Sgt.  Steven Hennelly

Det. Jairo Otalora

Ptl. Mike Giannone

Ptlm. Muta Blanford

Chatham Township Dare Program

Chatham Township D.A.R.E. Officers are highly trained in teaching children the dangers of drugs, how to deal with peer pressure, and how to say “NO” effectively.  The officers undergo 80 hours of special training in areas such as child development, classroom management, teaching techniques and communication skills.  The goals of these Officers are to eliminate the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and to eliminate the use of violent behavior by young people.

The program is currently provided to children in the fifth grade at the Lafayette School and to fifth, sixth and seventh graders at the Darcy School.  The National D.A.R.E. Association provides the curriculum.

The D.A.R.E. program includes eight lessons:

1.     Purposes and Overview of D.A.R.E. Program 

2.     Tobacco and You

3.     Smoke Screen

4.     Alcohol and You                                                              

5.     The Real Truth

6.     Friendship Foundations

7.     Putting it Together

8.     Personal Action

The five major areas of focus include:

·      Accurate information about drugs and alcohol

·      Decision making skills

·      Resisting peer pressure

·      Building self-esteem

·      Alternative activities

After completing the program, the children go through D.A.R.E. graduation in which awards are given out for best essay and best D.A.R.E box.  All the children receive certificates, t-shirts, and various D.A.R.E. items.

For more information contact Detective Jairo Otalora at (973) 377- 6928