Northeast Ohio Level IV GREAT Project

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 Northeast Ohio Level IV G.R.E.A.T. Project Executive Committee was formed in 2004 to develop all aspects of this innovative initiative. In approximately six months of operation, the Executive Committee's membership has expanded significantly. The project's primary partners (i.e. the implementing law enforcement and local education agencies) are the police departments and school districts of four diverse northeast Ohio cities: Warrensville Heights, Parma, East Cleveland and Chagrin Falls. Allied in support of the U.S. Marshals Service (U.S.M.S.) and these agencies is a broad array of government, corporate, faith-based, nonprofit and academic partners. The Northeast Ohio Level IV G.R.E.A.T. Project will support all four G.R.E.A.T. curricula, components and activities, which include elementary school, middle school, summer, and families components.

CA/NCF