Gang Resistance Education and Training Program at Irvington Middle School, Township of Irvington, NJ

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 Irvington Police Department will use their 2007 G.R.E.A.T. funds to offer the 13-week middle school component, the 6-week elementary school component and the summer component. The 13-week middle school program will be available to at least 650 students. The 6-week elementary school component will be available to as many of the 1,069 4th and 5th graders as possible in the program year. Over the summer the Irvington Police Department will offer the G.R.E.A.T. program in conjunction with a variety of educational and recreational activities, in an effort to help the students develop life/career skills. Instruction in the G.R.E.A.T. core concepts, field trips, recreational and sporting events, and AWANA game activities will be a part of the G.R.E.A.T. summer program. The program will help form positive community partnerships in the public and private sectors through a variety of community service projects. The summer program will be broken into two sessions serving a minimum of 25 middle school students per session. The sessions will be made up of G.R.E.A.T. activities as well as other recreational, social and educational activities aimed at developing life, coping, and career skills.

CA/NCF