G.R.E.A.T Southwest Regional Training Center

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 Phoenix Police Department (Arizona) will utilize the FY 2010 G.R.E.A.T. Regional Training Sites Program funds to support law enforcement entities implementing G.R.E.A.T. within the Southwest Region. Funds will allow the department to continue operating the G.R.E.A.T. Southwest Regional Training Center (SWRTC) by providing program and administrative services to the following 11 states: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.

The following deliverables will be accomplished:
(1) Recruit three new agencies to teach G.R.E.A.T.;
(2) Develop at least one new regional or national partnership annually;
(3) Provide direct technical assistance to a minimum of 24 agencies initiating or operating a G.R.E.A.T. Program;
(4) Provide direct technical assistance to a minimum of 24 existing G.R.E.A.T. agencies on initiating or operating a G.R.E.A.T. Families Program;
(5) Provide direct technical assistance to a minimum of 24 existing G.R.E.A.T. agencies on initiating or operating a G.R.E.A.T. Summer Program;
(6) Coordinate a minimum of three G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training and two G.R.E.A.T. Families courses;
(7) Promote the G.R.E.A.T. Program at a minimum of four state police chiefs' and sheriffs' association meetings and four other regional gatherings of law enforcement;
(8) Publish a G.R.E.A.T. newsletter three times during each 12-month period; and
(9) Host and maintain a G.R.E.A.T. Regional web page.

CA/NCF