GREAT for Gwinn Area Community Schools

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 Marquette County Sheriff's Department plans to implement G.R.E.A.T. middle school, family, and summer components. The G.R.E.A.T. officer will teach the middle school curriculum to 7th and 8th grade students at Gwinn Middle School. The family program will target families of high risk youth and participants will include families referred by the schools and volunteers. Three family training programs will be offered during the year and plans are to serve 24 families. The summer program will target 4th through 8th grade youth and will be conducted in partnership with the Salvation Army's Project WEAVE program. The summer program will be offered 4 days per week and the G.R.E.A.T. officer will provide educational and recreational programming to 75-115 youth each day. Pre/post-tests will be administered to participants in all three components to measure outcomes.

CA/NCF