West Haven Police D.A.R.E. Unit
355 Main Street
West Haven, Connecticut 06516
The West Haven Police D.A.R.E. Unit
is staffed by three full time D.A.R.E. Officers, Officer Bret Schneider
, Officer Steve McNeil and Officer Anthony Pacileo.
The D.A.R.E. Officers are chosen by the Connecticut
State Police after a vigorous and highly competitive interview process.
The Officers attend a two week school paid for by the Connecticut State
Police. During those two weeks, they are taught the basics of Classroom
Management, Time Management, Public Speaking, Pre-Adolescent Behavior, Adolescent
Behavior, Media Influences On Youth as well as numerous other subjects.
The classes are taught by D.A.R.E. Mentors, School Teachers, School Principals,
School Administrators, and Narcotic Officers from Local Police Departments
and the D.E.A.. To keep their State and National Certification, the Officers
regularly attend follow up seminars and training.
In West Haven, the D.A.R.E. Officers instruct students
from Kindergarten to High School, and together, reach approximately three
thousand five hundred students (3,500) every school year.
Believing that talking about safety issues should begin
at an early age, the D.A.R.E. Officers start in West Haven's eleven Elementary
Schools. The D.A.R.E. Officers instruct the Kindergartners, First Graders,
Second Graders and Third Graders on such issues as Stranger Danger, Good
Touch/Bad Touch and Medicine and Poison In Our Homes.
Also in the Elementary Schools, the Fifth Grade Core
Curriculum is a seventeen week course which covers such issues as Mind
Altering Drugs, Drug Abuse, Youth Gangs, Consequences, Peer Pressure, Media
Influences, Rights and Responsibilities, Self esteem and Ways to Say No.
An essay entitled "What D.A.R.E. Means To Me" is required at the end of
the course. Students who have fulfilled the requirements of the D.A.R.E.
program attend a Special Culmination Ceremony to celebrate their commitment
to leading drug free lives.
At the Middle School Level, the D.A.R.E. Officers instruct
a Middle School Curriculum to all Seventh and Eighth Graders. The course
re-introduces consequences of drug use, youth gangs, peer pressure and ways
to say no. Heavy emphasis is placed on dialogue between Student and Officer
regarding Alcohol, Tobacco and Marijuana Use, Drug Use and its Effects on
Our Society/Neighborhoods, and Violence. The Officers bring their "Street
Experiences" as well as Personal Experiences into the classroom.
At the High School Level, the Officers are guest speakers
in Health, Civics and Criminal Law Classes, attend Career Day, and take
part in the Blue and White...Up All Night Substance Free Graduation Celebration
for Seniors. The D.A.R.E. Officers also speak at the Alternate School.
At the end of the school year, the D.A.R.E. Officers
begin their Summer Program. This includes going to all Summer Camps, and
Playgrounds, following up on what was taught during the school year, as
well as speaking about safety issues and assisting the West Haven Police
Crime Prevention Unit's Bike Rodeos.
Seeing a need for summer activities for 12-15 year
olds, the DARE Officers joined forces with Human Resources and West Haven
Youth and Family Bureau to form the Middle School ACT Program. ACT (Activities
Coordinating Team) is aimed at West Haven Youth who have currently finished
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, or Eighth Grade. The program sponsors hiking trips
in Connecticut State Forest Preserve and Parks, Wild Whitewater tubing trips
down the Farmington River at Satan's Kingdom Gorge, trips to local Amusement
Parks, Bowling and Indoor Rollerblading/skating trips. The program received
the 1996 PCYC "Program of the Year" Award for New Haven County. The ACT Program
has been an overwhelming success, and seating is limited. There is a nominal
fee for this program.
The D.A.R.E. Officers have also been certified in the
D.A.R.E. Parent Program. This is a seven week course aimed at parents, grandparents
and school personnel. The course emphasizes Building Self Esteem, Communicating
With Your Child, Adolescent Stages of Drug Dependency, and Non Violent
Mediation. Keep your eyes on your school newsletters and local newspapers,
as this course is offered periodically throughout the year.
The D.A.R.E. Officers also serve on Local Community
Agencies such as the West Haven Drug and Alcohol Task Force and Parent
Outreach Committee. They are available to speak at School Functions, Sporting
Events, Youth Groups, Business Seminars, etc. Please give four to six weeks
notice if you would like them to attend one of your functions.
West Haven D.A.R.E. Contact Information
Office Telephone
203 937-3935
FAX
203 933-6101
Postal address
355 Main Street West Haven CT 06516
Go to National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children.