Frequently Asked Questions

The G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) 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. The G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems. G.R.E.A.T. offers a continuum of components for students and their families.

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program, previously administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is now being administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice. Availability of grant funds is dependent upon annual appropriations from Congress. The application period for G.R.E.A.T. grants is usually in the late fall of each year. More information about funding and applying for G.R.E.A.T. grants can be found on BJA’s Web site: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/great.html.

Specific questions about grants should be addressed to BJA at:
Phone: (202) 514-6278
Toll-Free: (888) 549-9901
E-Mail: askbja@usdoj.gov

The National Institute of Justice commissioned a nationwide long-term evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program in 2006. Led by the University of Missouri-St. Louis, this rigorously-designed, double-blind, multi-site study of the G.R.E.A.T. middle-school curriculum is scheduled to conclude in 2012. This evaluation follows an earlier (1995-2000) study that returned promising but inconclusive results, and led to a rigorous programmatic review that resulted in substantial program modifications. An article written by the principal investigators in the current Process and Outcome Evaluation of G.R.E.A.T. was recently published in the Journal of School Violence, examining data from the one-year post-program follow-up in seven geographically and demographically diverse communities across the country.

Among other positive findings, the report concludes that “The analyses revealed statistically significant program effects for five of the nine variables examined. Specifically, the G.R.E.A.T. students compared to non-G.R.E.A.T. students were more likely to report positive attitudes about police, less positive attitudes about gangs, more frequent use of refusal skills, greater resistance to peer pressure, and lower rates of gang membership” (a 39% lower risk overall).

Very few prevention programs being offered in the U.S. today have legitimate research supporting their effectiveness. Although the four-year follow-up is not yet complete, the one-year post-program results from this evaluation lend credibility to the claims of G.R.E.A.T. instructors, teachers, and school administrators that the G.R.E.A.T. Program has a real and positive impact on schools and schoolchildren.

A link to the full article can be found on the National Gang Center website at http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Publications/GREAT-Evaluation.

The following sworn criminal justice professionals are eligible to become certified G.R.E.A.T. instructors: local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement officers and agents; military police; probation officers; or corrections officers.

Other sworn or certified criminal justice professionals–including reserve, part-time, or retired police officers; probation officers; corrections officers; currently employed in the criminal justice system, receiving written approval from the Regional Administrator (RA) of the region–are also eligible for certification.

Please click here for a list of G.R.E.A.T. authorized vendors.

To receive G.R.E.A.T. informational materials, please download the G.R.E.A.T. Informational Materials Request Form in PDF or contact the G.R.E.A.T. National Program Office at (800) 726-7070.

To find a summer program in your area, please contact your local G.R.E.A.T. instructors at their police department or sheriff's office for more information. For assistance in locating the G.R.E.A.T. instructors in your area, contact your G.R.E.A.T. Regional Administrator. What Region am I in?

Please visit the GOT training page of this Web site for basic information. If you have further questions, please contact (800) 726-7070.

There are few necessary costs associated with implementing the G.R.E.A.T. Program. Please see the Program Costs page of this Web site.

No; although the curriculum is designed to be taught once a week for 13 weeks, it can be taught more frequently if necessary. Research shows that teaching only once a week allows for better absorption of the materials and skills taught before moving on to the next lesson. If taught less often than weekly (twice or once a month), materials and skills may be forgotten between lessons. The lessons must be presented in sequence with no less than one day and no more than two weeks between lessons.

Please contact your local law enforcement agency, as they determine the schools or afterschool programs in which the program is taught. If you do not know which law enforcement agency in your area, if any, conducts the G.R.E.A.T. Program, then please contact your regional office by clicking here.

No, G.R.E.A.T. does not conduct any research on gang activity. The National Gang Center (NGC) does conduct a gang survey each year, and their findings and other gang related publications can be found by visiting the NGC Web site at http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov.

If G.R.E.A.T. is already taught in your area please contact your local law enforcement agency so they can get involved at your school. If you do not know of any agencies in your area that conduct the G.R.E.A.T. Program, then please contact your regional office by clicking here. Your G.R.E.A.T. Regional office may be able to set you up with someone near you to get G.R.E.A.T. in your community.

GREATINFO is an e-mail list service where members can exchange information and hold discussions about topics related to the G.R.E.A.T. Program. As a member, you have the opportunity to share ideas and concerns, ask questions, and discuss topics and/or research relevant to the G.R.E.A.T. Program. Examples of topics that can be discussed are effective classroom strategies, helpful teaching methods for any of the four G.R.E.A.T. components, and ideas that promote the G.R.E.A.T. Program. This list is not exhaustive but serves as a general guideline. The G.R.E.A.T. National Program Office sometimes posts curriculum updates, training information, important events, and BJA news relevant to G.R.E.A.T. instructors.

GREATINFO membership is open to G.R.E.A.T. instructors and administrators, researchers, teachers, school administrators and educators, school resource officers, and other criminal justice and education professionals. The GREATINFO e-mail list service is only for professionals affiliated with the G.R.E.A.T. Program.

For more information, please check out the GREATINFO E-Mail List Service.

