2009 La Crosse Area Law Enforcement G.R.E.A.T. Collaboration

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 the 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 La Crosse Police Department, in collaboration with the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department, the Onalaska Police Department, and multiple community partners, will implement a comprehensive middle school, elementary, families, and summer G.R.E.A.T. program. During the proposed grant period, six full-time and 11 part-time G.R.E.A.T. officers from the three partner agencies will deliver the program to approximately 2,500 youth and 20 family units in the targeted communities.

CA/NCF