Detroit Police Department 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 Detroit will use the grant funds to implement all four components of the G.R.E.A.T. Program. The city will use gang intelligence and statistics from the schools and police department to identify at-risk neighborhoods and youth. Elementary and middle schools that feed high schools with increased gang-related problems will be targeted for G.R.E.A.T. lessons. The school components will be implemented in collaboration with the Finney Youth Initiative, which works with the targeted schools to improve student safety. The family component will target families identified as in-need and headed by a single parent with limited time and resources to support their children. Families will also be encouraged to participate in the summer component. The summer program will focus on recreational activities, self-image enhancement, career exploration, and conflict resolution skills.

CA/NCF