This program is for youth in 4th through 8th grade and their families.

Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.), a school-based gang and violence prevention program, is designed to prevent gang involvement, violence, and criminal activity among youth.

A randomized controlled trial of the Middle School G.R.E.A.T. program produced mixed results. Effects were found for two of three main program goals (i.e., gang membership and positive attitudes toward the police) 1 year and 4 years after the program ended. However, the authors examined these effects by averaging post-treatment and 1-year follow-up scores or by averaging all 4 years post-treatment scores rather than by examining the effects individually across follow-up periods. Additionally, when the data were analyzed by city, the results were less clear. Some cities demonstrated positive program effects; some demonstrated no effects; a few experienced negative program effects.

The G.R.E.A.T. program addresses risk factors for delinquent behavior and gang membership and intends to change the attitudes and behaviors of youth through skills training and rehearsal, cooperative learning, group discussions, and role-play. The program consists of the following components for youth and families:  

• G.R.E.A.T. Elementary curriculum (4th and 5th grade students) - Identify aspects of violence prevention and rehearse skills such as decision-making, positive communication, and anger management.
• G.R.E.A.T. Middle School curriculum (6th and 7th grade students) - Examine the relationship among violence, drugs, and gangs; identify individual beliefs about gangs and violence; practice and improve life skills including conflict resolution, refusal, social responsibility, communication, anger management, goal setting, problem-solving, and decision-making.
• G.R.E.A.T. Summer Component - Strengthen skills learned during school lessons; participate in structured activities, including field trips, recreational and educational outings, community service projects, and sporting events as alternatives to gang membership; and develop life and career skills.
• G.R.E.A.T. Families Training (parents and youth age 10-14) - Enhance family relationships, improve communication skills, set rules, understand the impact of technology, and create internet safety.  

The elementary curriculum is intended to precede the middle school curriculum; however, if this is not possible, the middle school curriculum can serve as a stand-alone program. The summer component is used as a supplement to the elementary and middle school components; however, youth who are not involved in either of the school programs may also attend the summer component.

The G.R.E.A.T. program was developed in 1991 and has certified more than 15,210 law enforcement officers and professionals from over 2,870 agencies. More than 2,350 elementary and middle school students were taught by G.R.E.A.T. instructors in 2021. The program has been used in the United States and throughout Central America.

The G.R.E.A.T. program is implemented by trained, certified criminal justice professionals who have a minimum of one year of full-time experience. A 10-hour, online training course and 36 hours of classroom training must be completed in order to implement the elementary, middle school, and summer components. The cost of this training is $495 per person. An additional, 2-day course must be completed to implement the family component. The cost of this training is $250 per person. Please visit https://www.great-online.org/Training/GOT or use details in the Contact section for more information.

Considerations for implementing this program include recruiting qualified criminal justice professionals, ensuring they receive training, and allowing them time away from duties to deliver classroom lessons; acquiring buy-in from school administrators, staff, and teachers; providing child care, if needed; and finding time to implement the school program and the summer and family components.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing G.R.E.A.T., the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

The elementary curriculum consists of six consecutive 30- to 45-minute lessons; the middle school curriculum consists of 13 consecutive 30- to 45-minute lessons; the family training consists of 6, 2-hour sessions held during evenings or on weekends; the length of the summer component varies.

This program is funded through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. There is no cost to schools for the elementary and middle school programs. The family and summer components will require additional funds for food and transportation. Please visit https://www.great-online.org/Training/Establishing#cost or use details in the Contact section for more information.

To move the G.R.E.A.T. program to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed that demonstrates positive program effects across sites that are maintained for at least 6 months after program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185     Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact the G.R.E.A.T. Program by mail Institute for Intergovernmental Research, PO Box 12729, Tallahassee, FL 32317-2729, phone 1-800-726-7070, email information@great-online.org, or visit https://www.great-online.org/ContactUs

https://www.great-online.org/; https://www.atf.gov/resource-center/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-gang-resistance-education-and-training-great-program; and Esbensen, Osgood, Peterson, Taylor, and Carson (2013).

Esbensen, F., Osgood, D. W., Peterson, D., Taylor, T. J., & Carson, D. C. (2013). Short- and long-term outcome results from a multisite evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. program. Criminology & Public Policy, 12(3), 375-411. https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9133.12048

Esbensen, F., Peterson, D., Taylor, T. J., Freng, A., Osgood, D. W., Carson, D. C., & Matsuda, K. N. (2011). Evaluation and evolution of the gang resistance education and training (G.R.E.A.T.) program. Journal of School Violence, 10(1), 53-70. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2010.519374

Esbensen, F., Peterson, D., Taylor, T. J., & Osgood, D. W. (2012). Results from a multi-site evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. program. Justice Quarterly, 29(1), 125-151. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2011.585995