Jefferson County Sheriff''s 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 Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will utilize FY 07 funds to implement the G.R.E.A.T. middle school component. Officers will teach the curriculum in all middle schools in the county and approximately 2,452 sixth graders will participate. Consistent with the philosophy of G.R.E.A.T., officers will seek to connect with and impact decision-making and attitudes of students before peers in high school are the deciding factor in those decisions and attitudes. Implementing G.R.E.A.T. will support the local education agency's goals related to academic achievement and school safety by enhancing character education through G.R.E.A.T. classroom instruction. The G.R.E.A.T. officers will work closely with Jefferson County's Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities (SDFS) program. Jefferson County will use funds for G.R.E.A.T. Officers' salaries, laptops, training, supplies, and equipment.

CA/NCF