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 New York City Police Department will use the fiscal year G.R.E.A.T. funds to deliver the middle school, summer, and families components to approximately 4,800 students and 25 families. It is estimated that New York City has more than 16,600 gang members affiliated with several different gangs that have resulted in 69 gang related homicides, 190 non-fatal gang related shootings, and 241 felony gang assaults within the past year. In an effort to curb violence in the city's public schools, the middle school component will be implemented at schools selected based in part on high rates of gang activity and youth violence, recommendations from school administrators, and neighborhood dynamics. The summer component will encompass a six week period in which the G.R.E.A.T. program will be incorporated into a youth police academy. The families component will involve a collaboration with two social service agencies in order to reach families that are most in need of the program.

CA/NCF