FY 2009 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 Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, Century Station, will implement the G.R.E.A.T. middle school, summer, and families components in the Florence/Firestone unincorporated area of South Central Los Angeles County. The department aims to reach approximately 1,500 sixth and seventh grade students at the Charles Drew Middle School, 30 families in the G.R.E.A.T. families component, and 50 youth in the summer component, which will include partnerships with community-based programs.

CA/NCF