Join GREATINFO by filling out the online GREATINFO application form. Once you have successfully submitted the GREATINFO application, the GREATINFO Moderator will evaluate your application for approval. You will receive a response within three business days. The GREATINFO e-mail list service is only for professionals affiliated with the G.R.E.A.T. Program.

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program teaches children life skills that are useful in making choices and decisions and in setting goals for their future. Through role-playing scenarios and structured activities, G.R.E.A.T. shows children how to interact with others, communicate, resolve conflict, and manage anger. These skills, taught in three components of the G.R.E.A.T. Program, indirectly address bullying issues.

Several lessons in the G.R.E.A.T. Program directly address bullying. The Addressing Bullying page of this Web site has more details regarding specific discussions, role play, etc., on this topic.

The Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) name and logo are legally protected trademarks. Approval for use can be obtained only by sending an application (a form is available on the Officer Resources page of this Web site) to the G.R.E.A.T. Quality Review Committee (QRC) and receiving written approval. Applications can be faxed to (850) 386-5356 or mailed to:

G.R.E.A.T. Program
ATTN: QRC
Institute for Intergovernmental Research
Post Office Box 12729
Tallahassee, FL 32317

Please visit the G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training schedule to see when trainings will take place.

To log into your G.R.E.A.T. instructor account, you need to go to the Officer Resource page and type in your e-mail address or last name and corresponding password.

On this page, you will also be able to change your account information and request password help.

Having an online account will allow easier access for you to order handbooks online and update your contact information.

G.R.E.A.T. handbooks are offered free of charge to all certified G.R.E.A.T. instructors. Please click here, log into your account, and fill out the order form. You will also be asked to provide reporting information about how many classes and students you have taught during the past school year.

The order form may also be downloaded, printed, and faxed by using the following link to the PDF version of this form.

Free handbooks are available in bulk only for active, certified G.R.E.A.T. instructors. Others may request a sample copy by e-mailing information@great-online.org or calling (800) 726-7070.

You may request assistance by sending an e-mail to information@great-online.org or call (800) 726-7070. Please include your first and last name and your agency.

Graduation certificates are automatically included with handbook orders. It is no longer be necessary to place a separate certificate order with the regional offices. Certificates will be shipped along with your handbooks.

Since there are no handbooks for the G.R.E.A.T. Families component, if a G.R.E.A.T. Families Facilitator needs Families certificates, he or she will still need to order them separately. An online Families certificate order form is available on the G.R.E.A.T. Web site on the Instructor Resources or Helpful Links pages.

Please call the G.R.E.A.T. National Program Office at (800) 726-7070 for assistance.

This Web site features a regions map for each state and U.S. territory as well as contact information for each Regional Training Center.

Graduates of a GOT are certified to teach the middle school and elementary school curricula, as well as the summer component. To be certified to lead G.R.E.A.T. Families, a research-based, family strengthening program, instructors must also complete the additional two-day GFT. Normally, successful completion of a GOT is a prerequisite for attending a GFT. For more information on the GFT, see the G.R.E.A.T. Families Training information page.

The success of the G.R.E.A.T. Program is founded on the mutual commitment of law enforcement and educational agencies to unite in a common goal. Therefore, in order to attend a G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training, a commitment between the law enforcement agency and education agency is required. For more information on these commitments, please click here.

Officers interested in being certified at a G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training must review training requirements and submit a completed G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training Application.

Please visit the G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training page to determine if you should attend a one-week or two-week course.

The PDF versions of the Policy Manual and Training Procedures may be viewed, downloaded and printed through these links.

G.R.E.A.T. Officer Trainings are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You must submit a completed G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training application to secure a space at a particular training.

There is no tuition cost to attend a G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training. Complimentary double-occupancy lodging is provided for participants who attend a training at one of the four Regional Training Center locations. All other travel costs are the responsibility of the individual/agency.

A remote G.R.E.A.T. Officer Training (GOT) is scheduled when an agency or multiple agencies in an area have a minimum of 20 officers to be certified. Remote trainings allow for officers to be trained in their local area, as opposed to traveling to a Regional Training Center. The remote GOTs are designed for attendees who can commute daily to the training site. Lodging is not provided for attendees at a remote GOT.

For a 40-hour training, class is held Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon.

For an 80-hour training, class is held Monday through Friday of the first week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday of the second week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon on Friday of the second week, which is the last day of training.

Complimentary double-occupancy lodging is provided for officers who attend a training at a Regional Training Center. Lodging is not provided for remote trainings.

In some cases it may still be possible, if space remains. Contact the Regional Administrator of the region to inquire about the possibility of late registration.

The Law Enforcement and Educational Agency Agreement establishes the mutual commitment between the school or after-school program and law enforcement agency personnel to provide our children with the knowledge, attitude, and skills necessary to resist the pressures of gangs and their influence. For further information click here.

Each agency is required to submit one Law Enforcement and Educational Agency Commitment Form annually, to be held on file with the G.R.E.A.T. National Program Office. The agreement will expire exactly one year from the date of the signature.

If you are unsure please check with the G.R.E.A.T. National Program office by calling (800) 726-7070 or by filling out the contact form at http://www.great-online.org/ContactUs.Aspx.

Currently there are no conferences on the schedule. Changes to the schedule and other announcements will be posted on this Web site when they become available.