GREAT Components to youth

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 Reedley Police Department will use FY 2010 Bureau of Justice Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program funds to utilize two of the G.R.E.A.T. components: Middle School Curriculum and Summer Components. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

The Middle School Curriculum will benefit all of the City of Reedley (841) sixth and seventh grade students who are eligible to receive said curriculum. The Kings Canyon Unified School District includes: Thomas Law Reed K-8, General Grant Middle, and Navelencia Middle School. The lessons will be taught during the homeroom class and a School Resource Officer will be assigned to teach the curriculum. The Summer Component will be offered during the Reedley Summer Recreation Program. The summer component will include activities and field trips and expects the number of participating students to annually increase as new collaborations become active.

The goal of the City of Reedley is to develop partnerships between cities and local law enforcement to improve capacity of established organizations, programs, and institutions that serve young people and to provide information on gang awareness and institute evidence-based prevention practices.

CA/NCF