FY2006 Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) 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.

Rockingham County is a rural county in North Carolina, with a population of approximately 92,000 citizens. Over the past several years, Rockingham County has been experiencing a steady rise in gang related activities. These activities have included acts of violence; such as, drive-by shootings, armed robberies, incidents of breaking & entering, and the heavy use and sell of illegal drugs. The goal of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office is to achieve the same success rate with the G.R.E.A.T. program as they have had with the DARE program. They will accomplish this main goal by accomplishing the follwoing goals: 1) Improving attendance in the classroom; 2) Providing a safe school environment; 3) Teaching positive 'social skills'; and 4) Being positive role models. These goals will be achieved by: a) offering the curriculum to every student within the 6th grade, b) providing the technology and the extra incentives needed to continue the program, and c) promoting the G.R.E.A.T. program to the community through events such as the numerous festivals held at the various schools in and around the county.

CA/NCF