Hollywood 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 City of Hollywood (Florida) plans to utilize the grant award for Level II category funding for the implementation of the G.R.E.A.T. middle school component and three other core programs, including the elementary, families and summer components. The community is experencing an increase in gang and drug activities. The largest amount of identified drug activity has been among teens that are either associated with or wish to become associated with gangs. The city has seen an increase in the use and distribution of Xanax, Ketamine and numerous Schedule 1 prescription drugs and an emergence of synthetic and 'designer drugs." To address the increase in drug use and gang activity among youth, the Hollywood Police Department proposes to: 1) Target 40 families for classes that will be taught at various Police Network Centers; monitor these families to ensure that the G.R.E.A.T. philosophies are effectively implemented, and provide after school mentoring. 2) Monitor youth who are having difficulty with the school environment and are at risk of dropping out of school or who are habitually absent. 3) Utilize G.R.E.A.T. components and outside resources to diminish risk factors and ensure compliance with school rules, regulations, and attendance. 4) Work on a Juvenile Diversion Unit where G.R.E.A.T. officers will target and track at-risk students. CA/NCF