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Overview
2008 G.R.E.A.T. National Training Conference
Building Bridges to a G.R.E.A.T. Future
DATE AND LOCATION
July 16–18, 2008
St. Louis, Missouri
Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront
(formerly Adam's Mark St. Louis)
CONFERENCE GOALS
The 2008 G.R.E.A.T. National Training Conference will provide strategies for:
- Preventing youth crime, violence, and gang involvement in order to create safe communities.
- Developing positive relationships with youth, parents, school staff, community partners,
and others.
- Improving the delivery of the middle school curriculum, elementary school curriculum,
summer program, and G.R.E.A.T. Families program.
- Promoting widespread recognition and understanding of the G.R.E.A.T. Program to
increase community involvement.
ATTENDEES
The training conference will address the needs of individuals currently implementing
the G.R.E.A.T. Program, as well as those who want to become involved with the Program.
In addition to G.R.E.A.T. officers, conference attendance is recommended for:
- G.R.E.A.T. supervisors.
- School resource officers.
- Crime prevention officers.
- Individuals representing youth-oriented programs.
- Legal and criminal/juvenile justice professionals.
- Community leaders.
- School district personnel.
- Law enforcement administrators and practitioners.
WORKSHOPS
This year’s conference will be an opportunity to network with others across the
nation and attend intensive training on topics such as:
- Interacting with the media.
- Establishing and managing the G.R.E.A.T. Program.
- Community outreach and partnering.
- Effectively implementing the middle school and elementary school curricula.
- How to effectively utilize the summer program and G.R.E.A.T. Families.
- Bullying behaviors.
- Leadership and character development.
- Understanding how youth use the Internet and other media.
- Understanding and managing youth with special needs.
- G.R.E.A.T. best practices.
- How schools can help G.R.E.A.T.
- Multistrategy models to address gangs.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Attendance at all ceremonies and workshops is required to receive credit for the
conference. Upon submission of a completed stamp card following the closing ceremony,
you will receive a certificate to document your attendance.
Note: Certificates will not be available for pickup until AFTER the closing ceremony
has ended. The ceremony is scheduled to conclude at 11:30 a.m. We suggest that departure
flights leave no earlier than 3:00 p.m. This will allow attendees to pick up their
certificate, check out of the hotel, travel to the airport, and arrive in time to
check in for departing flights.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
- Tuesday
- Registration
- 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday
- Registration
- 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
- Opening Ceremonies With Keynote Speaker
- 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
- Complimentary Lunch With Keynote Speaker
- 12:15 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Workshops
- 1:45 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Thursday
- Workshops
- 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
- Complimentary Lunch With Keynote Speaker
- 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
- Workshops
- 1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
- 2:45 p.m.–4:30 p.m.
- Friday
- Complimentary Continental Breakfast
- 7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m.
- Closing Ceremonies With Keynote Speaker
- 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
- Certificate pickup will be immediately following the closing ceremony.
COSTS
Through funding provided by the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance,
the conference registration fee is waived. Attendees will be responsible only for
expenses such as travel, lodging, and meals/incidentals. G.R.E.A.T. grant funds
may be used for these other expenses. Complimentary lunch will be provided on Wednesday
and Thursday, and breakfast is complimentary on Friday.
CONFERENCE ATTIRE
Attire is business-casual. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and similar clothing should
not be worn during the conference.