Gang Resistance Education and Training 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 coordinate 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 Portland (Oregon) will utilize the FY 2010 G.R.E.A.T. Regional Training Center grant funds to continue supporting the G.R.E.A.T. West Regional Training Center (West RTC). The West RTC has assisted a number of law enforcement entities in establishing and sustaining the G.R.E.A.T. program for the past 12 years. Specifically, the West RTC is responsible for providing training and technical assistance to 11 western states. This is accomplished through the provision of multiple yearly G.R.E.A.T. Officer Trainings (GOT), attendance at various regional and national law enforcement related conferences, and daily contact with the G.R.E.A.T. agencies supported by the RTC.

The following seven goals and objectives will be accomplished via this cooperative agreement:

(1) Recruit a minimum of three agencies within the region to teach the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum in their respective schools, and promote the program at a minimum of four state police chiefs' or sheriffs' association meetings and four other regional gatherings;
(2) Seek to develop at least one new regional or national partnership annually;
(3) Provide direct technical assistance to a minimum of 24 potential or existing G.R.E.A.T. agencies on starting or operating the program;
(4) Start four new G.R.E.A.T. Families Programs and provide direct technical assistance to a minimum of 24 agencies on starting and operating the program
(5) Start five new G.R.E.A.T. Summer Programs and provide a minimum of 24 agencies with assistance and information on starting the program in their communities;
(6) Coordinate a minimum of five G.R.E.A.T. GOTs and a minimum of two G.R.E.A.T. Families Trainings per performance period; and
(7) Publish a G.R.E.A.T. Regional Newsletter three times a year. The newsletter contains information on future officer trainings, including regional and/or national conferences taking place within the region. In addition, the newsletter allows regional agencies to promote their community's G.R.E.A.T. Program by sharing achievements through news articles and pictures.

CA/NCF