Fiscal Year 2008 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 Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) Police Department will provide the core middle school curriculum to all sixth grade students enrolled in ECISD. The projected sixth grade enrollment for the school year is 1,972 students. Three full time officers and a supervisor will be dedicated to the G.R.E.A.T. program. Because ECISD operates a junior high school system rather than a middle school system, the G.R.E.A.T. 13-week program was moved to the elementary level and taught to the sixth grade. Each officer will be assigned eight elementary campuses to complete by the end of the school year, with four elementary schools taught the first semester and the remaining four, the second semester. The one remaining campus will be split by classes between two officers. The officers are also encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities with the students, such as school lunches, assemblies, and award ceremonies in order to reinforce a positive relationship between the students and law enforcement. When the students successfully complete the 13-week curriculum, the officers will award them with certificates and a graduation party. All officers assigned to the G.R.E.A.T. program are present at each graduation, for more positive reinforcement.

The G.R.E.A.T. families component will also be implemented through the grant. Officers will be trained to deliver the curriculum. The G.R.E.A.T. officers will identify at-risk youth for the families component while teaching the core curriculum. It is anticipated that at least three separate sessions, with approximately six families in each session, will be completed during the grant period.

CA/NCF