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.

Teaching the G.R.E.A.T. Program in the schools combined with the life skills curriculum taught in the school systems creates a very effective approach to reaching the youth in the area. The summer component maximizes the efforts of the teaching component because, even though the students are not in a classroom setting, the same concepts are stressed in a relaxed, fun setting throughout the week of camp. They have utilized the G.R.E.A.T. Program for several years now and the camps have been the highlight of each year according to feedback from the parents, community, volunteers, and staff, as well as the students. They have received positive feedback that the summer camp has had a positive influence on high-risk youth in the area. They plan to teach the G.R.E.A.T. Program in elementary and middle school components to approximately 2,800 students in 12 schools.

CA/NCF