Nebraska State Patrol 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.

The Nebraska State Patrol will utilize their FY 2007 GREAT grant to implement four components of the GREAT program to prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement among school-aged youth in the Madison County, Norfolk Nebraska area by reducing the precursor attitudes and behaviors associated with these behaviors. Some of the goals will be to increase the number of middle school youth who demonstrate increased negative views about gangs by 5% over baseline; to create safer schools and communities by building positive relationships among law enforcement, families, and young people; and to increase the percentage of middle school program graduates that demonstrate improved use of tools and skills to address problems.

CA/NCF