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 county of Marquette will use the grant funds to implement all four components of the G.R.E.A.T. program. The program will be taught to fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth graders. The family component will target families of high-risk youth, and participants will include families referred by the schools and volunteers. The county will offer five family training programs during the year and will serve at least 30 families. The summer program will be offered five days per week with the G.R.E.A.T. officer providing educational and recreational programming to 50 to 75 youth each day.

CA/NCF