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 Hattiesburg Public School District will use the FY 2008 G.R.E.A.T. award to implement the middle school, elementary school, families, and summer components. G.R.E.A.T. will enhance the school district's goals of increasing student achievement, providing a safe and orderly learning environment, and increasing parental and community involvement. Hattiesburg's program will target at-risk youth within the district by serving all 350 seventh graders at the middle school level, 700 fourth and fifth graders at six elementary schools, 30 families, and approximately 60 students through two 6-week summer sessions. Grant funds will be used to pay for personnel costs, travel expenses associated with the G.R.E.A.T. officers' training and annual conference, expenses for the summer program, equipment, and supplies. The district will coordinate its efforts with the Hattiesburg Police Department's Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), the University of Southern Mississippi School of Social Work, the Hattiesburg Public Schools Foundation, and the Hattiesburg High School Junior ROTC. JROTC cadets will serve as mentors, chaperones, and role models for the participants during the summer sessions.

CA/NCF