Community Services Division
Youth Programs

Contact Sgt. Goins for more information on the following Youth programs.

CHILD ID INFORMATION:
Through the "Child ID" information program, tri-fold pamphlets are distributed to all incoming Kindergarten students in schools within the Alton School District.  The pamphlet is used to document information about an individual child.  In the event the child ever becomes missing or is abducted, this form will contain the information needed to begin a search or police investigation.  The form contains a section to attach the childs photograph.

Project "SAFE PLACE":
Project "SAFE PLACE" is a cooperative effort between the Alton School District, several local businesses throughout the Alton/Godfrey area, the Alton Police Department and the Madison County Sheriff's Department. The primary focus of the program is for all partners to keep a watchful eye out for our kids as they walk, bicycle or ride to and from school. Businesses participating in Project "SAFE PLACE" agree to watch for children in trouble, offer their business as a safe haven, and call the police or sheriff's department should the need arise.  Business participants display a bright yellow "SAFE PLACE" sign for easy identification.

D.A.R.E.:
The D.A.R.E. program's major goal is to prevent substance abuse among school children. The D.A.R.E. program targets children at an age when they are most receptive to drug prevention education and before they are likely to have experimented with tobacco, alcohol and drugs.  D.A.R.E. seeks to prevent adolescent substance abuse, thus reducing the demand for drugs.  A carefully selected and trained uniformed officer teaches the structured, sequential curriculum to our 5th grade students.

"OFFICER FRIENDLY":
"Officer Friendly" is a school-based child safety program involving children in grades K-4. The goal of the program is to establish a positive relationship between the school children and the uniformed police officer.  The program involves three visits, conducted seasonally, in each school throughout the school year. Each visit involves a 30 minute session per classroom.  12 rotating topics are presented and are enhanced by the use of handouts, videos and classroom discussion.  Parents are also kept informed of the topics discussed by a letter sent home prior to each visit. (Program discontinued Fall, 1997)