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 Board of Education for the City of Peoria will use their FY 08 grant funds to implement the G.R.E.A.T. Program with the elementary school, middle school, and summer components. The elementary component will teach 1,000 fifth grade students during the school year. G.R.E.A.T. will reach an impressive number of vulnerable students over the 12-month course. One hundred and eighty fifth graders will participate in a six-week summer program; these students need to pass summer school for promotion to the sixth grade. G.R.E.A.T. will build relationships that are a bridge to success by keeping the students in summer school and encouraging them by offering support and incentives. The summer graduates will form a core of support for the G.R.E.A.T. program during the school year. The students will assist the police officers by building better relationships between the G.R.E.A.T. officers and the students. There will be increased collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club by providing 'Target Outreach' for gang prevention programming. The outreach will assist with the creation of a comprehensive and effective model for gang prevention in the schools and community.

CA/NCF