Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $156,608)
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 Orlando Police Department will use Fiscal Year 2007 GREAT funds to implement the Middle School, Summer, and Families components for children and families in the city of Orlando. The mission of the Orlando GREAT Program is to prevent inner city children from participating in gangs, violent crimes, and drug abuse. The program will be implemented by the department's Youth Services Section and the School Resource Unit.
Objectives of the 2007 school year project include: increasing the number of officers certified to instruct the GREAT program; increasing the number of participants in the 2007 Summer Program from 100 to 200 students; increasing the participant graduation rate to 90%; and increasing the participants' life skills. The curriculum will target special needs children, particularly those of foreign nationalities and language variations. These children are high risk because they bring a culture of violence with them from their native lands. Children in deaf and hearing-impaired classrooms will also participate. These children are included because they are found to be at high risk for victimization; often being lured into committing crimes by their hearing counterparts.
Grant funds will be used to support costs associated with program supplies and travel to required training conferences.
CA/NCF