Lancaster County GREAT GANG Project

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 County of Lancaster will utilize their Fiscal Year 2007 grant to provide students of middle schools the G.R.E.A.T. program to encourage a reduction in delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. The middle school curriculum will be taught to an estimated 150 students in grades six through eight. In addition, approximately 150 youth will participate in the summer program. The Sheriff's Department will hire a lead officer for G.R.E.A.T. and conduct orientation meetings with school staff at each middle school. The Department will initiate a community awareness campaign and officers will conduct home visits to at-risk youth in G.R.E.A.T. program.

CA/NCF