Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $35,000)
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 Selma will use FY 2010 Bureau of Justice Assistance Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program funds to support the middle school component. The goal is to deliver the GREAT Middle School Curriculum to all of the City of Selma middle school students eligible to receive said curriculum - this amounts to a total of 960 students. The Principal of the school has determined a schedule in coordination with the Selma Police Department where the G.R.E.A.T. Officer will visit weekly to teach the 13 lessons. The lessons will be taught during a class that all students attend to ensure that every student is reached. The Officer assigned to teach the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum has worked closely with youth through prior endeavors.
The City of Selma's ultimate goal is to develop partnerships between cities and local law enforcement to improve capacity of established organizations, programs, and institutions that serve youth and provide information on gang awareness and institute evidence-based prevention practices. The City of Selma is a member of the Communities That Care Gang Task Force (CTCGTF), whose overall purpose is to reduce gang offenses and gang-related violent crime in the target area, and catalyze development of collaborative partners in the target area via the CTCGTF to share learning and develop a gang intervention action plan.
The Selma Gang Task Force (SGTF) and the CTCGTF has determined that the G.R.E.A.T. Program must be implemented. The Task Force, in collaboration with the CTCGTF, will implement additional strategies that include mentoring, substance abuse and other research based preventative programs. These programs are complementary and when used together produce a synergy that results in greater effectiveness than would be possible by implementing any single activity.
CA/NCF