Minnesota D.A.R.E. Provides Training for Officers in Autism

Stillwater, MN—Minnesota D.A.R.E. and the Minnesota D.A.R.E. Officer’s Association recently conducted their summer conference in Stillwater. It was hosted at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with UNFI and Cub Foods donating the food and beverages. This year’s conference included a specially designed Autism Training geared specially for law enforcement working with adolescents. Utilizing social workers, a special education teacher, a family physician, and a father of an autistic child who is also a law enforcement officer; the 4-hour training was designed to meet the Minnesota POST Board (Peace Officer’s Standards and Training) mandate on autism.

This training was designed to discuss working, understanding, and forming relationships with children with autism, their parents, educators, social workers, special education teachers/paras, and others in the student’s network. The format facilitated an open discussion with a panel of experienced individuals who provided information on topics including defining Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other co-occurring disorders and disabilities, prevalence, disparities, characteristics, facets of life, strategies and benefits of autism-informed policing, strategies, and practices to promote safe and positive outcomes, tools, and technologies, and how to find support in their roles.

In addition, the conference provided workshops on school safety. D.A.R.E. Officers are often the only law enforcement officers in our elementary schools and are asked to assist with safety planning and drills. Ideas and information were presented on keeping our children safe. D.A.R.E. is a prevention program, so we work educators, parents, and students to prevent safety incidents.

D.A.R.E. Officers are trained in Pre-K – 4th Grade programming, Elementary programming, Middle School programming, High School programming, and our Enhancement Lessons – Vaping, Opiates and other Drugs, Suicide Prevention, Bullying/Cyberbullying, Gangs and Violence, Role Models, and social media. The curriculum is designed as a decision-making model to assist students in making safe choices in a variety of situations impacting our children.

Minnesota D.A.R.E. celebrated our 33rd anniversary. D.A.R.E. continues to be the largest community policing program in the state of Minnesota, reaching over thousands of students annually. D.A.R.E. in Minnesota has approximately 230 specially trained officers who teach in the classrooms statewide, forming relationships with our children and families in addition to educating. Our adaptable program builds trust and confidence by eliciting the input of the school staff and families, and is tailored to a neighborhood’s unique cultural and socio-economic dynamics. D.A.R.E. brings curriculum-trained officers into the classrooms to form positive relationships, which has become even more important in recent times.

Minnesota D.A.R.E. is a prevention education program that advocates and educates for healthy and safe children. D.A.R.E. serves young people and their families, teaching the skills to make positive decisions, provides education on safe and healthy lifestyles and gives the tools to enable them to resist engaging in negative and violent behaviors.

For more information: Contact [email protected] or go to www.mndare.org

For photos – https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaDare

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LICSW, LADC
Executive Director
Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.
PO Box 279
St. Bonifacius, MN 55375
Cell. 952-484-2195
[email protected]
www.mndare.org