Rockwood School District: Rockwood Transistions To LifeSkills Drug And Alcohol Prevention Education Program

Press release from the Rockwood School District:

February 25, 2021

As the St. Louis County Police Department phases out its Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program, Rockwood elementary students are being introduced to the LifeSkills Training program.

"After we learned D.A.R.E was being discontinued, we wanted to continue to provide our students with a drug resistance program but still wanted a program that builds relationships between students and police officers," said Lili Schliesser, Project Coordinator for Rockwood community Partners in Prevention.

The program, developed by Botvin, was first choice for Schliesser.

"We are keeping everything in place," said Schliesser.  "The officers who taught D.A.R.E will continue to teach, and the program will continue to be 10 weeks with a graduation."

What will be changing is the content of the course and the style in which it will be taught.

"Instead of a short lesson and the students filling out a workbook, there will be more discussion," said Joe Shepard, St. Louis County police officer and Rockwood School Resource Officer. "This program promotes open discussion about decision-making skills, social and emotional control and focuses on modern/current-day problems."

"The LifeSkills program is based on personal development and mental health that will lead to making positive choices," Schliesser said. "LifeSkills is a skill-based program that is more effective than saying, 'Here's a substance, and here's why it's bad.' Through this approach, we're preparing kids more for when they're going to encounter drugs and alcohol."

"We love getting in front of the kids and getting to know them," said Shepard. "These relationships we are building help students understand it isn't all about drugs and alcohol but about the choices they are making every day."

The program began in early February and will run through March. For more information on the LifeSkills program please visit, Botvin LifeSkills Training.

As the St. Louis County Police Department phases out its Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program, Rockwood elementary students are being introduced to the LifeSkills Training program.

"After we learned D.A.R.E was being discontinued, we wanted to continue to provide our students with a drug resistance program but still wanted a program that builds relationships between students and police officers," said Lili Schliesser, Project Coordinator for Rockwood community Partners in Prevention.

The program, developed by Botvin, was first choice for Schliesser.

"We are keeping everything in place," said Schliesser.  "The officers who taught D.A.R.E will continue to teach, and the program will continue to be 10 weeks with a graduation."

What will be changing is the content of the course and the style in which it will be taught.

"Instead of a short lesson and the students filling out a workbook, there will be more discussion," said Joe Shepard, St. Louis County police officer and Rockwood School Resource Officer. "This program promotes open discussion about decision-making skills, social and emotional control and focuses on modern/current-day problems."

"The LifeSkills program is based on personal development and mental health that will lead to making positive choices," Schliesser said. "LifeSkills is a skill-based program that is more effective than saying, 'Here's a substance, and here's why it's bad.' Through this approach, we're preparing kids more for when they're going to encounter drugs and alcohol."

"We love getting in front of the kids and getting to know them," said Shepard. "These relationships we are building help students understand it isn't all about drugs and alcohol but about the choices they are making every day."

The program began in early February and will run through March. For more information on the LifeSkills program please visit, Botvin LifeSkills Training.

This press release was produced by the Rockwood School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.