PR_Hospital_Helps

Rome Memorial Hospital Participates in D.A.R.E. Program to Help Build a Better Community

August 28, 2002

ROME --Like most teenagers, 19-year-old Gail Williamson and 18-year-old Andrea Porter have big dreams for their future. Gail wants to be a military police officer. Andrea will be majoring in natural resources conservation this Fall in hopes of a future in environmental conservation.

And both young women, who participated in Rome’s D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) 6-week summer program, are prime examples of why Rome Memorial Hospital participated in this program for the eighth consecutive year. “Rome Memorial participates in this because it helps to build a better community,” said the hospital’s Director of Education Gale Barone, RN, BS.

Rome Memorial Hospital’s role in the D.A.R.E. program is to teach Rome-area youth about the healthcare effects of behaviors such as alcohol use, premarital sex, drug use, and violence and to give them hope for the future through education and a positive influence. This year’s program included 28 youth from the community who went to numerous other sites as well to learn about skills, such as teamwork.

Participating in the program from Rome Memorial Hospital were Critical Care Coordinator Rick Simpson, RN, CCRN, who showed what procedures would have to be done to treat the effects of some of the risky behaviors resulting from drugs and alcohol; Infection Control Director LeAnna Grace, RNCIC, who talked about teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; and Community Recovery Center Substance Abuse Counselor Marion Lindquist, CAC, who talked about the effects of drug and alcohol abuse. Each educator used examples and visuals to drive reality home and provided interaction with the youth by asking questions.

“This is an important program because our youth are our future and they are the greatest risk takers,” said Barone. “The biggest cause of death to youth is because of things they do to themselves, things such as car accidents, sexually transmitted diseases, and drugs. These can be prevented with proper education and giving our youth someone to talk to about their problems.”

Gail and Andrea said that the D.A.R.E. program is helping them to reach their goals and to give them a better shot at life. “I always knew I wanted to be a police officer but I was afraid to dream,” said Gail. “I was afraid I wasn’t up to it,” she added, but the D.A.R.E. program has helped convince her that she has what it takes. And Andrea says she joined the program “through school because I wanted a job and I thought it would be a great one for me. I like working outside.”

D.A.R.E. is a national program with state and local affiliations. It was established nationally in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department and has expanded into 50 states and 44 nations. The Rome D.A.R.E. summer program is funded by Oneida County. Each youth participant is paid minimum wage during the program. D.A.R.E.’s mission is to provide young people with the information and skills they need to live drug-and-violence-free lives. Additionally, it establishes positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders.

D.A.R.E. Program Coordinator and Rome Police Officer Bruce Brement said that the program’s purpose is “to get youth on the right track and to make the right decisions. These are the years that they are affected by their peers,” he added. Officer Brement also heads D.A.R.E. programs in Rome’s high, junior high, and elementary schools.

“Police Chief Merino Ciccone is a very strong supporter of the youth programs in the City of Rome because he believes that the kids are our future and they need to make the right decisions at this time,” added Brement.

Photo Caption: Participating in Rome’s D.A.R.E. program at Rome Memorial Hospital are (left to right):

Community Recovery Center Substance Abuse Counselor Marion Lindquist, CAC; Rome Memorial Hospital Director of Education Gale Barone, RN, BS; D.A.R.E. participant Gail Williamson; D.A.R.E. participant Andrea Porter; and D.A.R.E. Program Coordinator and Rome Police Officer Bruce Brement.