Operation Street Smart Youth Education is a program started in 2012 that was specifically designed to address the needs of both parents and youths in Franklin County. For several years, Sheriff's deputies facilitated the D.A.R.E. program to 5th and 7th grade students in Columbus Public Middle Schools, Columbus Diocese Schools, South-Western City Schools, and Groveport Madison Schools.
In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the abuse of illegal substances, more specifically, heroin and prescription medications. "Street Smart" addresses such issues by educating 5th, 7th and 9th grade students of the negative health effects of such substances. Deputies have researched and surveyed our local schools, gaining a better understanding of what our teachers and principals are dealing with right here in Franklin County. In addition to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other scheduled drugs, deputies briefly cover other topics such as: Choices and Consequences, Internet Safety and Bullying, The Role of Law Enforcement, OTC (Over-The-Counter medications) and Beyond, and Peer Pressure and Goals.
Here is a brief overview of our new program:
Elementary (5th grade):
Lesson 1: Peer Pressure and Setting Goals
Students will define and understand positive and negative peer pressures and strategies on how to resist negative pressures. Deputies will explain short-term and long-term goals as well as the importance of setting those goals. At the end of class students will set their own personal short and long-term goals.
Lesson 2: Internet Safety and Bullying
Students and deputies will identify the dangers of the internet with discussion and exercise. Deputies will facilitate a discussion about bullying, definitions, types of bullying, and ways to safely report bullying. Deputies will explain the differences between tattling and telling and allow students to give examples of each.
Lesson 3 & 4: Over-the-Counter and Beyond (Tobacco, Alcohol, and Marijuana)
Deputies discuss the differences between over-the-counter and prescription medications. Deputies will discuss facts, health effects, and patterns of alcohol and drugs, including over-the-counter, prescription, tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol.
Lesson 5: Choices and Consequences
Deputies discuss choices and consequences and reiterate the importance of short and long-term goals. Deputies demonstrate the impact of consequences with the imagination and illustration of students "building" their own character. This character will go through a series of scenarios on their own "pick your own adventure."
Middle School (7th grade):
Lesson 1: Role of Law Enforcement
Deputies explain the basic differences between a police officer and a deputy sheriff while debunking and explaining common myths of general law enforcement. Deputies explain the several roles and responsibilities of a deputy, including the various aspects and units within the Sheriff's Office. Students are familiarized with the hiring process and benefits of working for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office as well as disqualifiers that would eliminate someone who is seeking a career in law enforcement. Students are encouraged to think of disqualifiers as not only elimination from law enforcement, but from most careers.
Lesson 2 & 3: Over-The-Counter and Beyond
Students will learn the definitions and differences in psychological and physical addiction. Students will define how drugs are categorized as "schedules" and what each schedule means. Students will learn facts, health effects and patterns of alcohol and drugs. They will identify the dangers of alcohol, marijuana, synthetic drugs, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, bath salts, and methamphetamine.
Lesson 4: Choices and Consequences
Deputies discuss choices and consequences, short-term and long-term. Deputies demonstrate the impact of the consequences of choices through a basic break down of a series of negative and sometimes seemingly harmless choices, leading down a slippery slope. Then compare the series of negative easy choices to the more difficult positive choices and discuss the short-term, long-term, and overall results.
Lesson 5: Internet Safety and Bullying
Deputies explain the dangers and legal ramifications of the internet and how those ramifications may alter their future. Deputies help students recognize predators and their grooming tactics in order for students to protect themselves and report such behaviors. Deputies discuss with students other ways the internet may be dangerous, leading them to a discussion about cyber-bullying. Deputies will facilitate a discussion about bullying, definitions, types of bullying, and ways to safely report bullying.
High School (9th grade):
Lesson 1: Role of Law Enforcement
Deputies explain the basic differences between a police officer and a deputy sheriff while debunking and explaining common myths of general law enforcement. Deputies explain the several roles and responsibilities of a deputy, including the various aspects and units within the Sheriff's Office. Students are familiarized with the hiring process and benefits of working for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office as well as disqualifiers that would eliminate someone who is seeking a career in law enforcement. Students are encouraged to think of disqualifiers as not only elimination from law enforcement, but from most careers.
Lesson 2 & 3: Over-The-Counter and Beyond
Students will learn the definitions and differences in psychological and physical addiction. Students will define how drugs are categorized as "schedules" and what each schedule means. Students will learn facts, health effects and patterns of alcohol and drugs. They will identify the dangers of alcohol, marijuana, synthetic drugs, over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, bath salts, and methamphetamine, and drugs associated with sexual assaults.
Lesson 4: Choices and Consequences
Deputies present to students clips of a real life case featured on ABC's "Final Witness: A Mother's Revenge." This is the story of a real case in Franklin County that occurred in 2002. The show depicts the choices and consequences of Andrew Dotson and where they lead him. This lesson will show students how quickly situations may progress and impact their lives forever.
Lesson 5: Internet Safety and the County Jail
Deputies will explain the dangers and legal ramifications of the internet and how those ramifications may alter their future, even as a minor. Deputies help students recognize predators and their grooming tactics in order for students to protect themselves and report such behaviors. Deputies discuss with students other ways the internet may be dangerous, leading them to a discussion about cyber-bullying. Deputies will help students identify the differences between a felony and misdemeanor, as well as the differences between jail and prison. Students will learn the daily functions and routines of life in jail in order to gain a better understanding of real-life consequences.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is working to better educate our youth in order to better prepare them for their futures. For more information on Sheriff Scott's new "Street Smart" curriculum, please contact the Community Relations Unit at 614-525-4507.
Operation Street Smart Youth Education is a program started in 2012 that was specifically designed to address the needs of both parents and youths in Franklin County. For several years, Sheriff's deputies facilitated the D.A.R.E. program to 5th and 7th grade students in Columbus Public Middle Schools, Columbus Diocese Schools, South-Western City Schools, and Groveport Madison Schools.
In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the abuse of illegal substances, more specifically, heroin and prescription medications. "Street Smart" addresses such issues by educating 5th, 7th and 9th grade students of the negative health effects of such substances. Deputies have researched and surveyed our local schools, gaining a better understanding of what our teachers and principals are dealing with right here in Franklin County. In addition to alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other scheduled drugs, deputies briefly cover other topics such as: Choices and Consequences, Internet Safety and Bullying, The Role of Law Enforcement, OTC (Over-The-Counter medications) and Beyond, and Peer Pressure and Goals.
Here is a brief overview of our new program:
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is working to better educate our youth in order to better prepare them for their futures. For more information on Sheriff's Office new "Street Smart" curriculum, please contact the Community Relations Unit at 614-525-4507.