New Bedford Police Department's 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 New Bedford Police Department will use the grant funds to implement the elementary, middle school, families and summer components in an effort to reduce student aggression and violence in schools. Through the grant, G.R.E.A.T. officers will first provide the structured lesson plans to youth identified as being high risk through known factors indicated by teachers, counselors, and school administrators. The expectation is that all sixth grade students within the public school system will eventually receive the middle school curriculum. The summer component will be provided in collaboration with a community-based organization, and will include guest speakers and field trips that highlight cultural events and historical and educational tours. Four G.R.E.A.T. families component trained officers, with assistance from school personnel, will implement the families component throughout the year. Letters and pamphlets about the program will be mailed to families of children currently receiving G.R.E.A.T. lessons, and an emphasis will be placed on reaching parents of at-risk youth.

CA/NCF