Expansion of the existing G.R.E.A.T. 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.

A recent published report estimated gang membership increased to approximately five-thousand members in more than 42 gangs across Nassau County, New York with gang arrests increasing to more than 300-percent within the past eight year period. To combat the growing trend, Nassau County will utilize fiscal year 2007 Level II G.R.E.A.T. funding to implement the middle school, elementary, families, and summer components in high risk school districts identified based on criminal, economic, and social data collected. Program lessons will focus on building positive relationships between youth and their families, law enforcement, the community, and educators. Program collaboration will include services from the Nassau County Police Activity League and the Nassau County Task Force Against Gangs Coalition, a consortium of county agencies in law enforcement, health, and social service sectors.

CA/NCF