Gang Resistance Education and Training

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 Fall River Police Department is committed to implementing the G.R.E.A.T. program in its City's middle schools and also to sustaining the program beyond this initial grant period. In its first year, the majority of G.R.E.A.T. funding will be dedicated to the training and certifying of four police officers to deliver the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum in schools. To ensure that the program continues in the absence of further funding, the Fall River Police Department will discontinue the distribution of incentives to participating children to reduce the program budget, research other state and private funding sources to support the program, and enlist financial support from many partner agencies.

CA/NCF