The Indianapolis Gang Resistance Education and Training Initiative

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 curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD)will use this Fiscal Year 2007 G.R.E.A.T grant to offer all four components of the G.R.E.A.T program in Indianapolis. Through its middle and elementary school programs, IMPD will offer G.R.E.A.T. to at least 1050 of the area's 2,833 fourth graders, 1,050 of the 2,955 fifth graders, 300 of the 2,953 sixth graders, 1,575 of the 2,931 seventh graders, and 1575 eighth graders totaling 5,550 youth in grades 4-8. IMPD will offer a week long summer program twice during the summer, for a total of two weeks. Elementary and middle school students participating in the school year G.R.E.A.T program will be selected to participate in the summer program as a reward for their hard work. IMPD anticipates attendance of about 50 youth each week, for a total of 100 youth. The summer program will include community service projects and field trips to fun and educational places such as the Zoo and Children's Museum. IMPD will continue its newly established family program in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Corrections. IPD will serve families of 4th-7th graders whose mothers who are incarcerated at the Indiana Women's Prison located in downtown Indianapolis. All of these children are considered at risk. The program targets families of women prisoners approaching community reentry. IMPD will work with a total of 20-40 families (80-160 people).

CA/NCF