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 Boston, in coordination with the Boston Police Department, will use the grant funds to implement all four components of the G.R.E.A.T. program. The curriculum will be taught at 24 middle schools to 3,000 students, and at 36 elementary schools to 1,950 students. The summer component will be available to any student who has completed the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum, and will include trips and other structured, social, and self-esteem skill building activities. The families component will be offered to 50 families. The city of Boston will utilize the funds for salary, travel and training, student trips, and supplies for the G.R.E.A.T. program.

CA/NCF