Tacoma 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 Tacoma will use $75,720 of Fiscal Year 2007 Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) funding to suppress, intervene, and prevent gang pressure and youth violence for students attending school in the Tacoma School District. Funds will be used to support Elementary School, Middle School, Summer, and Families components. The elementary school component will be taught to students attending the Blix and Jennie Reed elementary schools and each child will attend a six-week program taught by two certified Tacoma police officers. The middle school component will be taught to about 290 sixth grade middle school students and each child will attend a 13-week comprehensive program. The summer component will consist of a one-week day camp program targeting recent G.R.E.A.T. graduates. Additionally, funds will go to support the curriculum for families with children between the ages of 10 and 14 who are in need of positive family functioning. Each session will focus on family needs, gangs, roles in the community, communication and family skills, rules and limits, supervision, discipline, appropriate role models, family relationships, and internet safety. Upon completion, each family will then be encouraged to attend other services in the community.

CA/NCF