FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2024
Contacts: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

Old Bridge Efforts to Teach Third Graders
About Drug-Free Choices Highlighted in National Publication

OLD BRIDGE, NJ – An initiative between the Old Bridge Police Department (OBPD), the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) and PSEG Foundation has been featured in the award-winning Community Policing Dispatch e-newsletter, a national publication from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office). The article focuses on efforts by OBPD officers, including Detective Patrick D’Onofrio, to educate third grade students about making healthy, drug-free choices.

The article highlights the success of the Third Grade Life Choices Coloring and Activity Book, which was distributed to children across Old Bridge as part of a broader drug-prevention curriculum. Through this program, local police officers not only teach children about the dangers of drugs, tobacco and alcohol but also help build trust with the students.

"We've known for years that reaching kids early is crucial," Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ, said. "When we learned that even fifth and sixth graders were being offered substances, we knew we needed to start prevention younger. That's why we created the Third Grade Life Choices Coloring and Activity Book, which helps children make a commitment to staying healthy and drug-free, with the support of their parents and teachers."

The program, funded by the PSEG Foundation, provides these activity books to third graders in more than 300 schools statewide, including seven schools in Old Bridge. In addition to fun activities like coloring and puzzles, the books contain a contract for students, parents and teachers to sign, symbolizing a joint commitment to making healthy decisions.

"The kids really take the contract seriously, and when they see their parents and teachers sign it too, it becomes a family and community effort," Valente added.

The Community Policing Dispatch article also highlights D’Onofrio's role in Old Bridge, where he personally delivers the books to students and engages them in discussions about making smart choices.

"Third grade is the perfect time to reach them," D’Onofrio said in the article. "These kids are already hearing things about drugs and vaping from older students, and we want to make sure they're getting the right information from us."

Valente praised the collaboration between local police and schools, noting its impact in Old Bridge.

"This program is a great example of how police, educators and families can all work together to protect our kids. Old Bridge is setting a high standard for how communities can rally around their children."

The full article detailing the Old Bridge initiative is available in the latest edition of the Community Policing Dispatch e-newsletter, which can be viewed at https://cops.usdoj.gov/html/dispatch/index.html.

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About the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey:
Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private, not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate, and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 226 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional, and statewide media organizations.