City of Omaha 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 City of Omaha, through the Omaha Police Department, will utilize fiscal year 2008 G.R.E.A.T. funds to implement the middle school and summer components with the goal of combating recent increases in gang membership and activity by providing positive messages and interactions with responsible role models. Police records indicate the number of suspected gang members in the city increased from 38-percent within the past two years, leading to a 41-percent increase in total gang-related crime during that time period. The police department will provide the G.R.E.A.T. curricula to all seventh grade students in the city. In addition, G.R.E.A.T. Officers will select 100 at-risk youth who have completed the middle school component, and who, in officers' estimations and through consultation with school administrators, counselors, teachers, and school resource officers, could benefit the most from summer participation. Objectives of the formal lessons will be supplemented with outings and learning activities that emphasize trust, team building, and respect for diversity while promoting appropriate peer interactions.

CA/NCF