New Youth Prevention Curriculum Replacing DARE In Southington

SOUTHINGTON, CT — In partnership with the Southington Police Department and Charge Ahead Marketing, STEPS is creating a brand-new prevention curriculum.

With support from Chief Jack Daly, Southington Police Officers will be able to use an "inventive approach to connect with youth in a positive and meaningful way," officials said.

The program consists of a series of lessons, designed for fifth-grade classes, that will replace the current DARE program.

"It is important for the curriculum to align with our town’s developmental Asset Building Culture (or ABC) and to be tailored to our students and community," SPD Deputy Chief Bill Palmieri said.

The Deputy Chief has played an integral part in the selection of 10 officers who will be assigned to each of Southington’s elementary schools and deliver the new curriculum. They will visit the fifth-grade classrooms once a week for six weeks to teach lessons on topics such as internet safety, the effects of substance use on the developing brain, and the importance of mental health.

Charge Ahead Marketing is spearheading the creative side of the project, officials said. The staff will
be creating slideshow decks, worksheets, and more to complement the lessons. Charge Ahead is well-known in the state for the Let’s #MentionPrevention campaign.

“Collaboration is the name of the game for us! All of our STEPS initiatives are a success because
of our partners, and we can’t give enough thanks to the schools, Board of Ed, and SPD for their
support of our new curriculum,” Youth Prevention Coordinator Megan Albanese said.

The new curriculum will roll out in the fall.