Glendale, Arizona

Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs

Speaks Out on DARE program

Mayor Scruggs welcoming remarks on June 27, 2006 to officers at the Arizona D.A.R.E. & SRO Conference in Prescott

What has impressed me the most about DARE program is the emphasis on self-esteem. Listening to the students read their essays during the graduation was always emotional

The students really believed what they were saying. They really believed they could conquer everything-- that they could resist whatever would come their way

And most of all they loved their DARE Officers

But did those classes have a lasting effect on the students?

I decided to ask students and parents of students that very question.

Here is a summary of the results:

• Students had favorable comments about the DARE Training – the value of it and the positive impact it had on them personally ---- with the most common theme being that it helped them deal with peer pressure.
  
• The parents were even more descriptive in their comments on the value of DARE Training. Most of them reported that it had been several years since their sons and daughters had DARE Training ---- all reported that their sons and daughters had remained drug free --- and many of them directly commented they felt DARE Training had a very real role in those outcomes.
  

• The parents felt the DARE Officers played a complimentary role to them as parents --- that the officers created such rapport with the students that they could often get messages through that kids tune out when delivered by parents.
  

• Parents also commented that DARE Training in school made it easier to talk about drugs, alcohol, and related topics at home.

  The most common themes --- from both the students and the parents --- were the sense of safeness officers give to the campus --- the value of having someone to confide in and ask for advice --- the respect the students gained for Police Officers and the Law Enforcement profession.

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