Fifth grade students in the Tomah School District will have a chance to learn how to make positive choices thanks to a donation by the Tomah Health Community Foundation July 23.
The Foundation donated $2,500 to the Tomah Police Department which is teaming up with the Tomah Area School District to re-introduce the D.A.R.E. program into elementary schools in the Tomah School District.
Tomah Police Chief Eric Pedersen said the donation will be used to train two officers who will teach Tomah fifth grade students using the Drug Abuse Resistance Education or D.A.R.E., program which is aimed at preventing the use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs and violent behavior. “It started with conversations with our school district, with us wanting to introduce the program and them wanting the program, then we reached out to the Tomah Health Community Foundation with a request for financial help and they were generous in giving us $2500 to support the program,” explained Pedersen.
He said the donation will be used to train Tomah Police officers in the elementary curriculum of the program which focuses on self-awareness and management, responsible decision making, relationship and communication skills, handling responsibilities and challenges plus ways to understand others. “The goal is to get students to make good positive choices,” said Pedersen. “Unfortunately, there always are new types of stimulants and things being introduced, so there’s always a need to simply educate students that introducing harmful chemicals to your body can have a lifelong negative impact.”
Tomah Health Community Foundation president Brian Eirschele said the donation supports the mission of the foundation to help not-for-profit organizations that enhance the health and wellness of residents in Monroe County. “We thought it was a perfect opportunity and to reach out to give a donation on the benefit of the young people of our community. The D.A.R.E. program really benefits youth in the area. I think it is probably the best opportunity we have early on to provide students with information that’s critical to them and their future.”
Pedersen said Tomah Police had used the D.A.R.E. program years ago but it was put on hold after the department began to focus on older students using the Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program which teaches lessons on effective gang and violence prevention. He said the decision to bring back D.A.R.E. was made along with the Tomah School District to offer education earlier in student’s lives. “There’s always a need for education. It also benefits the police department to be able to interact with the students and break those barriers down so they can have a face-to-face interaction with police officers. We believe that’s where it all begins, so they can have an idea of what positive decision making can be for them and their future.”
Pedersen said training should be completed to start the D.A.R.E. program in the schools this fall.