D.A.R.E. AMERICA-D.A.R.E. International Training Conference Opens in Nashville. Officers From 34 Foreign Countries Among 2,500 S

Nashville, Tennessee—Twenty D.A.R.E. officers will visit the Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, located at 1417 Charlotte Avenue, Wednesday afternoon, July 18, as part of the 20th Annual D.A.R.E. International Training Conference at Gaylord’s Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The conference, which offers up-to-date in-service training for D.A.R.E. and school-based officers, runs from July 17 through July 19.

The D.A.R.E. officers from across the country and around the world will engage in several activities with children and youth, ages 3 to 18, from 1:30-3:30pm at Bethlehem Centers. The talks will stress good decision-making and serving as role models by “saying no” to drugs.

“Daren the Lion” will be on hand to take photographs with children alongside a D.A.R.E. vehicle.

WHO: D.A.R.E. International Officers

WHAT: D.A.R.E. International Training Conference

WHEN: 1:30-3:30pm, Wednesday, July 18

WHERE: Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, 1417 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville

Bethlehem Centers of Nashville is a non-profit organization that provides services to children, youth and adults in Middle Tennessee. The services include child care for children ages six weeks to 12 years old and youth programs for teens, including “Say Yes to Success” and “Too Smart to Start”. These programs teach youth ages 13-18 to avoid the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The D.A.R.E. program, now in its 24th year, is taught in all 50 states and some 50 foreign countries. D.A.R.E.’s success has demonstrated that early intervention helps keep kids away from drug and alcohol abuse. Countries sending representatives to the D.A.R.E. International Conference include Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.