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 city of Morgan Hill, through the police department, will use the grant funds to implement the elementary, middle school, and families G.R.E.A.T. components in city's elementary schools and one of the middle schools. The program will target at-risk youth identified by community-based organizations and the school district. The department will instill conflict resolution and anger management skills in area youth, in addition to delivering the anti-gang lesson plans. The city expects that 1,276 elementary school students and 2,036 middle school students will participate in the program. In addition, 50 families will be offered the families curriculum.

CA/NCF