City of Lakewood 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 Lakewood will utilize the FY 2008 G.R.E.A.T. award to continue the middle school, elementary, families, and summer components. The City of Lakewood's goal is to assist the school district in providing a safe, civil, healthy, and intellectually stimulating learning environment for students. The G.R.E.A.T. program will provide a supportive learning environment by increasing students' bonding to school, reducing discipline issues, increasing personal responsibility, and increasing the number of trustworthy adults in the children's environments. The program will serve all fourth and sixth grade classrooms (approximately 1,856 students) in all Clover Park School District elementary and middle schools and 450 of those highest-risk participants through the summer program. The city will coordinate with the Boys and Girls Club, school staff, and the Parent Teacher Association to identify families to participate in the family program. Grant funds will be used for personnel costs, travel expenses associated with the G.R.E.A.T. Officers Training and annual conference, childcare expenses for the families component, supplies, and other costs necessary for the completion of the project.

CA/NCF