FY 09 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 coordinates 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 Phoenix Police Department will use FY 09 G.R.E.A.T. funding to implement the elementary, middle school, summer, and families components in an effort to prevent youth crime, violence, and gang involvement, while encouraging community and family involvement. Through data obtained from community groups, school districts, police precincts, and statistics from local and federal agencies, the department has identified areas in need of the program. During the proposed grant period, five full-time G.R.E.A.T. officers will deliver the program to approximately 4,900 youth and 20 families in the targeted communities. To ensure education and safety goals are met, educators will be surveyed on the effectiveness of the program.

CA/NCF