Village of Lansing 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 Village of Lansing Police Department will use the G.R.E.A.T. Grant to educate Elementary, Middle, and Junior High school students along with their families to enhance skills training, cooperative learning, discussion, and role-playing. The Village of Lansing Police Departments' two-officer team focuses primarily on outreach through classroom presentations to reach over 600 students. Courses will combine the practical aspects of conflict resolution, social responsibility, peer pressure recognition, refusal skills, anger management, and communication skill building. Presentations are active in the classrooms in the spring and fall. The Police Department also incorporates an out of classroom strategy that is detailed on the annual G.R.E.A.T. calendar curriculum that includes sponsoring a girl's softball team and the Village's annual events (Good Neighbor Day Parade, Cruise Night, Grand Old Fourth, National Night Out Against Crime, Cruise Night Car Shows, and Community Car Shows). The G.R.E.A.T. Families component consists of students and their parents attending the 2007 G.R.E.A.T. Conference. This also includes a six session curriculum and family oriented community resource guide to assist families in the Village with the skills and tools required for healthy communication, coping with stress, and enhancing positive family relationships. The Village of Lansing Police Department collaborates with civic groups, volunteer organizations, neighboring police departments, and village government sponsored groups.
CA/NCF