Woodlake Police Department 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 Woodlake Police Department intends to use its fiscal year 2008 G.R.E.A.T. grant to implement the elementary, middle school, summer, and families components in an effort to curb the abilities of street gangs from recruiting new members from area schools. Approximately 66-active street gangs have been identified, with some linked to shootings, drug trafficking, theft, and murder. Many gangs have also released CDs and Internet videos for recruitment purposes. Through the grant, a comprehensive plan will be used to integrate the G.R.E.A.T. curricula into the Castle Rock Elementary School for 6-weeks serving an estimated 350 students in the 4th and 5th grades and the Woodlake Valley Middle School for 13-weeks serving an estimated 354 students in the 6th and 7th grades. In addition, students classified as 'at-risk' due to academic failure, disciplinary referral, or involvement with the juvenile justice system will be invited to attend the summer program, and families component with their parents in an effort to ensure family units become strong protective factors against gang involvement.

CA/NCF