LONG BEACH -- D.A.R.E., the long-standing youth program that was one of many victims that fell last year to the city's brutal budget axe, lives on.
The program has been resurrected through the merger of its board with the Long Beach Police Foundation, a nonprofit community organization separate from the the Long Beach Police Department that provides financial and community assistance to the police department.
Due to on-going budget constraints the foundation now heads a number of community programs once offered by the LBPD.
That includes the Chief for a Day Program and the Explorer's Program, which sees youths ages 14-21 interested in a career in law enforcement given the opportunity to work directly with LBPD officers in a variety of capacities, from community events to assisting at major crime scenes, said the Foundation's Executive Director Kathy Berry.
Though the Long Beach D.A.R.E. program was officially chosen for elimination in late 2008, its board members never gave up their goal of supporting an educational program that combined children and law enforcement, said D.A.R.E. Board President Betty-Jean Thompson.
With the merger, the foundation will now help fund the Explorer's Program, Thompson said.
"Our goal to merge with the (foundation) was initiated by long-time D.A.R.E. Board Member Lindsay Shields, and was supported by both boards," Thompson said. "It was almost a year-long process, but we were determined to put our almost $200,000 to an activity that includes youth interaction with our city's uniformed officers."
Long Beach's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, the second of its kind in the nation, was originally geared toward fifth grade students and included officers teaching drug and alcohol resistance education in the classroom.
Officers also helped children with morale, self-esteem building and team building skills and helped kids understand the duties of police officers.
The Explorer's Program is also taught by uniformed police officers. It is led by LBPD Det. Lisa Schumaker with the help of Officer Matt Mills and includes and a team of volunteers.
Though Schumaker's salary is paid by the police department there is no longer any other funding allotted for the program through the police department or city budget budget.
"These officers spend hours of their own time volunteering," Thompson said. "(But) even with all their work and Lisa's hard work it's hard to find funding."
Thompson said the merged foundation is dedicated to keeping existing programs going and hopes to revive some programs recently lost, such as the D.A.R.E. curriculum and the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.)
The foundation also would like to introduce some new programs, such as a Junior Explorer's Program, she said.
"But the city needs to support these programs as well," Thompson noted.
To donate to the Youth Programs, or to donate or volunteer for any of the foundation's program, go to their website at www.lbpolicefoundation.org.
The program has been resurrected through the merger of its board with the Long Beach Police Foundation, a nonprofit community organization separate from the the Long Beach Police Department that provides financial and community assistance to the police department.
Due to on-going budget constraints the foundation now heads a number of community programs once offered by the LBPD.
That includes the Chief for a Day Program and the Explorer's Program, which sees youths ages 14-21 interested in a career in law enforcement given the opportunity to work directly with LBPD officers in a variety of capacities, from community events to assisting at major crime scenes, said the Foundation's Executive Director Kathy Berry.
Though the Long Beach D.A.R.E. program was officially chosen for elimination in late 2008, its board members never gave up their goal of supporting an educational program that combined children and law enforcement, said D.A.R.E. Board President Betty-Jean Thompson.
With the merger, the foundation will now help fund the Explorer's Program, Thompson said.
"Our goal to merge with the (foundation) was initiated by long-time D.A.R.E. Board Member Lindsay Shields, and was supported by both boards," Thompson said. "It was almost a year-long process, but we were determined to put our almost $200,000 to an activity that includes youth interaction with our city's uniformed officers."
Long Beach's D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, the second of its kind in the nation, was originally geared toward fifth grade students and included officers teaching drug and alcohol resistance education in the classroom.
Officers also helped children with morale, self-esteem building and team building skills and helped kids understand the duties of police officers.
The Explorer's Program is also taught by uniformed police officers. It is led by LBPD Det. Lisa Schumaker with the help of Officer Matt Mills and includes and a team of volunteers.
Though Schumaker's salary is paid by the police department there is no longer any other funding allotted for the program through the police department or city budget budget.
"These officers spend hours of their own time volunteering," Thompson said. "(But) even with all their work and Lisa's hard work it's hard to find funding."
Thompson said the merged foundation is dedicated to keeping existing programs going and hopes to revive some programs recently lost, such as the D.A.R.E. curriculum and the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.)
The foundation also would like to introduce some new programs, such as a Junior Explorer's Program, she said.
"But the city needs to support these programs as well," Thompson noted.
To donate to the Youth Programs, or to donate or volunteer for any of the foundation's program, go to their website at www.lbpolicefoundation.org.
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