Expanding education in a Safe Place

The D.A.R.E. PLUS program was created to serve and support inner-city youth communities who struggle with poverty, social issues, and the mental health challenges that result from the unique conditions they face. 

Together, D.A.R.E. America and its D.A.R.E. PLUS program are committed to promoting social justice through providing venues for dialogue, counseling, and other forms of support, thereby enabling inner-city youth to understand and cope with the unique challenges they face in today’s world.

We invite and encourage community partners to join us in this endeavor. 

D.A.R.E. PLUS Program – Play and Learning Under Supervision.

Culinary

Science

Tutoring

Why D.A.R.E. PLUS
Each day, children face challenges and risks at school, on the street, and on their mobile devices. D.A.R.E.’s mission is to teach students good decision-making skills that will help them lead safe and healthy lives. D.A.R.E. believes that a student’s success at making good decisions will be significantly bolstered through providing students a “safety net” through participation in a supervised afterschool program…the D.A.R.E. PLUS Program – Play and Learning Under Supervision.

The Mission
The mission of D.A.R.E. PLUS is to provide students a safe, enjoyable, and educational alternative to the local streets after the completion of their school day.

What is D.A.R.E. PLUS
D.A.R.E. PLUS provides each participating student with educational and vocational curricula that support in-school achievement and future occupational opportunities. Students learn in a supervised and safe environment a craft, interest, or potential vocation over 7-10 week periods throughout the school’s fall, spring, and summer semesters. The overarching influence of the program is to support D.A.R.E.’s mission and vision, with curricular components addressing bullying, self-esteem, and citizenship while also helping students with socialization. Moreover, D.A.R.E. PLUS provides the students a safe haven during the critical hours after school.

Participating children will experience an enhanced, after-school enrichment program throughout their school age years. D.A.R.E. PLUS volunteers work directly with the school’s teachers to ensure the children receive additional academic support leading to heightened academic success. Students are surveyed to create after-school clubs that are engaging, interesting, and educational. The program also incorporates field trips and fun activities that are given as reward for participation and success in school classrooms.

Paid site supervisors coordinate volunteers, local businesses, and others to come to the school and teach, share, and mentor students during the after-school hours. Activities may include tutoring, crafts, sports, performing art, acting, science, cooking, and other vocational interests.

Proven Results
D.A.R.E. previously pilot tested D.A.R.E. PLUS in several communities in Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, and California. In each case, the program was highly successful leading to improved student attendance during the school day and reduced local crime that correlated positively with participation in the program. As successful as the program was, D.A.R.E. unfortunately had to suspend the program in the early 2000s due to budget constraints.

D.A.R.E. PLUS Today
Recognizing the program’s past positive outcomes, D.A.R.E. has re-launched the D.A.R.E. PLUS program in select communities. To find out more about D.A.R.E. PLUS, see below.