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General Information

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BACKGROUND

WATCH D.O.G.S was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR. Moore wanted to help prevent violence from occurring at his children’s school or at any school. The first program was launched at George Elementary in Springdale, AR, the school of Moore’s oldest child. Today, more than 760 programs in 33 states participate in WATCH D.O.G.S.®

PROGRAM GOAL

To help every school in America be positively influenced by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in lives of their children and students.

HOW IT WORKS

WATCH D.O.G.S.®, a K-12 program, invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their child’s/student's school during the school year. The program is overseen by our school counselor, Kristina Austin, who coordinates scheduling and identifies opportunities for WatchDOGS in the school.  WatchDOG volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher's guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards, or spelling.

PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS

  • During 2003, WATCH D.O.G.S.®conducted a survey of 50 participating schools nationwide. Key findings:

  • 89% agree that WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a valuable component of the school's efforts to promote a safe and positive learning environment for students.

  • 79% agree that since implementing the WATCH D.O.G.S.® program, the school has experienced an increase in father involvement in areas other than WATCH D.O.G.S.® (parent-teacher conferences, volunteerism in the classroom or after school, PTA/PTO involvement).