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 Greenville Police Department in collaboration with the Pitt County Sheriff's Office will use fiscal year 2008 G.R.E.A.T. funds to implement the middle school and the families components in an effort to curb gang membership and violence. Through the grant, an additional police officer will be certified as a G.R.E.A.T instructor, and will serve as a substitute to teach the curriculum in six middle schools. The program will serve approximately 1,147 sixth graders, and 10 families of youth identified as being at-risk through interaction with students, during the grant period.

CA/NCF