White Earth Reservation Gang Resistance Education And Training 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 White Earth Reservation Police Department will implement the G.R.E.A.T. Program which will consist of a 6-week elementary and middle school curriculum to be taught in five schools. The program is designed to reach the highest risk youth on the White Earth Reservation. The project will serve approximately 422 students and 56 families. The program will reach high risk youth by using newspaper and radio ads to publicize anti-gang messages and an event booth that will be set up at White Earth's Annual Pow-Wow, the Tribe's Career Fair, County Fairs, the Tribe's Health Fair and the Annual State of the Band Address.

The goals of the White Earth G.R.E.A.T. program are as follows:

'To prevent youth crime, violence and gang involvement;
'Create safe schools and communities by building positive relationships between law enforcement, families and youth; and
'Strengthen families through better communication between family members and better decision making by all family members.

CA/NCF