Cordele Police 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.

The Cordele Police Department proposes to use the G.R.E.A.T. funds to train two police officers as G.R.E.A.T. instructors. The officers will teach the 13-week middle school component to all seventh grade students in the middle school. Once this group has completed the course, it will be taught to all sixth grade students. Implementing the G.R.E.A.T. training will support the school's goal of academic and school safety by reinforcing the administration's intolerance to drugs and gang activity on campus. Finally, the G.R.E.A.T. program will assist students in developing decision-making skills that will help them to focus on academic and personal development.

CA/NCF