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 Mishawaka Police Department will use their Fiscal Year 2008 G.R.E.A.T grant funds to implement the middle school and family components. The G.R.E.A.T. program will prepare the youth of Mishawaka to resist violence, drugs, and gangs. The G.R.E.A.T. middle school component will be taught to 419 seventh grade students at John Young Middle School. The curriculum will be provided over a 13-week period, with one lesson being taught each week.

The family component will be offered in the form of an internet safety course. The internet safety course teaches families how to help their middle school children maintain safety and make wise choices while using the internet. The family component will provide services to 50 families.

CA/NCF