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 Port Arthur Police Department will use G.R.E.A.T. funds to teach the middle school component to 596 sixth graders at three different schools and the elementary school component to 656 fourth graders enrolled at seven different elementary schools. The police department will devote two full-time officers to teach the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum. The grant will pay for a portion of the salaries for the two full-time police officers serving as G.R.E.A.T. instructors, travel to the G.R.E.A.T. national conference, and program supplies.

CA/NCF