Toronto Police Constable Shawn Geris #8472

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program is an evidence-based, national and international gang and violence prevention program that has been building trust between law enforcement and communities for almost 30 years.

G.R.E.A.T. is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. It is designed for children in the years immediately before the prime ages for introduction into gangs and delinquent behavior.

The G.R.E.A.T. Program is built around school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curricula. It provides a continuum of components for children and their families. These components include a 13-lesson middle school curriculum, a 6-lesson elementary school curriculum, a summer component, and a families component.

More than 13,000 sworn officers from around the United States and various Central American countries have been trained and certified to teach the G.R.E.A.T. curricula. The G.R.E.A.T. curricula have been delivered to more than 6 million children, allowing law enforcement to foster strong relationships with these students, as well as their schools and communities.

Since its inception, G.R.E.A.T. has developed partnerships with nationally recognized organizations, such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Inc.; Families and Schools Together®; and the National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. These partnerships encourage positive collaboration among the community, parents, schools, and law enforcement.