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 Green Bay Police Department will use the G.R.E.A.T. funds to provide the four program components to youth and their families in the community. Through the grant, the middle school curricula will be taught in multiple schools. The summer program will be offered four days per week at two elementary schools. Students attending the summer program will participate in a variety of community service projects. The elementary curriculum and the families component will be added in the coming year. G.R.E.A.T. officers anticipate delivering the elementary lessons to all fourth and fifth grade students, while the families component will seek to address the needs of the culturally diverse residents of the city.

CA/NCF