G.R.E.A.T. Grant

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 Racine Police Department will use this G.R.E.A.T. grant to teach the G.R.E.A.T. program lessons to fifty-five 8th grade classes in the Unified School District. The total number of students in the fifty-five classes is 1,467. Six officers will teach the G.R.E.A.T. program to half of the classes during the fall 2007 semester and the other half during the spring 2008 semester. The program lessons will reinforce decision-making skills, communication skills, refusal skills, anger management, and conflict resolution skills. The highest 'at risk' youth will be identified by the teachers and G.R.E.A.T. instructors. These students may be referred to the Gang Diversion Task Force for further services.

CA/NCF