Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $98,300)
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 San Jacinto Police Department (SJPD) will use these grant funds to teach the Middle School component to more than 2,000 6th, 7th and 8th grade students at the Monte Vista and North Mountain Middle Schools. The funds will also be used for the Family Component to work with select youths and their families. The SJPD, in collaboration with the San Jacinto Unified School District and the San Jacinto/Hemet Interagency Network, will use the G.R.E.A.T. Program funds for the prevention and intervention elements of its comprehensive anti-gang strategy of prevention, intervention and suppression. The SJ/HIH Network comprises 95 representatives from 25 public service entities, such as the Child Protective Services, Juvenile Probation's Youth Accountability Team and the Police Activities League. The SJPD will also coordinate the G.R.E.A.T. Program with the school district's nationally acclaimed Connect to Achieve Program, a coalition of teachers, parents and students focused on linking school safety with high academic standards. To sustain the program, the SJPD and the SJUSD will work with the City of San Jacinto to identify funding sources.
CA/NCF