Brunswick and Glynn County GREAT 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 Brunswick Police Department will use funds to implement the Elementary School, Middle School, Families, and Summer components for 2007. The Middle School Program will focus on all students, not just the ones that are normally associated with gang involvement. The curriculum will be taught in the seventh grade in four middle schools and will serve approximately 800 students. The Elementary School Program will be implemented in nine schools and approximately 900 fourth grade students will be taught the curriculum. The Families Program will involve an estimated 40 families with children between the ages of 10 and 14. The Summer Program will be implemented in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia and will serve approximately 650 elementary and middle school youth. G.R.E.A.T. funds will also be used to hire two full-time G.R.E.A.T. officers, provide training, and purchase laptops, equipment, and supplies.

CA/NCF