Gang Resistance Education and Training (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 curricula help students develop values and practice behaviors that will help them avoid destructive activities. G.R.E.A.T. program staff coordinate project activities with federal, regional, state, and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the program is to train criminal justice professionals to deliver a school-based curriculum that teaches life-skills competencies, gang awareness, and violence-avoidance techniques.

The New York City Police Department will utilize fiscal year 2008 G.R.E.A.T. funding to implement a middle school, summer, and families component with the goal of preventing crime, violence, and gang involvement among school-aged youth. Goals will be accomplished by increasing students' negative attitudes towards gangs and gang behavior. Seven law enforcement officers, experienced in engaging youth in dialogues conducive to learning, will deliver the curricula.

It is anticipated that the middle school component will reach 4,200-youth, through two 13-week cycles during the school year. The summer component will serve approximately 600-youth, and a families component, in collaboration with two social service agencies, will serve approximately 25-families during the project period. The department also anticipates offering an after school program in targeted service sites for approximately 420-youth, with the intent of impacting youth related crime occurring in the early evening hours immediately following the end of the school day.

CA/NCF