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 Orlando Police Department will use the grant funds to provide the elementary, middle school, summer, and families G.R.E.A.T. components to approximately 2,000 students. Efforts will be directed towards limited English proficient, special education, and special learning disabilities classrooms, as these targeted groups have been found to be at a higher risk for victimization and are often lured into committing crimes. In addition, the summer and families components will be provided in an effort to continue the development of mental and physical abilities of each student, as well as encouraging the involvement of parents in their child's life. Seven police officers will be certified during the grant period to implement the core and families G.R.E.A.T. curricula.

CA/NCF