Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program
NEW! Read about BJA Anti-Gang Activities
FY 2010 G.R.E.A.T. Grant Awards and important information for all current G.R.E.A.T. grantees
Overview: The G.R.E.A.T. Program, previously administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is now administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance
(BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S.
Department of Justice. Since its inception in 1991, over 8,000 law
enforcement officers have been certified as G.R.E.A.T.
instructors and more than 4 million students have graduated from the
G.R.E.A.T. Program. For more detailed information regarding the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum, how to start
a G.R.E.A.T. program in your community, and training and certification
of G.R.E.A.T. officers, click here to go the G.R.E.A.T.
web page. Contact us via e-mail at AskGreat@usdoj.gov
BJA was able to preserve funding to allow us to continue to provide FREE G.R.E.A.T. student workbooks, to all active, certified G.R.E.A.T. officers and Officer Certification training to all qualified officers from agencies with a commitment to bringing G.R.E.A.T. to their communities.
We welcome the following NEW G.R.E.A.T. programs! All agencies/jurisdictions receiving FY 2010 G.R.E.A.T. funds have not previously received a G.R.E.A.T. grant.
In addition, supplemental awards were made to five of the jurisdictions that are participating in the G.R.E.A.T. Program National Evaluation (five-year longitudinal study of the effectiveness and impact of the G.R.E.A.T. program) to help them support their G.R.E.A.T. programs and continued participation in the evaluation.
G.R.E.A.T. Grantee Webinar: All G.R.E.A.T. grantees with current, active G.R.E.A.T. grants were invited to participate in a webinar on February 2, 2011.
The webinar, hosted by BJA in cooperation with one of our technical assistance providers, Fox Valley Technical College, was designed to provide an overview of G.R.E.A.T.
grant reporting for the grant managers, as well as specific information on the use of the G.R.E.A.T. Student Pre and Post-course questionnaires, for G.R.E.A.T. officers.
The webinar discussed the use of the Pre/Post forms; proper submission of the forms and how to include the data collected from the Pre/Post process on the Semi-annual
Programmatic Progress Reports.
The below link provides access to a PDF version of PowerPoint presentation used during the webinar and is provided for those G.R.E.A.T. grant coordinators and G.R.E.A.T.
officers who were not able to participate in the live webinar on February 2.
G.R.E.A.T. Grantee Reporting Requirements Webinar
How/When To Apply: Since 2004, the Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded more than $58 million in grant funds to jurisdictions across the country.
Annual grant funding solicitations are normally announced in the last quarter of the year. Information regarding any future G.R.E.A.T. grant funds and the solicitation of applications will be made available on this web page.
FY 2010 G.R.E.A.T. Officer In-service Trainings
Important Information for All G.R.E.A.T. Grantees:
Workbooks and Student Graduation Certificates: In addition, all G.R.E.A.T. Officers are encouraged to use the "official" G.R.E.A.T. Student and Families graduation certificates that are also offered free, to all
certified G.R.E.A.T. Officers. Starting with the 2009-10 school year, certificates will be delivered with your student workbook order.
Click here to access the graduation certificate order form.
G.R.E.A.T. Families graduation certificates are now available through the National Program Office. Download the G.R.E.A.T. Families Order Form.
G.R.E.A.T. Student Pre/Post Questionnaire Process: G.R.E.A.T. Grants—Programmatic Progress Reporting: G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training: NCCD Report Summarizes Gang Risk Factors and Characteristics of Gang-Involved Youth Other Information: FY 2009 G.R.E.A.T. Awards 
The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program
is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom
curriculum. 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.
As was reported in the last G.R.E.A.T. newsletter, the congressional appropriation for the G.R.E.A.T. program has been reduced greatly over the last three years. FY 2010 funding was especially challenging. After setting aside funds for the national support contract and four regional training centers, there was less than $1 million for local programs. Rather than incur the costs associated with posting a solicitation and the peer review process used to score applications, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) decided to fund applications received for the FY 2009 solicitation, which, while high scoring and proposing to create new programs, were not funded last year due to insufficient funds in the appropriation.
California
Massachusetts
Texas
City or Kerman
Town of Danvers
Socorro ISD
City of Indio
City of Everett
Suisun City Police Department
Virginia
City of Reedley
Kansas
Page County Sheriff's Office
City of Kingsburg
Prairie Band of Potawatomi Nation
City of Selma
Kentucky
City of Grass Valley
New York
City of Richmond
Lockport City School District
Due to funding shortages, there will not be a G.R.E.A.T. National Conference in 2010. However, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is sponsoring regional
in-service training programs for G.R.E.A.T. officers who have taught G.R.E.A.T. for at least one year. The goal of the training is to provide participants with an
interactive and self-directed forum where they will learn:
There remains just one G.R.E.A.T. Officer In-service training available this year. Click here for more information on G.R.E.A.T. Officer In-service Trainings.
In order to maintain the integrity of the G.R.E.A.T. curricula, all G.R.E.A.T. Officers are required to utilize the official student workbooks when teaching the
Middle or Elementary school lessons. The workbooks have been recently updated and colorized and are still provided free-of-charge, to all certified, active
G.R.E.A.T. Officers. Click here to access additional information and the required order forms.
All G.R.E.A.T. grant funding is subject to the Federal Government
Performance and Results Act (GPRA). As a G.R.E.A.T. grantee, your
jurisdiction/agency must collect and submit performance data. This data
helps the Bureau of Justice Assistance report G.R.E.A.T. efforts and
successes to Congress and demonstrates the value of the G.R.E.A.T.
initiatives at the national, state, and local levels. An easy-to-use
G.R.E.A.T. Pre/Post Questionnaire has been implemented to capture vital
program performance information. For additional information or to
insure your jurisdiction/agency's compliance, please contact the
G.R.E.A.T. training coordinator at 1-800-726-7070 or via email at information@great-online.org.
A G.R.E.A.T. Data Collection Form must be completed and attached to every
semiannual Progress Report. Click on G.R.E.A.T. Data Collection Form to
access the blank form and instructions.
G.R.E.A.T. Officer certification training is always offered free to any agency that has an active G.R.E.A.T. program or is committed to bringing G.R.E.A.T. to the youth
in their community. The current list of G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training (GOT) courses is
available at www.great-online.org/Program/TrainingSchedules.Aspx.
To download an application to apply to attend a GOT, click here.
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) report issued in July 2009 summarizes gang risk factors and characteristics of gang-involved youth. Although the
report clearly states that there is no "one-size-fits-all" method to reduce or prevent gang involvement, the report does, however, state that "...enhancing school-based
gang prevention efforts, could significantly impact gang activity, especially at school, but also in the community. The report can be found at: www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pdf/Youth_gangs_final.pdf
Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program (FY 2009 Competitive Grant Announcement)
Frequently Asked Questions
FY 2008 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
FY 2007 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
FY 2006 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
FY 2005 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
FY 2004 G.R.E.A.T. Awards
