2007 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 Saline County Sheriff's Department will use the grant funds to teach the G.R.E.A.T. Program in the elementary school (nearly 150 5th grade students) and middle school (more than 150 7th grade students), and implement the summer (450 children) and family (40 families) components in Saline County schools. The G.R.E.A.T. Program will be supported by Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, St. John's Missionary Baptist Church, Assaria Lutheran Church, Kansas National Guard Drug Demand Reduction Team, Community Corrections Office, Salina Parks and Recreation, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Saline County Attorney, Salina Police Department, Kansas State University, the Salina Area Prevention Partnership, and the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts offices. The G.R.E.A.T. Program will operate under the department's administrative division and will be supervised by a lieutenant, who will oversee the two officers assigned to the partnered schools. This division will have direct responsibility for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of G.R.E.A.T. program activities, including the responsibility for assisting the partners in the exchange of information and coordination of technical assistance. A sustainability plan will be developed to identify potential funding sources, e.g., businesses, organizations, prevention programs, and foundations.

CA/NCF