2007 G.R.E.A.T. - Union County Sheriff''s Office

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.

Union County will use this grant to implement the G.R.E.A.T. middle school component and the family component. Seventh grade students will receive 13 weeks of instruction in the core G.R.E.A.T. curriculum. Team sports, recreational activities and educational programs will be part of the program. The Sheriff's Office will partner with the Juvenile Court, Juvenile Probation Officers, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Council for Union County Families for their G.R.E.A.T. family component. Families would be referred to the program by these agencies. The 6-week family component presented by G.R.E.A.T. will be provided four times during the year in different locations. The requested expenses would go toward the salaries, travel costs and benefits of the G.R.E.A.T. officers, teaching and recreational equipment for program use, costs associated with the graduation celebration, and food.

CA/NCF