St. Louis 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 St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will utilize their FY 2007 grant to initiate a Level II G.R.E.A.T. program to continue the four program components from last year and increase the program's collaborative efforts. Approximately 3,200 students from St. Louis will participate in the elementary school and middle school components. The G.R.E.A.T. project coordinator will work with school principals and teachers to ensure that the G.R.E.A.T. program emphasizes academic achievement and school safety. The families component will reach an estimated 15 families and the summer component will collaborate with the Boys and Girls Club to serve 2,530 youth.

CA/NCF