Webb Co. Sheriff''s Dept. GREAT 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 Webb County Sheriff's Department will use grant funding to expand its G.R.E.A.T. Program. Six grant-funded officers will devote sixty (60%) percent of their time toward the implementation of the four G.R.E.A.T components: Middle School, Elementary School, Families, and Summer Components. Additionally, five non-grant funded G.R.E.A.T. officers will devote twenty-five (25%) percent of their time toward the implementation of the four components. G.R.E.A.T. officers as well as the Webb County Sheriff's Department will work with the school district administrators, educators, police officers, after-school programs, academic teams, and especially the counselors to target the neediest, most at-risk students to achieve academic success for students and school safety. Remaining grant funds will be used to for training directly related to the successful implementation of the four G.R.E.A.T. components, and equipment needed for presentations and the implementation of classroom-based curriculums.

CA/NCF