Level II G.R.E.A.T. Program with Elementary, Middle, Family and Summer Components

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.

Miami-Dade School District, the largest local education agency (LEA) in Florida, is the fourth largest in the nation. LEA educates more than 372,343 students in 195 elementary, 54 middle, 10 K-8 centers, 31 high, 18 alternative, five (5) magnate, 18 alternative, five (5) specialized, and 50 charter schools. LEA is the third highest jurisdiction in the county in terms of serious and habitual juvenile offenders (SHOs). Gangs have impacted the schools in Miami-Dade County by contributing to conflicts and harassment that begin in schools and end in victimization in areas surrounding the schools.

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the Miami-Dade Schools Police Department (M-DSPD), the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), and the Miami Partnership for Action in Communities Task Force (Project MPACT) applied for the 2007 G.R.E.A.T Grant Program and intends to use grant funds to implement four levels of the G.R.E.A.T. Program. The objectives of the proposal are to prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement while developing a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and young people to create safer communities; help prevent violence while developing a positive bond between law enforcement and youth during their early developmental years; enhance communities by strengthening families through engaging parents and youth in cooperative lessons designed to facilitate better communication among family members and improve family decision-making skills, and provide students with positive activities to relieve the boredom over the summer months and increase their opportunities for social, cognitive, and interpersonal growth.

CA/NCF