The City of Huron Proposal to Implement the 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 Police Department of Huron, California, will use these grant funds to teach the G.R.E.A.T Program in the Huron Middle School. The G.R.E.A.T. components to be taught are Middle School (reaching 256 middle grade students), Summer School (for 280 students from the 4th - 8th grade) and Family (for 10 youth and their families). The Chief of the Huron Police Department and the Principal of the Huron Middle School will lead both the Program and the larger collaborative G.R.E.A.T. Program-support group comprising local agencies and community organizations, including the Huron Elementary School, Huron Health Clinic, Family Crises Network, Healthy Start Program, Recreation and Parks Department, Center Migrant Early Education for Students, DARE Program, Boys and Girls Club, Centro La Familia Advocacy, several faith-based organizations, and the Huron Chamber of Commerce. Representatives of these agencies and organizations have centered the Huron G.R.E.A.T. on the four strategies of parental involvement, prevention/education, intervention and suppression. They will meet monthly base to discuss the progress of each component, as well to review evaluation results and implement sustainment plans. The Principal of Huron Middle School will lead the evaluation of the program, measuring such indicators as youth crime, gang involvement, school safety, youth perception to law enforcement, and family strengthening.

CA/NCF