Andrea Joy Campbell: “The first is called the GREAT Program--the Gang Resistance Education and Training, or GREAT Program. This is a program…”

“The first is called the GREAT Program--the Gang Resistance Education and Training, or GREAT Program. This is a program that is administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, in partnership with State and local law enforcement. Unfortunately, gang activity has increased in our country in recent years, as the Chair well knows. ATF has developed a program to give our children the tools they need to be able to resist the temptation to belong to a gang. The GREAT program is only seven years old, but has already grown from a pilot program in Arizona to classrooms all over the United States-- and in Puerto Rico, Canada, and overseas military bases. ATF estimates that about 1.7 million students have received GREAT training. GREAT was designed to provide gang prevention and anti-violence instruction to children in a classroom setting. ATF trains local law enforcement officers to teach these classes, and provides grants to their offices to help pay for their time. This program is having a positive effect on student activities and behaviors, and is deterring them from involvement in gangs.”