in some classroom, to convey important messages about safety and health.
The nationally recognized program, founded back in 1983 in Los Angeles, has expanded its reach to several million students across more than 50 countries. Focused on cultivative decision-making, bolstering communication skills to stand up to peer pressure, leading healthy lifestyles, and fostering respect and empathy - D.A.R.E. has structured its curriculum to influence the way students think and act regarding drug use, alcohol, and other challenges of modern adolescence.
Students in North Bend can look forward to engaging with the curriculum that revolves around critical life skills. According to the announcement, they will be practicing, with help from the officers, "a step-by-step process for weighing risks and outcomes," which is designed for them to appreciate the importance of healthy choices. Embedding notions of respect and empathy, to curb bullying and violence, is also a cornerstone of D.A.R.E.'s approach.
In an effort to provide the most effective education tailored to their community, the two officers will spend their summer fine-tuning lesson plans for North Bend's student demographic. Scheduled to start in September, these sessions are aimed at resonating with youth, infused by the officers' field experience. As D.A.R.E.'s mission puts it and as reinforced by independent evaluations, it's about imparting good decision-making skills essential for students to lead secure and wholesome lives.
