Remember DARE? The kids safety program. If you're like me, you were probably part of the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program when you were in elementary school. In fact, I can still recite the saying, “DARE to keep kids off drugs.” I think I even have a ruler printed with the slogan in a drawer somewhere.
Since 1983, DARE has partnered schools and law enforcement officials to teach kids how to avoid involvement with drugs, alcohol, gangs, and violence. In addition to the old standards, they have now begun addressing relatively new problems like cyberbullying, sexting, and online predators.
The new program is called DARE 2B Cybersafe, and presentations on smart Internet use and being good digital citizens are being given in K-12 schools throughout the country. Kids can also access the DARE 2B Cybersafe program through the kids' social networking site Yoursphere.com. DARE can be a really influential program for our youth. Of course it's no substitute for parental involvement, but it helps when our messages about smart and safe online behavior are backed up by our schools and local law enforcement through programs like DARE 2B Cybersafe. It takes a village.
-Article Contributed by Jenny Evans
