Gang Resistance Education and Training 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 Town of Highland is located along Interstate 80/94 between the cities of Chicago and Gary. Both of these cities have a substantial gang population and are within minutes of Highland's borders which allows at-risk youth to be vulnerable to exposure of gang recruitment activities. The Highland Police Department will use FY 2006 G.R.E.A.T. award funds to continue sponsoring the Summer Program. This G.R.E.A.T. Summer component is a 2-week program filled with classroom curriculums and extra curricular activities that provide opportunities for cognitive social and self-esteem building skills. These funds will also assist in the implementation of the G.R.E.A.T. middle school component which is anticipated to reach more than 350 students.

CA/NCF