Project P.R.I.D.E.

The P.R.I.D.E. Program

(Positive Role Models In Drug Education)

The P.R.I.D.E. Program is Irving's anti-drug program for young people. It was organized in 1989 by a committee composed of educators, police officers, citizens and business leaders. It was implemented in the 1990-91 school year as a joint project of the Irving Police Department and the Irving Independent School District.

P.R.I.D.E. is in 21 public elementary schools in three different school districts within Irving.

The name and logo we use came about as the result of a contest held in the schools to develop interest in and to advertise the program.

The objectives of the P.R.I.D.E. program are:

	To empower, through education, the young people of Irving with the information they need to make correct and positive decisions about drugs, gangs, weapons, and other issues confronting them in today's society.
	To provide the young people of Irving an additional resource they can rely on when making these decisions - a POLICE OFFICER they know personally.
	To improve the image of the Irving Police Department in the eyes of the young people and the community as a whole.

We believe school based prevention programs must provide students with knowledge, skills and experience which will greatly enhance their ability to make healthy choices about drugs, not only while they are in school, but later in life as well.

The P.R.I.D.E. program teaches students the only healthy, no-risk, acceptable decision about the use of alcohol and other mind-altering drugs, for school-age young people to make for themselves is NO USE AT ALL!

The program is designed to involve the counselors, teachers and parents at all levels of the program. Parents of 4th and 5th grade students are provided materials explaining the program. Also, each principal, counselor and teacher involved in the program has a copy of all materials so they may answer any questions.

The program was originally designed to serve students in the 4th, 5th and 6th grades. When police officers were assigned to the middle schools on a full time basis, the 6th grade was dropped from the program because these officers provide this material to the middle schools during the course of their daily assignments.

All police officers who participate in the P.R.I.D.E. Program are volunteers and do so during their off duty time. Any police officer or detention officer within the Irving Police Department, of any rank, may become a P.R.I.D.E. officer. There are currently approximately 50 officers involved in the P.R.I.D.E. program.

Each officer is encouraged to get involved in other activities at their assigned schools. (PTA, eating lunch with the students, carnivals, dances, etc.) We have many officers who have been with the program since its inception. They have adopted their particular school and have literally become the students personal police officer and are on campus on a regular basis.

The officers in the P.R.I.D.E. program instruct the 4th and 5th grade students on a different topic each six week period during the school year, covering each of the topics which have been selected for this program. Below is a brief summary of those topics:

4th Grade Topics:

Theft: Students will know that theft is a crime and they are taught the legal definition of theft and the different types of theft. They are taught simple steps they can take to secure their valuables to prevent the loss of their property at home or school. They are also taught what to expect if they are caught stealing.

Drugs: Students are taught how drugs can affect their lives. They will be able to identify some of the common drugs, marijuana and inhalants. They will know the legal consequences of illegal drug use at school or home and are told how to obtain help for themselves or a friend who may be having a problem with drugs.

Weapons: Students are taught what constitutes a weapon, who may legally carry weapons and when. They are taught the penalties for bringing a weapon to school and are taught what to do if they find a gun or they hear gunshots at home or school.

Gangs: Students will be able to identify advantages and disadvantages of gang involvement. They will be familiar with Irving gangs and the police departments Gang Unit Officers. They will know the 6 levels of gang involvement and will learn some of the things that cause a young person to become involved in a gang.

Self-Esteem: Students will learn the importance of good self-esteem. They will know the definition of self-esteem and will understand what can adversely affect their self-esteem. They will learn a simple 4-Step process to raise their self-esteem.

5th Grade Topics:

Drugs, Weapons & You: Students will review the drug laws and how drugs can adversely affect their lives. They will be able to list commonly abused drugs. They will review the gun laws of this state and will review the penalties involved for violating those laws. They will review what to do should they find a weapon or hear gunshots at home or school.

Gangs: This is a review of the presentation on gangs presented to them in the fourth grade with additional information added to keep it current.

Peer Pressure: Students will be able to explain the conflicts that peer pressure causes between the need to belong and the need to be oneself. Students will know several reasons people try to pressure them to do something and they will know five methods which others use to pressure them.

Middle School & You: Students will be given an overview of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, the Peer Mediation program and Crime Stoppers program which are in place on the Middle School campus's. A review of some of the common law violations will be covered as well as the penalties for those violations. Students will also be introduced to the idea of having a police officer on their campus all day as someone they can trust and go to for help.

You & The Law: Students will know the difference between civil and criminal law. They will be exposed to the basics of criminal law and will be introduced to the Juvenile Justice System.

4th Grade:

Anger Management: Students will learn anger is a normal emotion which everyone feels at one time or another. They will learn the causes and effects of anger. They will learn they need to control their anger and not let it control them. They will be given steps to follow to accomplish this.

The P.R.I.D.E. program is funded through the Irving Police Department in its annual budget. The P.R.I.D.E. program has also received contributions from corporations and private citizens alike. These additional funds have enabled us to enhance the P.R.I.D.E. program to a height we wouldn't otherwise have been able to do. For example, we have top of the line audio/visual aids and other materials to get our message out to the young people because of corporate sponsors such as Mitsubishi Motors Sales of America.

We are constantly striving to improve the P.R.I.D.E. program. Our goal is to have the most effective drug awareness program in the nation. We seek input from all areas of the community because it takes each of us to provide the appropriate environment in which our children can grow up and become productive members of the community. They are our future.

Should you have suggestions, comments, or would like to assist in the funding of this excellent program contact The Community Services Division of the Irving Police Department, 305 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas 75061, or you may call 972-721-2544 Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM. to 4:00 PM.