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T.E.A.M. (Teach, Encourage, Advise, Mentor)Back

TEAM

In 1987, the Mount Vernon Police Department committed to a relatively new and innovative drug education program called DARE that was designed to put police officers in direct contact with students over a seventeen-week period of time. The DARE Program, by most estimations, has been successful in terms of police-student-school relations. Now, times are changing, and so must the program.

DARE is a copyrighted product, which means we are unable to customize the curriculum to fit our local needs. We want to maximize the use of available classroom time and avoid duplication of other school programs already in place.

In September of 1999, a group consisting of school administrators, parents, teachers, community members, and police officers began meeting monthly to develop an alternative to the DARE program.

The basic parameters of the new program included:

  • Police Officer as instructor
  • Flexible curriculum
  • Reduced duplication
  • Local tone
Through a series of workshops, a new program emerged called TEAM, which stands for Teach, Encourage, Advise, Mentor. The thrust of the program is safety education and drug and violence prevention. The program will be taught to K-6 students as opposed to only 6th graders in DARE. The goal is "To promote choices which lead to a safe and healthy lifestyle, positive interactions, and good citizenship."

Program curriculum:

Kindergarten – Grade 1
Stranger Danger in the fall
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in the spring

Grade 2
Drugs Good or Bad
Gun Safety
Staying Safe

Grade 3
Dealing With Angry Feelings
Refusal Skills
Gangs

Grades 4
Conflict Resolution/Anger Management
Bullying
Staying Safe in Cyber Space
Respect Yourself and Others Too
Tobacco

Grades 5
Shoplifting
Refusal Skills
Gun Safety
Alcohol
Media Awareness

Grade 6
Peer Pressure and Refusal Skills
Gangs and Violence
Alcohol
Tobacco
Other Drugs


This public education program is designed to create positive interaction between the police officer and student as well as to increase communication and understanding. The central operational strategy of the Mount Vernon Police Department is to prevent crime. It is our belief that putting community resources to work in an effort to educate our children on the benefits and perils of personal choices gives us our best chance to avoid later hardship and tragedy. It is also our belief that working closely with our youth will help to reinforce the importance of making good life decisions that are taught by parents, teachers, and other community members.


For additional drug and alcohol prevention resources.

If you have any questions about TEAM, please contact Officer Mike Lumpkin or call Officer Lumpkin at (360)336-6271.
 
 
Calendar of Events
City Library Events
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Ongoing. Please click on the link below for information on all the City Library's great programs for children, teens and adults.
Mayor's Coffee Hours
Friday, May 25, 2012
Bring your interests, comments, concerns and praises to chat with Mayor Boudreau over coffee. Whether you are a business owner, community member or just a curious neighbor, she would love to see you there! All Coffee Hours are informal and open to the public.
Mount Vernon Farmers Market
Saturday, May 26, 2012
9am-1pm. Fresh food, live music, flowers, crafts and those Swedish Pancakes! Begin your Saturday mornings here, on the Revetment in downtown Mount Vernon.
Ward 2 Meeting
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Hillcrest Park Lodge, 1717 S. 13th Street. Please join Mayor Boudreau, Ward 2 Councilmembers Gary Molenaar and Mark Hulst, and Councilmember At-Large Dale Ragan to voice your questions, concerns or observations about the City of Mount Vernon.
Ward 3 Meeting
Monday, June 18, 2012
6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Fire Station 3, 4701 E. Division. Please join Mayor Boudreau, Ward 3 Councilmembers Bob Fiedler and Mike Urban, and Councilmember At-Large Dale Ragan to voice your questions, concerns or observations about the City of Mount Vernon.
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