Gang Resistance Education and Training

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 Kings County Probation Department has been operating the G.R.E.A.T. Program since 1997 when the agency was chosen to pilot the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum. Kings County Probation Department has operated all phases of G.R.E.A.T., including the Middle School Curriculum, Elementary Curriculum, Summer Program, and G.R.E.A.T. Families Component. For the 2007-08 fiscal year, the agency intends to continue to provide instruction in the four aforementioned areas. Their objectives are: 1) The G.R.E.A.T. Officer will maintain all records related to measuring performance goals and objectives. 2) They will increase the percentage of the number of students that receive the G.R.E.A.T. Program on a yearly basis by a minimum of five percent. 3) The G.R.E.A.T. Officer will work to ensure that the existing participating schools stay committed to allowing the G.R.E.A.T. Program in their school, as well as seek out additional schools to participate in the program.

CA/NCF