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 Fall River Police Department will use the grant funds to provide the middle school and summer G.R.E.A.T. components in an effort to combat increasing influences of drug dealers and gang members entering the community. Two officers will be trained to deliver the program curriculum. The officers will deliver the core, middle school curriculum during the school year to all sixth grade students in the city. In addition, the summer component will be offered in collaboration with a community based program, and will include a variety of educational and recreational activities.

CA/NCF