Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2006, $140,080)
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.
North Little Rock is a densely populated city, comprised of nearly 61,000 citizens, where youth violence and gang activity are common and regularly investigated by the City's police department. The North Little Rock Police Department, Mayor's Office, and School District are working in partnership to implement gang-resistance programs such as G.R.E.A.T to help deter further gang-related crimes. These federal funds will assist the City in implementing a G.R.E.A.T. Program that will support the elementary, middle school, and family components, and address possible gang risk factors, such as substance abuse, truancy, and family instability.
North Little Rock's G.R.E.A.T. Program will deliver the elementary and middle school curriculums during the full academic year and will provide the family component during the summer recess. All three curriculums will reinforce and support the schools' goals of better academic achievement, decreased absenteeism, and heightened school safety. The program will serve approximately 2,700 elementary and middle school students and nearly 1,900 students and families during the summer. Federal funds will cover personnel and fringe for four officers; travel expenses for officers' certification training; and supplies (printing costs, office expenses, and student incentives).
CA/NCF