FY 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 Monterey Park Police Department will utilize their fiscal year 2008 G.R.E.A.T. funds to provide the middle school, elementary, families, and summer components. The core middle school curriculum will be offered in six of the city's schools, while the elementary curriculum will be provided in four schools. Students participating in the summer component will learn skills centered on conflict resolution, decision-making, self-image, self-confidence, and cultural awareness. The families component will consist of a six-session family curriculum. Three facilitators will instruct ten families of approximately 30 family members through a variety of activities and discussions in an effort to prevent juvenile participation in property and narcotics crime, violence, and gang involvement by reducing the precursor attitudes and behaviors associated with these negative activities. Overarching goals are to increase the numbers of youth who demonstrate an increased negative view of gangs and their associated activities among 90-percent of the core middle school program graduates by 2010.

CA/NCF