Boston Police Department FY2006 GREAT Program

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

The Boston Police Department will use funding to continue the implementation of all four components of the G.R.E.A.T. program: Middle School, Elementary School, Summer component, and families component. The G.R.E.A.T program is structured so that 12 G.R.E.A.T. trained uniformed officers (at least 1 officer for each police district) are utilized as instructors, providing gang resistance education and violence prevention education to schoolchildren, while acting as positive role models. The Boston Police Department has a commitment to and an on-going relationship with Boston Public Schools not only as exemplified by the 11 year collaborative relationship over the G.R.E.A.T. program but also by the many other youth and school-based initiatives. In the 12th year of the G.R.E.A.T. program, Boston is well equipped to go forward with the anti-gang and anti-violence education program.

CA/NCF