Cleveland 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 City of Cleveland intends to utilize the FY 07 G.R.E.A.T. funds to add a third certified officer to their program in order to reach more of their youth and to offer additional components. The City of Cleveland's G.R.E.A.T. Program will contain the elementary and middle school components, as well as the summer and family components. The City intends to develop and implement a new elementary curriculum for approximately 471 students in grade 4. The middle school curriculum will be taught to approximately 1,015 students in grade 7. The objective for their summer component is to reach out and provide core program principles to approximately 300 youth during the summer months. The City of Cleveland's goal for the family component is to increase the participation of parents in the program by offering at least two sessions during the school year.

CA/NCF