The Baltimore City 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.

As part of Baltimore City's Gang and Violence Reduction Strategy, the Baltimore Police Department will implement the G.R.E.A.T. middle school component in the city's public schools. The Police Department will use the G.R.E.A.T. funds to help meet the critical need for violence prevention by targeting students at risk of becoming involved with gangs, pay overtime to the 18 G.R.E.A.T. officers, and to purchase supplies for the program. The officers will instruct approximately 8,500 middle school students on the G.R.E.A.T. lessons, hold discussions, build relationships, and serve as role models for the students.

CA/NCF