SISD 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 Socorro Independent School District (SISD) will use FY 2010 Bureau of Justice Assistance Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program funds to utilize two of the G.R.E.A.T. components: Elementary and Middle School Curricula and Family Component. 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.

Project goals include: 1. present the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum to all 4-8th graders in SISD; 2. increase the number of certified G.R.E.A.T. instructors; 3. decrease the number of negative student behaviors among the target group; 4. bring families into the G.R.E.A.T. program; and 5. disseminate public information on the G.R.E.A.T. program to widen the audience receiving the gang resistance message.

CA/NCF