G.R.E.A.T. Summer, School and Families 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.

This grant will support the G.R.E.A.T Program in the Town of Menasha, City of Menasha, and the City of Neenah. G.R.E.A.T will be taught to all 6th grade students in the Menasha public schools and all 7th grade students in Neenah. Four officers will work to deliver the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum in classroom settings. Two officers will work to deliver the program in one Neenah school to 311 students, one officer in the other Neenah school will teach 208 students, and one officer in the Menasha school district will teach 220 students. The Menasha Joint School District will deliver the program during the first part of the school year. The program will be delivered during the 2nd semester in the Neenah Joint School District which will lead into the GREAT Summer Program. The summer program will consist of a 5 week program offered to middle school students who received the G.R.E.A.T. school program. The summer program will serve approximately 120 students. Additionally, this grant will support a family component. The goal is to reach 10 families during the grant period.

CA/NCF