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 Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department will use grant funds to provide the elementary, middle school, families, and summer G.R.E.A.T. components to approximately 2,500 students and 60 families. Records indicate there are an estimated 950 known gang members associated with five national gangs and 20 neighborhood street gangs in the county, and street violence attributed to gangs often occurs around area schools. Through the grant, the Sheriff's Department will target at-risk youth, identified through school personnel, for participation in the elementary, core, and summer components. Grant fund will also be used to train three additional police officers to instruct the families component, in an effort to expand the current program. G.R.E.A.T. will be offered throughout the year to both elementary and middle school students.

CA/NCF