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 city of Miami Police Department will use fiscal year 2009 G.R.E.A.T. funds to deliver the elementary, middle school, and summer components to approximately 1,100 students. City youth are often surrounded by the influences of gangs, drugs, and violence with an estimated 500 gang members from multiple gangs within the community. Through the grant, schools located in targeted high-risk areas with a high incidence of youth violence and gang activity will receive the elementary and middle school curricula. To further build upon the school based lessons, the summer program will provide students an additional opportunity to enhance their social skills and provide alternatives to gang involvement by adding needed structure to their summer months through presentations and field trips.

CA/NCF