In 2006, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department in partnership with ARCHS received a $249,901 U.S. Dept. of Justice Federal Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Grant. The grant has been renewed for $150,000 in 2007-08. U.S.

GREAT ST. LOUIS provides 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. GREAT lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems. GREAT consists of four components: elementary school, middle school, summer programs and family engagement.

SLMPD and ARCHS worked together to submit the St. Louis GREAT grant applications. SLMPD officers staff the programs and ARCHS provides addiitonal expertise.

GREAT is staffed by 9 full and part time GREAT Officers from SLMPD who are teaching classes and making school assembly presentations. Schools were chosen in part by the documented high level of gang visibility in 21 targeted St. Louis City neighborhoods.

GREAT's elementary school focus is to prevent violence while developing a positive bond between law enforcement and youth during their early developmental years. The curriculum can be used in conjunction with and reinforcement of other prevention programs and as a precursor to the GREAT middle school curriculum.