Teach gang resistance to school students.

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 Cumberland County Sheriff's Office will receive funding to teach the G.R.E.A.T. core curriculum to middle and elementary school students in the spring and fall semesters. The Sheriff's Office also intends to use funding to conduct summer camp, the G.R.E.A.T. Family Program, and educational initiatives with other law enforcement agencies. At-risk students are the primary target for this program. Over the past year, the Cumberland County School System has seen a rise in gang related incidents throughout the schools and neighborhoods. G.R.E.A.T. will provide funding to School Resource Officers to conduct a summer camp for 100 to 120 at risk students within the Cumberland County School System. The G.R.E.A.T. core curriculum, games, crafts classes, field trips, a poster contest, and rocket building will be some features taught to youth during the one week summer camp session. The Sheriff's Office will implement the G.R.E.A.T. Family Program in collaboration with the Court System, Office of Juvenile Justice, and the Probation Office. The Sheriff's Office is currently participating in a county-wide multi-agency gang education, prevention, and suppression partnership, which includes the schools, the Fayetteville Urban Ministry, Cumberland County Mental Health, and the Cumberland County Workforce Development Center, and other law enforcement agencies. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is involved with safety initiatives to include Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Cease Fire Program along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

CA/NCF