Durham County 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 Durham County Sheriff's Department has a well-established School Resource Officer program in 22 schools in their area. The department is committed to the G.R.E.A.T. program, which is evident by the fact that all School Resource Officers must be G.R.E.A.T. certified. Officers will continue to teach the elementary and middle school curricula and offer a summer mentoring program. An estimated 1291 fourth graders will participate in the elementary school program and approximately 1302 sixth grade students will be taught the middle school curriculum. The summer mentoring program will target 25 at-risk youth. The Sheriff's Department will use its Fiscal Year 2007 G.R.E.A.T. funds to continue to: a) provide travel expenses for five officers to attend the National G.R.E.A.T. Officer's Conference; b) provide incentive items for students of the G.R.E.A.T. program; and c) provide funding for summer programs.

CA/NCF