2007 G.R.E.A.T. Grant

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 Los Angeles Sheriff's Department will use these grant funds to maintain the G.R.E.A.T. Program in the Middle School classes, participate in at least two summer programs, and expand into new school districts. The LASD will seek to implement the Elementary School component of G.R.E.A.T. and partner with other youth programs. The LASD program will be coordinated with the activities of the county-wide Inter-Agency Gang Task Force, comprised of local and Federal agencies, as well as with community and faith-based organizations, educators and citizen volunteers. The LASD's Operation Safe Streets Bureau of Youth Services will be the coordinating agency for the proposed program, responsible for performing the evaluation and measurements established by the Regional Training Center and BJA. The LASD and participating school districts have a history of continuing programs after initial funding subsides, and sustainment funding will be sought through various organizations and foundations.

CA/NCF