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 City of Tacoma will utilize the FY 2008 G.R.E.A.T. award to continue the middle school, elementary school, summer, and family components at targeted Title 1 schools in the Tacoma School District. The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a part of the Tacoma Police Department's Gang Elimination Strategic Plan that consists of suppression, prevention, and intervention strategies. The program will serve 225 fifth graders, 275 sixth graders, 10 to 15 families, and 50 students through the summer component. The summer program will reinforce the elementary school curriculum with a one-week day camp targeting 50 graduates who participated in the elementary component. The middle school component supports the school district's educational objectives to provide a comprehensive and intensive effort to prevent the escalation of high-risk behavior and re-direct students to a successful future. The grant award will be used to fund personnel costs, travel expenses associated with the G.R.E.A.T. officers training and conferences, supplies, and consultant fees.

CA/NCF